[OpenTRV-interest] Boiler replacement economics (Was: Weather compensation)

[Simon Hobson]

John <john at stumbles.org.uk> wrote:

> But they say they estimate that replacing standard- with high-efficiency boilers from 2005 onwards (for a change from SEDBUK c.80% to c.90%) resulted in average savings of around £95 a year ...

And one has to wonder, how many people were persuaded to replace a perfectly functional boiler with a new one because "it'll save you money".
On the basis of those figures, I'd say that replacing a boiler that doesn't need replacing for some other reason will never reach a payback point (even ignoring the cost of finance etc) - if a replacement costs (say) £2k* and will save £100/yr, then that means it'll take 20 years to repay through reduced gas bills.

I've lived with 20 year old "old" boilers in the past, I have zero expectation of any "modern" boiler lasting that long - especially a combi with all the extra gubbins to break (or just leak onto the electrics). So the replacement would be needing replacing before it had paid for itself.


* I think that's on the low side. I've been quoted £3k for a new on in the flat, and mum was quoted £6k by BG - I had her cancel the order when I found out and she had a local outfit fit one for half that.
The one in the flat is about 20 years old - it's the original ! I'm hoping it'll last a few years yet for the simple reason that I haven't worked out what to do with the flue when a new one goes in. None of the proposals so far has been aesthetically acceptable to me.