Time to Replace a Central Heating Pump?

[Ross365]

My central heating pump was here in the house when we moved in 32 years ago, and I guess it is probably ~40 years old, which I believe is a pretty good age. It’s a Grundfos Selectric 4. I have no indication that it’s approaching end of life, but I do wonder whether it would be wise to replace it now, rather than wait until it fails on a Friday night in February. I think I can do the swap myself, but it may take me a bit more time than a pro would need.

So, ‘does the Team think’, yes, it’s given very good service, to time to replace it or “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
Unlike the modern installations, it does not have a 22mm/ 11/2inch gatevalve attached, but uses a whole string of reducer fittings together with a 22/22mm valve (see pic).

If I did decide to replace it, what would anyone suggests as a good replacement. I very much doubt we will be here for another 32 years, so we can go for a mid-range item price-wise. Thanks

 

[RichardM]

Does it have a valve both sides?

 

[waddycall]

I’m a qualified heating engineer and if was mine I’d leave it well alone. Just touching those valves could be a whole world of pain.

 

[Morris]

I'm not a heating engineer and touching those valves was a whole world of pain.
Complete drain down and working in a cramped space.

 

[addjunkie]

If its not broke dont fix it, byall means have a spare plus valves etc on the shelf, plus a bottle of the anti corrosion stuff.

 

[Slowcoach]

Is that a union in the middle of the line of adapters, or half of one as I thought they came in two halves.

 

[Kayos]

Looks like 3/4 pipe and a nightmare

As a job, I'd want to be draining the system and fitting new valves

Or snatch it, anything other than touch those valves

 

[brightspark]

its a quality pump just leave well alone if its not leaking or noisy they last donkeys years .think mines 30 years old was transfered on to a new boiler 10 years ago

 

[hunter27]

Is that a union in the middle of the line of adapters, or half of one as I thought they came in two halves.

The thicker steel nut is a union that can screw directly on to the pump thread but over the years pumps have got shorter.
3/4" olives can be used on old 3/4"pipe using 22mm compression fittings but discarding the 22mm olives supplied as long as the pipe is not damaged.

 

[angellonewolf]

as above if it sounds ok leave it

 

[hotponyshoes]

I get what you are saying about the Friday night in February when it is guaranteed to fail...

I do a bit of pre-emptive mantainance on (what some would call) critical facilities so I'm used to stocking spares and having them ready to fit.

On my own house? No. I'd be leaving it alone.

Maybe run the risk assessment first..

Do you have any other source of heating?

Worst case scenario, it fails at 8pn on a Friday in Feb when it's-10⁰c. It's snowing heavily so even amazon prime won't deliver until the following Tuesday.
Does anyone in the house have a medical condition that will threaten them if they spend 4 days Sat under a blanket?
If they do, are you too proud to call one of the emergency services and get them taken to a travelodge?
Are you physically fit enough to chop up the garden furniture and burn it in a bucket if life depends on it?
And so on..

I expect the quality of a 30yr old pump is far better than a new one.
It would kind of make sense to do that job now, in the warm, without a rush. Drain the system, cut the pipe on the outside of both valves and replace the lot with new.
Then set a reminder to operate the valves a few times a year to stop them sticking.
Then be prepared to replace the modern pump when it fails just after the warranty runs out.

Plus run the risk of murphy's law kicking in and the boiler breaking or the radiator leaking just because you have messed with the system..

Myself, I can think of several ways to survive without central heating for a while so I'd just worry about it if/when it stops

 

[Mark 5]

My central heating pump was here in the house when we moved in 32 years ago, and I guess it is probably ~40 years old, which I believe is a pretty good age. It’s a Grundfos Selectric 4. I have no indication that it’s approaching end of life, but I do wonder whether it would be wise to replace it now, rather than wait until it fails on a Friday night in February. I think I can do the swap myself, but it may take me a bit more time than a pro would need.

So, ‘does the Team think’, yes, it’s given very good service, to time to replace it or “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
Unlike the modern installations, it does not have a 22mm/ 11/2inch gatevalve attached, but uses a whole string of reducer fittings together with a 22/22mm valve (see pic).

If I did decide to replace it, what would anyone suggests as a good replacement. I very much doubt we will be here for another 32 years, so we can go for a mid-range item price-wise. Thanks

But even 6 month old CH pumps can fail on a Friday night in February.

If existing works and works well, leave alone.

Having said that nothing like being prepared, any replacement should be easy enough. you don't need to buy a pump yet but fittings and a plan might be a good idea in advance.

 

[Blobber]

Have you seen the price of those pumps these days!

 

[brightspark]

Have you seen the price of those pumps these days!

yep grundfoss eye watering theres a lot cheaper pumps that are well reliable

 

[Ross365]

Thanks for the replies guys. It does have an identical valve arrangement on both sides. I think the point is well made that stuff that was made 40 years ago can sometimes make modern products look pretty poor. We have a Hotpoint washing machine which has just had its 40th Birthday and though a few bits of the plastic trim on the front have broken off, it all still works very well indeed. I suspect few washing machines being sold now will still be around in 40 years!

So, I'll give the pump a pat and thank it for its services. But as we've touched on the price of replacement ones, just as a point of information, what's the thinking on what to buy just in case I need to know that in February? We do have an open fire place and a handful of electric heaters so should survive if the worst happens.

 

[Kayos]

Wilo, better than Grundfoss these days

I specify Wilo on all my big jobs these days

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

If its not broke dont fix it, byall means have a spare plus valves etc on the shelf,

This is good advice...leave well alone but have the spares to hand.

I have a stock of zone valves in the loft...saved me quite a few times!

Those pumps are more like circulators so I don't think they have a particularly hard life.

I suspect the 40 year old pump is probably far better quality Vs any replacement!

 

[gaz1]

My central heating pump was here in the house when we moved in 32 years ago, and I guess it is probably ~40 years old, which I believe is a pretty good age. It’s a Grundfos Selectric 4. I have no indication that it’s approaching end of life, but I do wonder whether it would be wise to replace it now, rather than wait until it fails on a Friday night in February. I think I can do the swap myself, but it may take me a bit more time than a pro would need.

So, ‘does the Team think’, yes, it’s given very good service, to time to replace it or “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
Unlike the modern installations, it does not have a 22mm/ 11/2inch gatevalve attached, but uses a whole string of reducer fittings together with a 22/22mm valve (see pic).

If I did decide to replace it, what would anyone suggests as a good replacement. I very much doubt we will be here for another 32 years, so we can go for a mid-range item price-wise. Thanks

time how long it takes to heat your place up on cold days

if its taking a long time to heat all rads up equally then its time to replace the pump but please make sure all your system is balanced right to make sure the heat is hitting all rads at once

but im with above if its still working right leave it alone ive just had to replace the capacitor last year on the boilers pump last year should last another 10 years or more but the way things are made nowadays i suspect it will be faulty again in less than 10 years

 

[RichardM]

I'd just check the valves open and close, then at least you will know if it will be relatively easy to replace if the time comes.

 

[angellonewolf]

I'd just check the valves open and close, then at least you will know if it will be relatively easy to replace if the time comes.

Id not do that especially if they not been moved for years they might not move they might move and once opened weep a bit or worst case close and never open and if you don't know taps you think it's open as you unwound it but the copper was brittle and come away from the closer the head retracts but the closer does not if working leave alone