Advice needed for my old dad

When I retire I hope to be rich enough to do the same.

Probably won't though.

Agile I don't know what weather compensation is and don't understand your post. Is it some technical thing or some Government hardship fund?

By the way he generally only heats his bedroom and one reception room, but wants to have the option of heating the whole house for example over Christmas when he has people staying.

Just because he owns a large house does not make him either rich or wasteful.

Oh dear.

British Gas are very good at fixing boilers but expensive when putting them in. Not putting floorboards back is not finishing the job.

Get a few local one man bands in and get advice and prices. If you can get recommendations then use them first.

Having completely new pipework put in will be incredibly disruptive and just because it's 40 years old doesn't mean it needs replacing. Replacing the radiators alone might be a good idea though, local lads will be able to advise when they see it.

Several quotes and no harm in taking the cheapest if they all come recommended.

qbeta said:

Agile I don't know what weather compensation is and don't understand your post. Is it some technical thing or some Government hardship fund?

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There is an external air temperature sensor on the North side of the building, conected to the boiler (usually). The boiler flow temperature reduces as the outside air temperature increases, so the house is kept warm at the minimum boiler flow temperature. It's more efficient and more comfortable. I'd definitely recommend for someone who's retired and whose house is occupied most of the time.

There's lots of stuff on this forum and the internet about it. Most boiler manufacturers make suitable controllers for their boilers.

Alex is the resident expert here!

Or he thinks so.

That is funny.

Thanks once again to all you helpful people, especially as you all seem to have aimed your advice at a level that I have more or less understood.

I have spoken to my Dad, who is very grateful for all the concern you have shown him by responding to my original post, although he has no previous experience of the whole concept of an internet forum. Somehow he finds it unusual for someone to reply on average 14 times a day for the last eight years to complete strangers, not get paid for it, and only be thanked for one out of every 22 messages.

Anyway, he's got a much better idea of what needs to be done thanks to you all. He knows where all the pipes run as he fitted most of them himself before Mott The Hoople split up. He understands that he'll probably need a new condenser boiler somewhere where he doesn't really want it, and he hopes he can retain most of the original copper pipework. He's resigned to losing his magnificent wall-mounted cellar manifold, and probably the second smaller boiler upstairs. And JohnD you were right about the BTUs and the kWs. My mistake.

Once again thanks everyone.

qbeta said:

Somehow he finds it unusual for someone to reply on average 14 times a day for the last eight years to complete strangers, not get paid for it, and only be thanked for one out of every 22 messages.

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You mean we don't get paid?

qbeta said:

. Somehow he finds it unusual for someone to reply on average 14 times a day for the last eight years to complete strangers, not get paid for it, and only be thanked for one out of every 22 messages.

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Yeah, but of those 14 a day, about 12 a day have been arguing with the other posters, who also each make about 14 posts a day each, but advising the exact opposte.