Is our boiler really dead? (oil combi)

[redmosquito]

Hi all

We have an old Worcester 20/25 oil fired combi. Not sure how old it is but I'd guess about 23/24 years. It started losing pressure, gradually getting worse over a few months, now it won't hold even for an hour or 2. A local plumber came and took it apart, and said that the water jacket was leaking. We filled the system up a bit, and soon after we had a big puddle collecting in the tray below the burner. He also showed us inside the combustion chamber where it was fairly rusty and damp. His opinion was that it's terminal and time for a new boiler. So basically just looking for some more opinions/confirmation that it's not repairable or not worth trying.

It's not a condensing thing and it's right in the middle of the house so replacing it is going to be a fairly big job, condensate pipe run and new flue etc. all quickly adds up.

 

[ReganAndCarter]

I don't know much about oil, but if an oil boiler has back end rot and is over 20 years old, it's scrap. You've probably had more than your money's worth out of that boiler. Your plumber is correct, time to bite the bullet.

This boiler is no more! It has ceased to be.

 

[Dan Robinson]

It sounds pretty fecked.

 

[muggles]

Yep, that's had it, time for a new one

 

[redmosquito]

Alright, 3 solid answers within an hour, time for a new one it seems!

 

[D_Hailsham]

It's not a condensing thing and it's right in the middle of the house so replacing it is going to be a fairly big job, condensate pipe run and new flue etc. all quickly adds up.

If you can meet the criteria set down in the attached pdf, you will not have to install a condensing boiler. Your installer carries out the assessment.

 

[muggles]

If you can meet the criteria set down in the attached pdf, you will not have to install a condensing boiler. Your installer carries out the assessment.

As far as I'm aware, that procedure has now been superseded by a much more stringent one... don't have sufficient Internet to search for it at the moment though!

 

[muggles]

Alright, 3 solid answers within an hour, time for a new one it seems!

Have a look at Hounsfield boilers.

 

[Dan Robinson]

As far as I'm aware, that procedure has now been superseded by a much more stringent one... don't have sufficient Internet to search for it at the moment though!

Even with that old document, I can't think of a job where a place qualified to an exemption.

 

[redmosquito]

Whether the old document or a newer one, would it still apply in Scotland?

 

[D_Hailsham]

As far as I'm aware, that procedure has now been superseded by a much more stringent one... don't have sufficient Internet to search for it at the moment though!

I thought of that, so I checked. The document is still valid.

The installed oil boiler must have a minimum efficiency of 82% (combi) or 84% (regular), measured according to SEDBUK 2009.

 

[D_Hailsham]

Whether the old document or a newer one, would it still apply in Scotland?

I have attached the Scottish version. The required efficiencies are higher than in England - 84% for Combi and 86% for Regular boilers

 

[redmosquito]

We might qualify. Doesn't seem to be much choice on non condensing oil combi boilers though. The Mistral ones are a little too wide to fit in the gap where the current one is, and Hounsfield doesn't seem to have presence anywhere near our area, if they even do combis. Could consider a cylinder and a standard boiler, but by the time we've destroyed enough of the house to wedge it in somewhere I doubt it would be any easier or cheaper.

 

[Combicert]

Deader than conversation with a stranger on the underground

 

[muggles]

Ah, apologies, missed that it was a combi. Hounsfield deliver nationwide but don't make combi boilers. I think you'll end up with a condensing one. What width do you have available?