boiler scrappage

[Stewart]

I had hoped to qualify for the government's boiler scrappage scheme so got a
price to replace our boiler with a new high efficiency combi.
I just found out to-day that although our old boiler is over 20 years old it
has too high an efficiency (over 70%) to qualify. The old boiler is an
Ideal mexico cuper 2 so that says something for the quality of this boiler.
it is still working well and has a high efficiency level.
We may still replace it but without a grant.

 

[shazzbat]

I had hoped to qualify for the government's boiler scrappage scheme so got
a price to replace our boiler with a new high efficiency combi.
I just found out to-day that although our old boiler is over 20 years old
it has too high an efficiency (over 70%) to qualify. The old boiler is an
Ideal mexico cuper 2 so that says something for the quality of this
boiler. it is still working well and has a high efficiency level.
We may still replace it but without a grant.

I wouldn't. I didn't know about the 70% rule, but I know that at least some
of the people round here who have had their boilers changed, in one case
twice, would change back if they could. Our glow worm was put in when the
house, and the rest of the estate, was built in 1973/4. The council replaced
all the boilers in the houses still in their possession some years ago. We
didn't, and every year the guy who comes to service it says it's at 74 -
75%, and will go for years yet. I intend to keep it as long as possible.

Steve

 

[Stewart]

Steve, thanks for the comment. Unfortunately it is a combination of
circumstances that is leading to our decision to change the boiler. Our
indirect hot water cylinder has a slight leak so will not last much longer,
it is quite narrow in diameter so replacement would be difficult; also we
have had continual trouble over the last 15 years with the zone valves, both
for the central heating and for the hot water; one of them is defunct at
present and needs replacing. So that combined with the age of our boiler
has made us decide to go ahead and change to a combi, preferably a
Worcester.

"shazzbat" wrote in message

I had hoped to qualify for the government's boiler scrappage scheme so got
a price to replace our boiler with a new high efficiency combi.
I just found out to-day that although our old boiler is over 20 years old
it has too high an efficiency (over 70%) to qualify. The old boiler is an
Ideal mexico cuper 2 so that says something for the quality of this
boiler. it is still working well and has a high efficiency level.
We may still replace it but without a grant.

I wouldn't. I didn't know about the 70% rule, but I know that at least some
of the people round here who have had their boilers changed, in one case
twice, would change back if they could. Our glow worm was put in when the
house, and the rest of the estate, was built in 1973/4. The council replaced
all the boilers in the houses still in their possession some years ago. We
didn't, and every year the guy who comes to service it says it's at 74 -
75%, and will go for years yet. I intend to keep it as long as possible.

Steve

 

[Rob Miller]

Steve, thanks for the comment. Unfortunately it is a combination of
circumstances that is leading to our decision to change the boiler. Our
indirect hot water cylinder has a slight leak so will not last much
longer,
it is quite narrow in diameter so replacement would be difficult; also we
have had continual trouble over the last 15 years with the zone valves,
both
for the central heating and for the hot water; one of them is defunct at
present and needs replacing. So that combined with the age of our boiler
has made us decide to go ahead and change to a combi, preferably a
Worcester.

I had a Worcester Bosch 24i Greenstar installed 5 years ago. When the system
was designed I asked if the 24i was powerful enough and was assured that it
was. We live in a 3-bed semi so it isn't a large property. The boiler was
fine for the first 3 years then we started having problems with intermittent
boiler shutdowns causing the hot water to run cold. Not very nice if someone
is trying to have a shower. I got the Worcester Bosch engineer in as it had
a 5 year guarantee. He changed the heat exchanger as it was scaled up (we
live in a hard water area) but that didn't fix the running cold problem. So
I asked on the UK Plumbing Forum and got several replies from plumbers who
said that this problem is well known with the 24i, it isn't powerful enough
and they always fit the higher output Greenstars. They suggested I throttle
down the water supply to the boiler and that has fixed the problem. Why the
boiler worked fine for 3 years with the water supply turned full on, then
couldn't cope after 3 years, no one has been able to explain other than to
say that the 24i is known for this problem. So my advice is to make sure
that the boiler you have installed is powerful enough. This is an abridged
version of a longer story!

 

[Stewart]

Hi all, finally got a decision to-day; at government expense Scottish Gas
are going to replace my old boiler with a new condensing boiler, replace our
leaking hot water cylinder and replace the zone valves, pump etc, I am told
that we will not have to pay!!! It is not what we expected but there will
be very little disruption and why look a gifthorse in the mouth.


"Rob Miller" wrote in message

 

[Stewart]

Andy, you are quite right; there are many things that we get free from the
"Government" and who am I to turn them down. My wife and I are 77 so
qualify for lots of benefits even although we can afford to pay for them.
If the government (Scottish) stopped free bus passes, free prescriptions
etc. etc then I would not complain as I think all these things should be
means tested.

"Andy Champ" wrote in message

Hi all, finally got a decision to-day; at government expense Scottish
Gas are going to replace my old boiler with a new condensing boiler,
replace our leaking hot water cylinder and replace the zone valves, pump
etc, I am told that we will not have to pay!!! It is not what we
expected but there will be very little disruption and why look a
gifthorse in the mouth.

Good luck to you. I'll try an take a little shine off your glee though
by pointing out that the government doesn't have any actual money of its
own. It's taxpayers like me who are paying for your boiler. You may
well be paying for it yourself!

Andy

 

[Rob Miller]

Andy, you are quite right; there are many things that we get free from the
"Government" and who am I to turn them down. My wife and I are 77 so
qualify for lots of benefits even although we can afford to pay for them.
If the government (Scottish) stopped free bus passes, free prescriptions
etc. etc then I would not complain as I think all these things should be
means tested.

At least you have paid into the 'system' which is more than can be said for
some people. The politicians talk about reducing the burden of benefits
whilst keeping quiet about their massive pensions, very generous expenses,
subsidised restaurants and bars, freedom to smoke since they were careful to
exclude the Palace of Westminster from the ban on smoking in public places
legislation, and so on ......

 

[Stewart]

To-day Friday 23rd fitters from Scottish Gas came and fitted the new boiler,
cylinder, valves and pump all within 8 hours. They did an excellent job,
left the house clean and all is working perfectly; again at no cost to us!!


"Andy Champ" wrote in message

Andy, you are quite right; there are many things that we get free from
the "Government" and who am I to turn them down. My wife and I are 77
so qualify for lots of benefits even although we can afford to pay for
them. If the government (Scottish) stopped free bus passes, free
prescriptions etc. etc then I would not complain as I think all these
things should be means tested.

The cost of means testing might be more than the cost of the benefits.
Don't forget it is the civil service who would be operating such a system!

Andy