Hi. My elderly mum lives in a 1 bed flat in sheltered accommodation.
She has a Biasi Boiler (Wall hung, fan flue, room sealed gas boiler) Model 24s...apologies copied this from the manual. So its a Combi and about 20 years old.
She has 3 rads in the flat, 1 shower. She's had it serviced regularly by a local company with a decent reputation.
Last year she paid £300 for a new microswitch.
In the last few weeks its developed a very loud whistle. It doesn't happen all of the time, I managed to get it whistling by operating the heating , then hot water and so on.
She had an engineer around yesterday, who eventually got it whistling(after 15 mins or so) said he knew what it was and replaced a Diaphragm. That didn't cure it but she was charged £110.
He now thinks its needs some kind of valve and they have quoted a further £180. Asked if this would cure the whistle they couldn't guarantee it. So after spending £300 ten months ago she could be another £300 down on a 20 year boiler that still might whistle !
I'm not sure of the technique of simply throwing new parts at a boiler at the expense of the customer in the hope it may fix it, that doesn't sound right to me but I guess its an old bit of kit.
Any suggestions ? She's open to the idea of a new boiler when Covid calms down. Should she be looking at just replacing it and what would a ball park figure be for replacing. As said, 1 bed small flat, single occupant, 3 rads, 2 taps and 1 shower.
Just to add she's on the first floor (I guess they'd need some sort of access to the external wall)
cheers
She has a Biasi Boiler (Wall hung, fan flue, room sealed gas boiler) Model 24s...apologies copied this from the manual. So its a Combi and about 20 years old.
She has 3 rads in the flat, 1 shower. She's had it serviced regularly by a local company with a decent reputation.
Last year she paid £300 for a new microswitch.
In the last few weeks its developed a very loud whistle. It doesn't happen all of the time, I managed to get it whistling by operating the heating , then hot water and so on.
She had an engineer around yesterday, who eventually got it whistling(after 15 mins or so) said he knew what it was and replaced a Diaphragm. That didn't cure it but she was charged £110.
He now thinks its needs some kind of valve and they have quoted a further £180. Asked if this would cure the whistle they couldn't guarantee it. So after spending £300 ten months ago she could be another £300 down on a 20 year boiler that still might whistle !
I'm not sure of the technique of simply throwing new parts at a boiler at the expense of the customer in the hope it may fix it, that doesn't sound right to me but I guess its an old bit of kit.
Any suggestions ? She's open to the idea of a new boiler when Covid calms down. Should she be looking at just replacing it and what would a ball park figure be for replacing. As said, 1 bed small flat, single occupant, 3 rads, 2 taps and 1 shower.
Just to add she's on the first floor (I guess they'd need some sort of access to the external wall)
cheers