Installation of a New CH Boiler; Regulations?

[Ross365]

I’m in the process of getting estimates to have a new oil-fired boiler installed.
Some people are telling me that, under the current regulations, they will have to make changes to my system including replacement of the old hot water tank and the installation of zone valves.

I have no doubt that such changes would give me a more efficient system, but can someone tell me if these are mandatory changes which must be made?

TIA

 

[dan treg]

under building regulations part l 2010 and subsequent updates when there is significant works carried on a controlled service ie a heating system this what it should have to comply - Building Regulations Part L 2010 FAQ Sheet Minimum Standard of control • Timer for heating and hot water with independent times • A room thermostat for the living zone • A room thermostat for the sleeping zone • Two motorised zone valves • A cylinder thermostat • A hot water motorised zone valve • An automatic bypass valve • Radiator thermostats on all radiators . so quite a lot not sure if that helps or not and doesn't mean automatically you need to replace tanks and the zone valves can be done using remote trvs rather than phyically splitting the system

 

[Kayos]

It may depend on what the system is. If you have a gravity dhw system then it will need zone valves (because you don't have any)
If it's a Primatic system you will need a new cylinder as the old one will not work with the new boiler

You haven't supplied enough info to answer if I am honest

I have been a heating engineer for 20+ years, happy to advise but the person who has seen it will have their reasons. I'd get more than 1 quote

 

[ajlelectronics]

TRVs OK, A sleeping room thermostat OK, but not in the same room surely?

 

[Chippie]

Fwiw, I had my boiler replaced for a new gas one….

Got 3 estimates…one of which was from a one man band…rejected his on the grounds of, if he is I’ll, who will fix it? ( Jimmy Saville neednt apply…) went with BG in the end…( well I did get an employee discount of 25%….)

 

[Morrisman]

Fwiw, I had my boiler replaced for a new gas one….

Got 3 estimates…one of which was from a one man band…rejected his on the grounds of, if he is I’ll, who will fix it? ( Jimmy Saville neednt apply…) went with BG in the end…( well I did get an employee discount of 25%….)

I asked the BG tech last week about getting a new boiler installed, but in the kitchen, not out the back of my garage. He reckons I will get a decent discount as a long time Homecare customer, plus they may well buy back my old boiler.

It had a full rebuild last December when it burst, on the coldest day of the year..... so I shall only move it if it needs replacing. As it stands hot water has to come about 30 feet to reach my kitchen, and about the same with the nearest radiator.

 

[Chippie]

As it stands hot water has to come about 30 feet to reach my kitchen, and about the same with the nearest radiator.

Wow, that must be a lot of wasted water?

 

[Ross365]

Thanks for the replies. The water tank is gravity fed - I don't think it is Primatic. I've asked 3 (recommended) people for estimates, but haven't got anything in writing yet - everyone seems busy. The house was built in the mid-60's, and I think the heating went in after the build. It is just about the most basic heating system you could have. I've put TRV's on most of the upstairs radiators.

I don't expect to be in this house for more than a couple of years. It is is the only house on the street which has not been extended (large gardens).
I think that whoever buys it will really make some big changes, so the idea of paying out money for changes now, that may be ripped out quite soon, really tees me off.

 

[Onoff]

went with BG in the end

Appalling service I've found. Seems like by and large they employ the lowest of low life "engineers" none of who sing from the same hymn sheet and the majority of whom I can't but wonder are on some sort of commision. My Dad was a BG pensioner, dying, with a broken boiler and the service was appalling. Experienced it elsewhere too. One guy attending took the blunderbuss diagnostic approach; could be the heat exchanger, pcb, or sensor. Ordered them all. Next guy reckoned they were wrong. One after that when the right parts turned up "I'm not fitting them, you need a new boiler" etc. Another just said it needed a flush. At my Dad's they removed a mag filter they had previously fitted when he had a new boiler. Then they said he had "sludge".

Probably 1 in 10 seemed competent. Rude too some of them. Frequently turn up early presumably so they don't have a late one. I've arrived well in advance of an appointment time to see the BG engineer driving away.

Not having a dig at you btw.

 

[Robotstar5]

Fwiw, I had my boiler replaced for a new gas one….

Got 3 estimates…one of which was from a one man band…rejected his on the grounds of, if he is I’ll, who will fix it? ( Jimmy Saville neednt apply…) went with BG in the end…( well I did get an employee discount of 25%….)

We had our ancient heating replaced about 10 years ago, had a couple of quotes from local companies which were comparable and thought I'd get one from BG as they were doing some special offers on boiler replacements. Their salesman sat in the lounge with his laptop asking how many rooms we had etc. and without looking round the house gave us a quote, I asked what size radiators we would have and he said "whatever size you want", that comment plus the fact they were 30% over the other quotes cost them the job.

 

[Chippie]

Not having a dig at you btw.

No worries,

We are current with them for our energy, their service is appalling…
They changed to a new billing system recently, with no explanation.

Ive asked on several occasions where my money has gone, they’ve sent bills for gas several times and one for elec…No explanation, and I can’t reconcile the amounts of money I’ve paid against the bills…
Time to move on to the next..,

 

[Morrisman]

Wow, that must be a lot of wasted water?

Yes, which is why I generally never use it any more. Tap running and boiler burning gas for several minutes just to get a bit of hot water. There's only me here, I wash up as I use stuff, cold water works well enough for that.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Appalling service I've found. Seems like by and large they employ the lowest of low life "engineers" none of who sing from the same hymn sheet and the majority of whom I can't but wonder are on some sort of commision. My Dad was a BG pensioner, dying, with a broken boiler and the service was appalling. Experienced it elsewhere too. One guy attending took the blunderbuss diagnostic approach; could be the heat exchanger, pcb, or sensor. Ordered them all. Next guy reckoned they were wrong. One after that when the right parts turned up "I'm not fitting them, you need a new boiler" etc. Another just said it needed a flush. At my Dad's they removed a mag filter they had previously fitted when he had a new boiler. Then they said he had "sludge".

Probably 1 in 10 seemed competent. Rude too some of them. Frequently turn up early presumably so they don't have a late one. I've arrived well in advance of an appointment time to see the BG engineer driving away.

Not having a dig at you btw.

Next door neighbour had BG install a new boiler after a sales talk by yearly service engineer. They now have an ugly condensate pipe running around 15' from side of house all the way around to the back grid - this was instead of tapping into a waste pipe a couple of feet away. Very messy install and nothing but trouble - neighbour says they wished they kept the old "uneconomical" boiler !

 

[hermetic]

Thanks for the replies. The water tank is gravity fed - I don't think it is Primatic. I've asked 3 (recommended) people for estimates, but haven't got anything in writing yet - everyone seems busy. The house was built in the mid-60's, and I think the heating went in after the build. It is just about the most basic heating system you could have. I've put TRV's on most of the upstairs radiators.

I don't expect to be in this house for more than a couple of years. It is is the only house on the street which has not been extended (large gardens).
I think that whoever buys it will really make some big changes, so the idea of paying out money for changes now, that may be ripped out quite soon, really tees me off.

if you already have an oil fired boiler, unless the core is leaking, why not just get it repaired?
Phil

 

[Seadog]

I wouldn't touch BG with a barge pole.

 

[Ross365]

if you already have an oil fired boiler, unless the core is leaking, why not just get it repaired?
Phil

That is an option. It's an old Myson Velair, long since out of production, and over some years I was buying spares for it off ebay. I do have a complete replacement burner for it. I've fitted replacements stats and done some other repairs myself, but the worst case scenario is a fault I cannot fix myself needing a part no one can get.....in the middle of a freezing January.

Anyway, yet another day has passed where none of the 3 "bidders" have submitted a quote. When I phone them they have been very busy and it will be here in a day or two.

 

[Bornfree]

That is an option. It's an old Myson Velair, long since out of production, and over some years I was buying spares for it off ebay. I do have a complete replacement burner for it. I've fitted replacements stats and done some other repairs myself, but the worst case scenario is a fault I cannot fix myself needing a part no one can get.....in the middle of a freezing January.

Anyway, yet another day has passed where none of the 3 "bidders" have submitted a quote. When I phone them they have been very busy and it will be here in a day or two.

If you've got a spare burner there's not much else on an old oil fired boiler to go wrong.

 

[Kayos]

To be fair the weather has turned. When I ran the domestic boiler business October onwards was mental, non stop, 8 days a week

 

[Robotstar5]

To be fair the weather has turned. When I ran the domestic boiler business October onwards was mental, non stop, 8 days a week

That's why I book the services on our fire and boiler in September

 

[Kayos]

That's why I book the services on our fire and boiler in September

I did very little servicing work, but it was all brought forward to just before winter