Buy a spare boiler ?

[masona]

I understand in the next year or so we have no choice but to have condensing boilers fitted only,does this mean all others non-condensing boilers will be taken off the market ? If this the case,would it be a good investment for me to buy another floor standing potterson boiler which I can still get the exact model as I'm so please with it,specially when it's still going after 23 years with very low maintence unless I'm just lucky !

 

[emailrob]

I would assume there would still be a market for normal boilers, even if people just need them for parts. The companies will still probably make them, even if just for the export market.

I'm not sure how someone would know if you had an 'illegal' boiler...perhaps a detector van would come round and sniff out dodgy leaks....

 

[marios_kin]

Nice one Rob.

Original question though. I would consider how much money I would be tying up by buying and storing a boiler, that will be needed at some indeterminate future time. If the old one is so reliable, why bother? Especially as condensing boilers are, supposed to be, more efficient therefore costing less to run and in the long run save money.

The choice remains yours in the end.

 

[masona]

I would consider how much money I would be tying up by buying and storing a boiler, that will be needed at some indeterminate future time. If the old one is so reliable, why bother? Especially as condensing boilers are, supposed to be, more efficient therefore costing less to run and in the long run save money.
The choice remains yours in the end.

Good point,like you say where do you draw the line ?

The reason I'm asking,I've heard difference opinions regarding condensing boilers ! Do the condensing boilers works the same way as the combi ? and are they sealed system etc...

 

[sterose]

I would be inclined to say why bother.

What if something goes wrong with a component twice.

That mean both boilers are then useless.

And even if, when it comes to the crunch, you can get replacement parts, they will be more expensive.

But I assume the law will say that old boilers aren't to be repaired, if they are going to force people to buy condensing ones.

After all, you would get people just replacing the old boiler piece by piece so save buying a new condensing one.

They did the same thing in American industry, when they were forced to buy new less-pollutive equipment. There was a clause in the new law that said minor repairs were allowed to existing equipment... and so they replaced the equipment bolt by bolt to avoid having to buy new less pollutive equipment.

 

[oilman]

But I assume the law will say that old boilers aren't to be repaired, if they are going to force people to buy condensing ones

It won't have a practical effect if the law did say that. There are 20 million and more boilers in the uk, and about 1 million replaced each year. A law skewing the market like that couldn't be enforced.

The law can't even stop non-registered people from working on gas supplies.

 

[sterose]

Yes, good point.

But it would make replacement parts illegal.

 

[marios_kin]

Masona wrote

Do the condensing boilers works the same way as the combi ? and are they sealed system etc...

You can get combi or trad types of condensing boilers.
The only difference in appearance is a condensate pipe running to the outside to allow condensed water to escape.

They claim to be more efficient than standard boilers. I think, though, that they have just got more bits to go wrong. More work for plumbers. Hoorah