Boiler thoughts please

[WaterTight]

I recently bought my first flat and so am in possession of my first boiler. I am not gas safe/don't touch boilers etc.

The woman who sold me the flat had only been there 2 years and had little info but thought it was about ten years old and said she'd had it serviced both years.

It has had no problems so far (although stopping firing complaining of low pressure despite being still just above 1 bar the other day, small top up and it was happy, not sure if that's a symptom of anything) but I am wondering how best to prepare for problems given it's age.

Should I get on some plan which promises repairs or gives some sort of cover or is it too old and/or they are poor value for money? If there are good schemes available, which ones are good?

Or should I just save up a few grand for when it pops it's clogs for a new one? Same plan for my boiler as I have for my van, basically.

Thanks

 

[Scott_D]

Pretty solid boilers. So definatly doesn't need to be replaced unless it's pumping sludge
A decent service
Magnetic filter

 

[Last Plumber]

Not a bad boiler at all really. Have it serviced by a recommended Heating Engineer and get their opinion on its condition.

The age will be on the serial number. First two digits are the year on Baxi I think, next two are the week it was built. I can see the sticker on the drop down flap but cannot read it.
I think it was manufactured from 2006-2008 but not 100% sure as I can't read any info or model details.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Flue joint in the wall ???

 

[Harvest Fields]

Flue joint in the wall ???

Was just typing that. 😀😀

 

[Scott_D]

Whats in the baxi box?

 

[WaterTight]

Thanks all

BTG0708 is serial number. So that means it's from 2007?

Ok will get it serviced. Good to hear its decent enough.

Is the flue joint in the wall a concern or just bad practise and/or a pain for replacing boiler in future/something like that?

Would you believe I hadn't looked in the Baxi box?

 

[Scott_D]

What part of the world are you?
Be worth getting the burner gasket replaced and probes if there is no record if it.

 

[WaterTight]

Worthing.

Know of a good few reputable guys round here so won't be a problem getting it looked over.

 

[king of pipes]

Pretty much bomb proof bud unless it's been abused get it serviced properly a full strip down heat exchanger and spark electrode and rectifacation probe changed expandion vessel checked and repressuried and you should be good to go , flue joint needs sorting really . Cheers kop

 

[WaterTight]

Morning all.
So as of last couple days it's been playing up a bit. Noticed now and then, the heating would go off without turning it off. I *think* while using hot water. Or at least one time anyway.
Then the opposite problem this morning. Currently will do hot water but no heats. No error codes, tried resetting and the ol' off 'n' on again.
Since it sounds like would be good to get it given a full servicing and check over I guess now would be a good time but is there anything I can do/check in meantime to tide me over the weekend before I bring out the electric heaters or start showering at the gym?
In case anyone just dipping into this thread for first time without reading I am not gas safe and know/do zero relating to electics.
Thanks

 

[king of pipes]

You will always have hot water priority the boiler can only do one thing at a time , is there a room stat Wireless maybe ? Check batteries and ensure theres a call for heat, via the timer and stat . Kop

 

[WaterTight]

Ah, I see. Would it be normal for heating still to not be on a good 45 mins after last using hot water? That's currently the case.

I'm only really following you vaguely on the other stuff you say as I've stayed well away from it all over the years. But here's what I've checked. This fella has just had new batteries, just in case but was on and showing readings before so I guess old ones were ok (heating turned up full to make sure it's being called for):

The light is still lit up on the boiler for hot water now, the heating one isn't. But given what you said, not sure now how long after using hot water heating would remain off?

 

[WaterTight]

Whatever this fella is (in cupboard with boiler) it appears to be happy. A receiver of some sort from the room stat?

 

[WaterTight]

Oh and the timer on the actual boiler set to constant.

 

[king of pipes]

All looks good put stat up to 30 degrees see if the boiler fires for heating ?, there is a time delay but no not 45 minutes 1-2-3 at most , could be a service call you must have a mate local who can help you out . Kop

 

[WaterTight]

So the heating just turned on by itself, seconds after stopping using the hot water again.

I'll get someone in to look at it and service.

Can you tell me what the hot water/heating lights staying on and going off mean though? Why had the hot water light stayed on for ages after last using hot water and now goes off as the heating decides to finally come on?

Do they stay on for as long as the water in the DHW / CH circuit run is within a good temp range or something?

 

[WaterTight]

When I say heating came on by itself I mean the stat had been left at high for a while and then it fired up a good while later. I just tried turning stat down and up a few times and heating goes off / boiler fires up, goes off, as expected

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Could be the hot water sensor is sticking so not going back in and holding etc

 

[WaterTight]

Interesting. Should the hot water light go off within say a couple of mins of no demand for hot water?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yea unless you have a leak

Should be instant if you have pre heat off

 

[king of pipes]

Could be a sensor fault but hard to tell without being in front of it. Kop

 

[king of pipes]

The Green lights will come on to tell you if the boiler is in heating mode or hot water mode the orange flame symbol tells you that the boiler has fired up , there is normally up to a 3 minute delay on switching between heating and hot water modes dependant on the boiler temperature, no pre heat on this particular model so you can disregard that to me it's working ok may need a bit of tlc but definitely not terminal . Kop

 

[WaterTight]

Thanks all. Very helpful.

 

[WaterTight]

Pretty much bomb proof bud unless it's been abused get it serviced properly a full strip down heat exchanger and spark electrode and rectifacation probe changed expandion vessel checked and repressuried and you should be good to go , flue joint needs sorting really . Cheers kop

Finally hoping to now get round to getting the above done (or at least have it serviced and see what is suggested.)

If it is agreed that it needs a good overhaul which a bunch of bits done like detailed above can someone give me a very rough idea of cost? Are we talking £200? £500? £1000? Or is it impossible to say. South East.