Has your old Baxi back boiler finally given up the ghost?

Perhaps it’s still soldiering on after all these years, but you’re aware it’s not the most energy efficient and you’re probably spending more money on your energy bills than necessary.

Either way, Baxi back boilers are no longer in production, so like many of my previous customers, you’re going to have to find a replacement. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Below, I’ve put together some tips and advice when looking to replace your old Baxi back boiler.

Baxi back boilers: a history

You can probably thank the late ’60s, ’70s and ’80s for your old Baxi back boiler, as those were the days when back boilers were commonly fitted. Now, they are pretty much redundant systems, despite some of them still going strong today – they were genuinely built to last.

However, they do take up quite a bit of space that could probably otherwise be put to good use, not to mention the fact that open-flued appliances are extremely inefficient to run.

In fact, because the old-fashioned back boilers are so incredibly inefficient, there’s a good chance that replacing your boiler now would mean you’d save quite a bit on your heating bills.

Saying that, you may have a slightly newer back boiler. To keep up with energy efficiency ratings, Baxi launched a range of A-rated high efficiency back boilers around eight years ago. These were room sealed appliances to meet efficiency levels and they came with an electric fire front.

These were never as popular as the original back boilers with its gas fire and have also now ceased production

Replacing your Baxi back boiler

There are a few main considerations when thinking about replacing your old Baxi back boiler. I’ve highlighted them below.

Finding the right heating engineer for the job

If your Baxi back boiler has been condemned, or has simply died, you have a few options when finding a replacement. However, first I’d recommend doing a bit of research online and requesting a few quotes.

I’d recommend getting at least three different engineers to visit your home and make recommendations about the best way to proceed. At the same time, they should all be able to provide you with a fixed price quote.

The location of your new boiler

Your new boiler can not be fitted in the same location as your old back boiler as the existing back boiler flues into a traditional chimney. The flue from your new boiler will need to be installed through an outside wall or vertically through the roof.

You may wish to install your new boiler in a kitchen cupboard, bedroom cupboard, storage cupboard, garage or even your attic, depending on how your home is set-up and the recommendations of your chosen engineer.

The type of boiler you need

Another consideration is whether you wish to install a regular or system boiler to connect to your existing hot water tank, or whether you want to remove your boiler, hot water and cold water tanks altogether and fit a combi boiler.

A new combi boiler would mean you’d have access to instant hot water anytime day or night, and getting rid of your tanks would mean you could make the most of the available space in your home.

Running a drain from the boiler

All new boilers are condensing boilers whether they are combis, regular or system boilers. This means they are high efficiency boiler and will require a condensate drain fitted from the boiler.

You may wish to bear this in mind when deciding on the location of your new boiler, although if it’s being fitted in the kitchen or close to a drain, this should not be much of a problem.

The brand of boiler

As you’ve most likely had many years of great service from your old Baxi back boiler, you may feel a certain loyalty to the brand. The good news is that Baxi as a company are still going strong today, and have a new range of Baxi Platinum boilers with a whopping 10-year guarantee. Why not visit the Baxi website www.baxi.co.uk type in your postcode and find a list of local Baxi installers.

In my opinion, this is a great British product manufactured here in the UK, and Baxi have really listened to their customers by offering excellent guarantees, reliable products and great value for money in a very competitive market.

However, there are other brands to consider, such as Worcester Bosch, Vaillant, Glow-worm and more. So if you’re unsure, shopping around and reading online reviews might be your best bet.

Spread out the cost or do all the work now?

Replacing an old Baxi back boiler can be complicated, and costly, so it really depends on a) how much upheaval you’re willing to endure for a more efficient boiler and b) your budget.

There are three main options when replacing your old Baxi back boiler. These are:

• Install a new boiler elsewhere in the property, but leave the old back boiler where it is. It’d be decommissioned, but you wouldn’t have to redecorate or leave a huge hole in your wall. You may still need a radiator installed in your living room, however. When many back boilers were fitted in the 1970s they did not fit a radiator in the lounge as there was a fire fitted to the back boiler.

• The same as option 1, with a bit of additional testing on your fire. If an engineer finds the fire in your living room is still safe and working properly, you could still use it whilst having the boiler decommissioned.

• Your third option is to install a new boiler installed in the property, but also rip out the old back boiler and redecorate. You’d either have to plaster over the hole in your wall, or install a new fire, fireplace and mantelpiece. You may also have to replace some carpet or flooring.

The option of replacing your old Baxi back boiler in stages means that you can cope with the expense without having to deal with everything all at once. Some of the work can be completed later once you’ve saved for the next project.

The cost

When looking to upgrade from your old Baxi back boiler to a newer model, whilst leaving the old boiler decommissioned, you’d be looking to pay roughly £2,500 – £3,000.

However, if you decide to rip your old boiler out and redecorate, you may be paying anything between £500 – £1,000 extra. Remember, always get a fixed price quote.

Conclusion

If it’s time to replace your old Baxi back boiler, the bad news is that back boilers aren’t actually available on the market anymore – and for good reason! They are very inefficient, despite being built to last. When it comes to finding a replacement for your back boiler, your main considerations are:

• Finding the right heating engineer for the job
• The location of your new boiler
• The type of boiler you need
• Running a drain from the boiler
• The brand of boiler
• Spread out the cost or do all the work now?
• The cost

I’m sure you can agree, there’s a lot to think about, so it’s a good idea to do your research and get a few recommendations from qualified heating engineers before going ahead with any work.

Good luck!