Should I replace my Worcester Heatslave SLHS 20-25?

[Avocet]

Our Worcester Heatslave SLHS 20-25 is now coming up to 20 years old and, for the last few years, has been slightly troublesome. It has needed at least one new part each year. I'm also mindful that boiler technology must have come on somewhat in that time, so I might be throwing money away even if it DOESN'T need attention?

Am I likely to see any noticeable savings by fitting a new one? Are there any other makes I should be considering?

I'm also fairly certain that I have a blocked pipe somewhere too. One radiator is permanently cold and when I disconnected the pipe to the thermostatic valve, I couldn't get any water to come out! (Well, a tiny trickle). A couple of the other nearby upstairs radiators (those furthest from the boiler) are only really lukewarm. The house is just under 20 years old (boiler is original) and is mostly copper microbore pipe but some of the pipe runs are plastic.

 

[Avocet]

Obviously, the damned thing has access to the internet, has been reading my posts, and realises that it's days are numbered! Today it has been misbehaving again. Runs for about 5 minutes or so and then trips out. If I press the rubber button with the orange light behind it on the clear plastic control box, it fires up again for another 5-10 minutes and then the same thing happens. Any ideas what might be the cause please? As I'm getting a few companies round in the next week to quote for outright replacement, I don't really want to chuck any more money at it if I can help it.

 

[dcawkwell]

Oil boilers are simple devices and provided the burner is firing will work.
They are also cheap to repair short of a leak in the main heat exchanger.

Any reasonable engineer should be able to sort it out quickly.

Keep it. You will never recover the costs of a new one with efficiency savings.

A complete wild guess given the info is a solenoid coil approx £10.

 

[oilhead]

Solenoid coil needs replacing, and I wish I could buy them for £10. £15 ish + Vat

 

[Avocet]

Thanks both. I'll get someone out before winter sets in. Can't remember exactly when, but I think it's had one of those in the last few years!