Price of replacement boiler

[rubble2]

Thanks for all the input,

I was not really considering replacing the boiler, just taken aback by the price suggested by the 'surveyor'. My Mother was paying £49 a month for gas, so if a replacement boiler was 30% more efficient that would save approx £15 per month. On that basis, replacing a boiler for 2K would take 11 years to pay back (38 years if the replacement cost 7K).

As far as I am concerned the flat has a safe working boiler, is someone wants to replace it in the name of greater efficiency, then good luck to them, that is their decision.

 

[fatplumber]

Those figures are optimistic. The greatest saving is in changing to non-stored hot water. I halved my bills when I put a combi in.

 

[bengasman]

Hokey dokey, I had a long discussion with the energy bloke doing some rented stuff for me. He said that boiler efficiency was one of the smallest factors in his assessment. Controls, lagging, insulation and windows were the main factors.

Never seen, nor heard of an epc chappie that checked either. How would they check it?
"Excuse me madam, could you stand aside whilst I rip up your carpet and break out some floor boards to check your lagging and insulation?"

What a load of bol-llockxs.

 

[fatplumber]

Hokey dokey, I had a long discussion with the energy bloke doing some rented stuff for me. He said that boiler efficiency was one of the smallest factors in his assessment. Controls, lagging, insulation and windows were the main factors.

Never seen, nor heard of an epc chappie that checked either. How would they check it?
"Excuse me madam, could you stand aside whilst I rip up your carpet and break out some floor boards to check your lagging and insulation?"

What a load of bol-llockxs.

DHW cylinder and roof insulation perhaps?

 

[bengasman]

Must admit I had not thought about bare cylinders, but I suppose they still exist.
Could have been loft insulation, but I never heard of them climbing into the loft either, I wouldn't think their contract would require that as a lot of lofts don't have safe access.
Might be a case of assumption being the mother of all vuckups.

 

[fatplumber]

If he didn't look in the loft i wouldn't pay him.

 

[Agile]

A combi is only marginally more efficient that the best stored water system when its in daily use for a family.

The home inspector can usually look into the loft with a short stepladder to see what insulation is there.

You would be surprised just how many lofts I see have little or no insulation.

Still a lot of copper cylinders with red jackets in poor condition!

Tony

 

[bengasman]

If he didn't look in the loft i wouldn't pay him.

Why is that?
It is a piece of paper that you need to let or sell a property, and apart from that it has no value whatsoever as it is not compiled by somebody who knows what he is on about.
I was told by a guy who usually has his facts right, that part of the "assessment" is based on what is common for that type of property, and not whether or not that is the case for the address.
Don't hold me to this, I have not verified it myself as I couldn't care less, but my source is normally pretty reliable and accurate.

 

[nickso]

If he didn't look in the loft i wouldn't pay him.

Why is that?
It is a piece of paper that you need to let or sell a property, and apart from that it has no value whatsoever as it is not compiled by somebody who knows what he is on about.
I was told by a guy who usually has his facts right, that part of the "assessment" is based on what is common for that type of property, and not whether or not that is the case for the address.
Don't hold me to this, I have not verified it myself as I couldn't care less, but my source is normally pretty reliable and accurate.

fatplumber obviously has a problem with some sort of percieved value for money for what he thinks is a service. most of us know its a waste of time.

if part of the assesment is based on what is common for that property you would have to assume that is for the parts they cant reach i.e. whether its a cavity wall or whether its insulated underfloor etc. i would still expect him to look in the loft if he is going to make an "accurate" examination of the property otherwise he could sit in his car and do it just as effectively by making guesses based on the age of the house and what flue he sees sticking out of the building.

 

[bengasman]

i would still expect him to look in the loft if he is going to make an "accurate" examination of the property otherwise he could sit in his car and do it just as effectively by making guesses based on the age of the house and what flue he sees sticking out of the building.

That is spot on geeze, and it does actually happen, and better.

Mate of mine got it done over the phone; cheapest he could find, and convenient too.

I compare the EPC to a driving license; you do need one, but other than that, as long as it is valid and legal, the cheaper the better.

 

[fatplumber]

I expect to get what I pay for. I am the one who will be renting the place out and I don't want some smart alec tenant, agent or rent officer looking at something and accusing me of cutting corners. I too think that the energy cert is a waste of time and money but then for a lot of us so is ACS. It is what is required and I am not going to pay for something that isn't being done.

 

[bengasman]

It is what is required and I am not going to pay for something that isn't being done.

That is why I recommend to everybody to phone around and get the cheapest you can find. Other than complying with the law as yet another red-tape invention, it has no use whatsoever.
It is a complete waste of money anyway, but as you said, it is required.

 

[Agile]

The idea is very good but the whole point of the HIP was originally to do away with the delay involved in getting a survey and interpreting the result and getting a mortgage on the property.

That was very good because a property with a difficulty could have several surveys done because they disclosed a problem the banks would not lend on.

Unfortnunately that all fell through because the banks would not accept a third party survey. The rest of the HIP we are left with is largely irrelevant. and a cost burden on the seller.

Ben could you email me with the contact details of the phone service HIP as I will need one soon and that seems the best solution to obtain one.

Tony

 

[bengasman]

Will ask my mate.