New Boiler...

We need a new boiler. Hands down, no questions asked. But our old boiler still works...

So here is the question...do we wait until it dies and I am stuck in a freezing cold house on Christmas Eve with my toddler or do we get it fixed before it actually dies and we are freezing?

We have the money...we just don't want the upheaval right now.
What do you think???

Speaking as a woman who has had central heating die over the holiday period, I would hedge my bets and get it done ASAP if finances allow.  We were gone for a week after Christmas 2 years ago and came back to the most bone chillingly cold house.  It felt warmer outside.  Do it woman!

get one now.  it will be cheaper & less unheavel if it's done planned.   you can take your time (realtively speaking) picking out the boiler you want, getting quotes, planning a day or two to be out of the house while its done.  

they replaced my boiler about a year ago.  it was about 4 hours of work (although i don't know if this is indicitive or not)

If it was me i'd get it done straight away...money would be the only thing stopping me.  Not having heat whilst the boiler is being installed is easily prepared for (hire/buy temp heaters?) whereas it shutting down unexpectantly over christmas (or at anytime) would be a nightmare? 

Surely there's a lead in time for engineers to come fit it so you'd have to factor that into the equation also?

I'm afraid I like my heat and would hate to be without it with no certain idea of when it was to be replaced...brrrrrr...I could take the upheaval any day over that!

Also speaking from experience..

Get it done asap ...

A cold house with cold water is miserable in winter...   to make sure we never experience it again, we purposely installed an electric shower in one of the bathrooms in case the boiler and gas powered system ever goes kaput. At least we'd have a hot water source, and thats of course the leccy doesn't go as well!

I feel cold just thinking about when we went through that!

Cheers! DtM! West London UK!

We just went from a water tank system with a back boiler to a condenser boiler. It was a lot of pipe work, gas pipes, etc and took 3 days from 8 am until 4 pm every day.  We had a space heater during the day to keep us warm and the gas fire wasn't taken out until the last day so that was used as well.

Definitely do it when the boiler is still working. If it burst, it could flood the house and cause all kinds of damage.  Our back boiler was days from bursting so I'm glad we scheduled it when we did.

If you have to do it at the last minute, you may be charged extra or not be able to find anyone available so schedule early.

~BEG

If you have the money, get it done.

We have no heat, no hot water, no shower...and no money.

Get it done.

We had a new combi boiler installed in our old house as our old one always seemed to crash during the coldest months of the year.
This house has an old boiler but we pay for the British Gas monthly insurance cover just in case it breaks down we're covered.
If your old boiler still works then why do you need a new one? Have you considered a cover plan for it?

We had a new combi boiler installed in our old house as our old one always seemed to crash during the coldest months of the year.
This house has an old boiler but we pay for the British Gas monthly insurance cover just in case it breaks down we're covered.
If your old boiler still works then why do you need a new one? Have you considered a cover plan for it?

It works but its old (about 15 years) and its on its way out. Its too old to be considered for a coverage plan. It needs replacing. We will do it soon, as soon as my husband pulls his finger out.

This house has an old boiler but we pay for the British Gas monthly insurance cover just in case it breaks down we're covered.

We have that as well, for electricity, gas, plumbing, etc..  Its good for piece of mind.

It works but its old (about 15 years) and its on its way out.

You know what's kind of ironic?    A lot of these which were installed in the 1980s/1990s were replacements for older boilers, and I bet if the old ones had been left in service with a little maintenance they'd still be going strong today. 

I still see old Vulcan Continental and similar 30 to 40-year-old boilers in homes today, and personally I'd rather keep one of those running for as long as parts are available than replace it with a modern equivalent. 

"They don't make 'em like they used to" is certainly very apt when it comes to heating boilers.