old (maybe) floor standing boiler...

[rob7475]

Hi,

we are in the process of buying a house and i'm after a bit of advice about the central heating and hot water system.

there is a Stelrad group ideal mexico boiler in the cellar which i guess only provides CH? In one of the bedrooms i saw a water tank. never though to check how the water is heated. will the boiler heat the water in the tank or is it more likely to be electric?

Also, does anyone know how old these boilers are and if they are any good?

Thanks,

Rob

 

[simond]

It will usually provide hot water via a cylinder and CH.

It will probably be 20 years old and will certainly be inefficient by todays standards.

Some will argue that it may soldier on longer; I would take the view that you should allow £5K in your budget for replacement at some point in the near future.

 

[BingoBongo]

most likely senario is the boiler heating the tank (think of it like a radiator inside the tank of water) and it may have an electric immersor as a back up.

is the mexico open flued?

 

[kevplumb]

It will probably be 20 years old and will certainly be inefficient by todays standards.

yup and a damn sight more reliable than the carp the same lot is knocking out now

5k add another 2 at least for repairs to the replacement

 

[rob7475]

thanks for the info. would it really cost 5k to have the boiler taken out and a combi fitted?

how much less efficient is this type of system than a combi? Are these boilers more reliable than a new combi?

sorry about all the questions - i'm just trying to figure what we will need to spend on the house.

cheers

rob

 

[simond]

Who mentioned a combi?

The Mexico is reliable because it is a cast iron radiator with a flame under it. It also wastes about 35p in the £ by sending the heat up the flue.

I'm not giving you a quote for a new system, I was just trying to be helpful regarding your prospective house purchase.

No one here can tell you what you will need and how much it will cost without a site visit.

 

[rob7475]

sorry, just assumed everyone installed combis these days.