I would appreciate some comments, please. My boiler has packed up and it is a bit like an old car in that parts and labour are going into it without a fix!
I am told that 15 years is a good "life" for a combi and this one is 17 years old. A couple of years ago the valve inside (Transfer Valve?) failed so when I wanted hot water the boiler tried to run the water and the radiators as well; this wasn't a problem, for me. Last month it got worse; it would light up when required but go out after about a minute and then relight for about a minute and so on. It would heat the radiators but wasn't good for a hot bath or shower!
I have had 3 visits from a local engineer, the transfer valve and the heat exchanger have been replaced as a cost of about £250 plus labour and the next step, based on advice from the maker's tech support dept, is to replace the PCB @ about £100 and confdence is not high that this will fix the problem.
A new boiler will be way more efficient than my current one, although my gas bill is only £200 a year anyway, and I can get one supplied and fitted between £1500 and £2000. I can get a £300 grant to assist me with this cost and I am inclined to go for the new boiler rather than keep throwing money, may be to no good effect, at a 17 year old one which was fine when it used to work but now doesn't. A new boiler isn't going to reduce my fuel costs much but it will work properly, have a warranty and might last longer than me!
Members thoughts and comments most welcome. Thanks.
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