Told boiler needs a new expansion vessel along with pressure relief valve - how much should this be?

[Sarah Wykes]

Hi

We have a vaillant turbo max 824e rs combi boiler that has been serviced and we've been told that the boiler is found to be gas safe but is in need of a new expansion vessel along with a pressure relief valve.

How much should be expected to pay for this (Coventry)? I have only one quote from the guy who did the gas safety record. We were told that the boiler might need to be removed completely from the wall to have the new vessel fitted that the price could be significantly reduced if there was more headroom above the boiler so the old tank could be raised up from behind.

Sarah

 

[Harvest Fields]

Hi

We have a vaillant turbo max 824e rs combi boiler that has been serviced and we've been told that the boiler is found to be gas safe but is in need of a new expansion vessel along with a pressure relief valve.

How much should be expected to pay for this (Coventry)? I have only one quote from the guy who did the gas safety record. We were told that the boiler might need to be removed completely from the wall to have the new vessel fitted that the price could be significantly reduced if there was more headroom above the boiler so the old tank could be raised up from behind.

Sarah

Should be day rate plus parts and VAT if Registered. Is the flue vertical or horizontal? Where is the boiler located? Each engineers day rate is different though Sarah. What have you been quoted?

 

[townfanjon]

Sorry I dont know the boiler but this applys to most , if you have a horizontal flue and the vessel is at the back of the boiler yes the boiler has to come off the wall .

 

[Deleted member 32524]

fit am external one.

 

[Sharp Point]

fit am external one.

I second that, as a 15 year old boiler certainly wouldn’t like being taken off the wall and being problem free afterwards. Also the potential of needing a new flue, if it won’t move ..allowing it to come free of the elbow, and there’s the dried up flue seals.

The list could go on and on

 

[Harvest Fields]

I second that, as a 15 year old boiler certainly wouldn’t like being taken off the wall and being problem free afterwards. Also the potential of needing a new flue, if it won’t move ..allowing it to come free of the elbow, and there’s the dried up flue seals.

The list could go on and on

Only if there is space for one.

 

[Sharp Point]

Only if there is space for one.

That’s certainly true HF

 

[Sarah Wykes]

Should be day rate plus parts and VAT if Registered. Is the flue vertical or horizontal? Where is the boiler located? Each engineers day rate is different though Sarah. What have you been quoted?

We have been quoted £350-£400 and also told that if we considered fitting a new boiler the pipework we have is too small and would need to be replaced, thus would mean ripping up all of the kitchen floor. He said that the boiler is currently safe but keeps on losing pressure so will start cutting out more and we are getting the property ready to rent and obviously do not want the people renting to have problems, although it only cut out once in a blue moon when we lived there, it does seem to be losing pressure more now though.

Regards
Sarah

 

[Harvest Fields]

Any chance of some pictures of the boiler and pipework and gas meter please.

 

[Sarah Wykes]

Any chance of some pictures of the boiler and pipework and gas meter please.

I should be able to get some tomorrow

Regards
Sarah

 

[jtsplumbing]

If enough room above or flue can be removed it can be done with boiler on the wall, or if there the space fit an external tank,
But to be Blunt a 15 year old boiler and your going to be renting I would replace it, you don't want to be forever having to call someone out, that could amount to more than the cost of a new boiler, get some more quotes and go from there.

 

[DevsAd]

Hi Sarah.

Even tho' the cost of the actual exp vessel for this model is surprisingly reasonable, there is a lot of work involved in your case as said above, so that quote seems pretty reasonable.

Do you know what an external exp vessel is? Big ugly things, but if you have room somewhere to have one fitted, then it'll save having to disturb your boiler. Yours will likely not have to be as big as this one, but it gives you an idea:


Dead easy to fit (if there's room...) so will be cheaper and it will sort your issue - tho' you also need that PRV replaced.

The 'pipework too small' they referred to is almost certainly the gas supply pipe; good chance your current one is only 15mm?

 

[plumbandplumber]

I've got the same boiler, and had the same problem. Wouldn't recommend taking a 15 year old boiler off the wall, especially as the flue may be damaged and you would need to pay for another.

If you can, fit an external vessel. 30 quid for the vessel from Toolstation, plus a bit of pipe and couple of fittings. Did mine myself. Before you go down this route, sometimes although the valve on old vessel is spurting water, the diaphragm can re-seat itself if you try inflating it with system drained. Not always though. You poss wouldn't need an espansion vessel as big as the one on my photo - I may have slightly over sized. Doesn't need to be above boiler either, could poss go underneath or other place - as long as it's plumbed into the heating return pipe near the boiler.

If the rest of the boiler is fine, I would definitely get it fixed. They are one of the best boiler's made and all parts are available and easy to fix. Prices reasonable too. Much better than modern Vaillant plastic rubbish.

 

[Sarah Wykes]

Any chance of some pictures of the boiler and pipework and gas meter please.

I have attached some pphotos

 

[Harvest Fields]

Doesn’t look like much space there for an external vessel. That’s why he has said what he did. I would change the boiler. It is almost a like for like swap if you go for another Vaillant. Might need to upgrade the gas pipe at the meter though if the meter is at the front of the house and the boiler is at the back. You may not get the correct pressures. (In my opinion)