[Help] Central Heating Advice

[Dorset Seagull]

Am considering getting a new boiler and have had a quote from British Gas. However the wife has seen that gas boilers will no longer be fitted in about 5 years time because of new systems that will be used?? Also we have a boiler and hot water tank so would a combi boiler be a better bet to get rid of the expense of a possible new tank at some point. I am a complete novice when it comes to anything to do with central heating etc so any advice from the great and the good would be much appreciated

 

[Nathan]

I think it is 'new boilers will not be fitted into new builds' in 5 years time. We will be with gas boilers for a long time still, and parts will not be a problem for now.

 

[Weststander]

A Worcester or Vaillant gas combi boiler. Far more efficient and cheaper to run than older boilers, the two most reliable brands.

They won’t be phased out. For better or worse, mains gas will be our heating fuel for many years to come.

 

[Springal]

I'm sure you can do better than going with British Gas to from a new boiler install perspective

 

[Wrong-Direction]

A Worcester or Vaillant gas combi boiler. Far more efficient and cheaper to run than older boilers, the two most reliable brands.

They won’t be phased out. For better or worse, mains gas will be our heating fuel for many years to come.

This

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[Official Old Man]

Not sure about boilers so slightly off topic. I've a smart thermostat (Tado) and works a treat. Only operates when we're at home so no heating a house if we're late getting back. Plenty on the market. This and a new boiler a few years back knocked £100's off our bills.

 

[Dick Head]

Ask Big Sam.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

I'm sure you can do better than going with British Gas to from a new boiler install perspective

Indeed ! I'd recommend Charlie from Pavilion Plumbing and Heating - Albion fan as well .... unlike British Gas.

 

[happypig]

New gas boiler - Two grand
Ground source heat pump - Twenty grand

Until there's significant incentives I know where my money would go

 

[Rowdey]

Some good advice so far

Just to add, new gas boilers not going into new build (only) from 2025/30, so existing building stock (+20m?) are all good for NG for quite a while.

We're starting to add Hydrogen to some test sites, and it's going well, and might have 20% blend coming on stream down the existing NG network around 2030. I only know of one make of boiler that can cope with that out of the box - Viessmann.

System vs Combi - combi only good for one outlet - if you have two bathrooms or more, keep your set up. (apart from Viessmann V111 which is a storage combi)

Why do you think you need a new boiler ? Breakdowns? even saving £200 a year will take 7/10 years to make back the cost, so dont go into it blind. Post up deets of your existing one..

Electricity is about 3 times more expensive per kilowatt, so dont go there.

Heat pumps - great tech, amazing, but as above the payback is way down the line.

 

[beorhthelm]

unless there is a couple of secret nuclear power stations being built, we wont be replacing gas in 5 years.

 

[Dorset Seagull]

Indeed ! I'd recommend Charlie from Pavilion Plumbing and Heating - Albion fan as well .... unlike British Gas.

Does he travel to Dorset?

 

[Madafwo]

We went from a system boiler with cold water tank in the loft to a Vaillant combi boiler with a small tank in it as a kind of hallway house as we've got 2 bathrooms and it helps with the drop in pressure if more than one thing is on at the same time and weather compensation to control the heating and it is a revelation.

Yes there are alternatives to a gas boiler but as has been mentioned, they are ludicrously expensive at the moment and there isn't much incentive to get them done. Personally I think it is better to spend the money on making sure your house is as insulated as possible to reduce your heating bill.

 

[Dorset Seagull]

Some good advice so far

Just to add, new gas boilers not going into new build (only) from 2025/30, so existing building stock (+20m?) are all good for NG for quite a while.

We're starting to add Hydrogen to some test sites, and it's going well, and might have 20% blend coming on stream down the existing NG network around 2030. I only know of one make of boiler that can cope with that out of the box - Viessmann.

System vs Combi - combi only good for one outlet - if you have two bathrooms or more, keep your set up. (apart from Viessmann V11 which is a storage combi)

Why do you think you need a new boiler ? Breakdowns? even saving £200 a year will take 7/10 years to make back the cost, so dont go into it blind. Post up deets of your existing one..

Electricity is about 3 times more expensive per kilowatt, so dont go there.

Heat pumps - great tech, amazing, but as above the payback is way down the line.

25 year old ideal boiler. We have always had a problem with needing to refloat the bubble in the tank on a regular basis although I realise this is not necessarily a boiler issue but no engineer has ever been able to fix that.. The last service we were told that you can't get the parts easily these days and the ignition has been playing up lately. Just thought as its 25 years old it was worth an upgrade before it packs up completely.

Although we have 2 bathrooms and a downstairs loo as there is only the 2 of us only one is ever used at any one time. Does this mean a combi might be ok?

 

[Mr Bridger]

Put a jumper on.

 

[Rowdey]

25 year old ideal boiler. We have always had a problem with needing to refloat the bubble in the tank on a regular basis although I realise this is not necessarily a boiler issue but no engineer has ever been able to fix that.. The last service we were told that you can't get the parts easily these days and the ignition has been playing up lately. Just thought as its 25 years old it was worth an upgrade before it packs up completely.

Although we have 2 bathrooms and a downstairs loo as there is only the 2 of us only one is ever used at any one time. Does this mean a combi might be ok?

That age Ideal (icos?) is worth replacing - prob 70-80% efficiency where as a new one is around 90-95%

The cylinder issue is seperate - see if the installer can add an external expansion vessel maybe.

Combi - certainly an option - Get your water pressure and flow rate checked - both standing and dynamic. If it's poor, then best to know in advance.

 

[Wrong-Direction]

Indeed ! I'd recommend Charlie from Pavilion Plumbing and Heating - Albion fan as well .... unlike British Gas.

He used to live next-door to my dad, give his number out at least once a week [emoji106]

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[vagabond]

Deary me.

 

[knocky1]

unless there is a couple of secret nuclear power stations being built, we wont be replacing gas in 5 years.

Rolls Royce, if they don’t go bust.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/science-environment-54703204

 

[banjo]

A Worcester or Vaillant gas combi boiler. Far more efficient and cheaper to run than older boilers, the two most reliable brands.

They won’t be phased out. For better or worse, mains gas will be our heating fuel for many years to come.

Another vote for Worcester combi boiler.