Renewing Combi Boiler

[johnk]

I've been told by renewing our old about 20 year combi boiler would save 30% on gas, could this be true or is it just sales talk? Anyone had any experience of this?

[davebro3]

I changed mine recently but without being obsessive about record keeping & bearing in mind fuel price changes (increases) it's hard to know if the claims are correct. More efficient - yes, how much more efficient - no idea.

[davebro3]

PS. I my old boiler (24 years) hadn't broken down I wouldn't have changed it.

[davebro3]

"If"

[douglas9401]

I don't think 30% is a sure thing, more of a best case scenario but there is a big difference both in performance and economy with a new one.

[ladybirder]

We need ginge to give us the Which magazine POV.

[New Judge]

I changed my combi boiler about ten years ago for a "condensing" type. I don't know the percentage of gas that change saved (because I have other gas appliances) but my gas consumption reduced by about 35%.

[nicebloke1]

If its working fine and not costing in repair bills, let sleeping dogs lie.

They brag about cars doing x amount of miles to the gallon, they never do.

[New Judge]

Non-condensing combi boilers were banned in 2005. So yours, at 20 years old, may not be of the condensing type (my old one wasn't).

Of course you can take the above advice, but even if your current boiler is a condensing type, it will be a very early model and technology has advanced quite a bit in 20 years.

I installed my central heating in around 1985 and I'm now on my third boiler. Each one has been more efficient than its predecessor, this latest one considerably so.

As well as that, a twenty year old boiler will soon begin to cost you money in repairs.

[nicebloke1]

John. When it does breakdown. Dump it,even if its a smallish repair dont bother.

[New Judge]

And just hope that happens in the summer. And make sure you have somewhere to go to take a shower.

[davebro3]

I think BOXT advertise they can renew your gas boiler "next day". But I don't believe them.

[Old_Geezer]

My view is that you save enough to be in pocket as long as the new item stays working for the time scale they refer to.

 

Of course you get half way there and they then start pressurising you to "save another 30% of gas by slinging that one away before it's fulfilled it's promise and buying another new one".

[barry1010]

My boiler was replaced in a day

[New Judge]

"My boiler was replaced in a day"

I think most are done in a day. I think it's more question of how long you have to wait for that day to arrive, barry.

Not many plumbers are sitting by the phone waiting for you to ring. And I doubt they keep a stock of boilers in all the colours and all the sizes.

[davebro3]

mine took about a week from ordering & 3 days installation before it was fully operational

[johnk]

Thanks everyone, I think I'll get a new one in the summer.