Theo <theom+ snipped-for-privacy@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote: : Fredxx snipped-for-privacy@spam.invalid wrote: : > By way of example the 248436 is a 26 fin heat exchanger and new will : > cost ?5-600. : > : > While it is admirable to effect a repair, the economics of running an : > old boiler, plus the cost of this part assuming you can get it, makes it : > a no-brainer to upgrade to a more modern boiler.
: I would agree, although the one we had was located in the chimney breast in : the living room. Installing a regular boiler would have meant moving it (to : an outside wall, likely in the kitchen), re-piping the heating and gas to : get there, and then doing something with the gaping hole in the fireplace. : (potentially adding a gas fire if you used that function)
: That's a lot more work than just replacing a heat exchanger.
: Another thought would be, if you're going to have to relocate the boiler : anyway, it might be worth looking at a heat pump. It might be say 2x : disruption compared to moving the boiler, but the unit can go outside which : might give you more options compared with a boiler that needs to be inside.
: I agree with not throwing good money after bad though. If I were the OP, : since the boiler is still working, I'd probably be planning my next move - : which would likely mean something more substantial than trying to source a : heat exchanger to keep the old girl staggering along.
My thanks to everyone who followed-up. There were some useful pointers.
I'll check out
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My main problem with a wall mounted condensing boiler is that there is nowhere it could be installed without significantly spoiling the room it would have to go in, probably the kitchen. As you suggest there is a lot more work, plumbing involved. The built-in obsolescence of modern boilers also irritates me. Our current one must be about 50 years old. No modern condensing one is going to even get close to that!
It is pity that Baxi discontinued their 'HE' BBU which would have been something at least worth considering.
The BG engineer who serviced it said the heat exchanger had a tiny leak and that at some stage it will fail. The trouble is I don't have any idea when. Unfortunately I was out at work when he came (due to BG's admin mistake) so did not get a chance to see where the leak was myself and ask him about it.
I am not even very sure of the construction of this particular HE, from photos on suppliers websites and the engineering drawings on Baxi's website. It appears to consist of two (upper and lower) cast iron sections held together with bolts. I read elsewhere that some kind of gaskets may be involved in sealing the two sections together, and that any leaks would be more likely in/around the gaskets (which presumably can be replaced?) rather than in the the cast iron sections. I've really no idea though. I would be interested to know if anyone has taken one of these apart or has seen one close up.
Cheers Tom
: Theo
Ps. The email address in the header is just a spam-trap.