Gren Ward has cut across the debate and simply said ‘I don’t accept the premise that there is widespread agreement that they (Ed – condensing boilers) do not last as long as they used to’ – I agree fully and would apply that philosophy to most other comment as well. With superb timing my neighbour has just collared me as I was cutting the grass (I don’t always answer the door). Both are Chefs and he was helping a friend last night who has his own restaurant. The bottom line is that the boiler is ‘clapped out’ and he has to keep re-lighting it every few minutes.
Now there’s the crux of the problem. The boiler (presumably heat only) is being a regular pain in the waste disposal unit. That is to say, in fancy jargon, we have a crisis management scenario. I’m told ‘the pipes are all there’ (useful that) and it just needs a new boiler. I know there are only three radiators and assume it does hot water as well.
Normally I would turn it down on the spot and I know now I will not be doing any work there but for the purposes of Gas-News I’m going along with the project to see how it all unfolds.
Actually the chances are a good service would solve the problem. I guess the casing is adrift and hence it is not room sealed and hence pilot keeps blowing out: I’m waiting for boiler details so I can get MI.
A little something tells me he does actually want or more likely ‘need’ a new boiler. So what do I offer ? Condensing or non condensing ? Alas the answer is not that simple. He’ll want a straight swap or like for like job, which of course is illegal now as you all know.
There is also job satisfaction. I am old enough and comfortable enough to be able to pick and choose, which is what I normally do. Often by simply slicing the hefty ‘sales cut’ off British Gas quotes. That way I can do things by the numbers and still get well paid: Not in cash either and my public liability has just shot up.
System cleaning is a must whether you powerflush or do it the old way. There is also the question of controls. Chances are it has gravity hot water and there is no room stat either. Guessing now given the area and the (old) property concerned. Drain off point and is the tank accessible ?
I could and would try for a condensing option but I know now I will not make it passed the first hurdle of system cleaning and controls. We are looking at 2 to 3 hours input (quotation visit), with statistically too high a probability of no return on that investment. A best guess I know but that is how I got comfortable.
I’ve just decided not to follow up after all and a like-for-like operator can have it.
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