Does a corroded / damaged flue mean I need a new boiler?

[brian.h]

I have just purchased a flat with an Alpha 240E boiler. On getting the annual gas check (the flat is rented) the Gas Engineer has identified previously badly repaired corrosion holes in the flue and joints that have come apart. The flue is horizontal approx. 4m long and vents through a side wall.

The engineer has said the flue pipes will cost GBP100 per meter plus a similar amount to break out & replace the ceiling (the flue is in a plasterboard bulkhead) - giving a total cost of around GBP1,000. Instead, I have been recommended to buy a new electric boiler at GBP2,800, as they say the boiler which is 15 years old may only last another year or two anyway.

This seems an awful lot of cost for a failed 4m length of flue, so I am hoping you experienced engineers on this forum can give me a second opinion:

1. Does flue pipe really cost GBP100 per meter?
2. Does it have to be supplied by the original boiler manufacturer?
3. Is 15 years a realistic life for a boiler such as this?

Hope you can assist me here.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

yes and yes if you can still get hold of it and you mean gas/oil boiler not electric ?

and they engineer should of turned your boiler off/ you cant repair flues

 

[Atouchofgas]

1 maybe
2 yes
3 definitely yes

 

[hammers4spanner]

Yes to all

 

[Rickster123]

Yes to all

What he said.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

alpha spares are extortionate anyway ,bin it and get a decent boiler,he should have capped it off and made safe,why are you thinking of having electric?

 

[brian.h]

Thanks for your responses guys - very quick!

So 15 years means the boiler is close to its end of life anyway?
And the reason I was recommended electric was I think so that there was no need for a new flue.
Is electric a lot more expensive to run than gas?

 

[GrahamM]

15yrs especially for a boiler such as this Alpha is very good going!
£1000 to replace the flue this length is probably not too far off so best option is to replace boiler as your Alphas days are numbered really.
Stay away from they terrible electric boilers. Pound for pound it will cost you more to heat your home than gas!

 

[townfanjon]

Gas at the moment verses electric, roughly 3-1 in gas's favour , so yep you need a new gas boiler my friend

 

[plumben]

I have just purchased a flat with an Alpha 240E boiler. On getting the annual gas check (the flat is rented) the Gas Engineer has identified previously badly repaired corrosion holes in the flue and joints that have come apart. The flue is horizontal approx. 4m long and vents through a side wall.

The engineer has said the flue pipes will cost GBP100 per meter plus a similar amount to break out & replace the ceiling (the flue is in a plasterboard bulkhead) - giving a total cost of around GBP1,000. Instead, I have been recommended to buy a new electric boiler at GBP2,800, as they say the boiler which is 15 years old may only last another year or two anyway.

This seems an awful lot of cost for a failed 4m length of flue, so I am hoping you experienced engineers on this forum can give me a second opinion:

1. Does flue pipe really cost GBP100 per meter?
2. Does it have to be supplied by the original boiler manufacturer?
3. Is 15 years a realistic life for a boiler such as this?

Hope you can assist me here.

just this week ive replaced a 13yr old boiler due to it needing a new flue and other parts, due to the age of the boiler it works out better to install a new boiler sometimes,

get a few quotes to install a new boiler and bring the system up to scratch

 

[brian.h]

Hi again all. I have now got several quotes and the best one includes a Keston Boiler. Are Keston OK?

 

[Masood]

Hi again all. I have now got several quotes and the best one includes a Keston Boiler. Are Keston OK?

Keston are manufactured by Ideal now so I'd have fewer reservations about them. Previously they were not very good in my opinion.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I would say no not for now as above but wouldn't trust them just yet