Everyone’s becoming a lot more aware of the need to recycle, reuse and reduce their consumption, and there’s nothing more fashionable than vintage furniture.
Although most of us are happy to fill our home with second-hand tables and other bargains picked up in online auctions, can the same theory be applied to a second hand boiler?
Scarce Supply of Combi Boilers
There are second hand boilers out there but they are few and far between. The going rate for a second hand gas or oil fired combi boiler seems to be around £300.
However, it can be difficult to find the sort of boiler you are looking for in your local area for one very good reason. Whereas we change our furniture when it goes out of fashion or because we just fancy a change, most of us keep our boiler until it breaks down beyond economical repair, and it is then scrapped.
Not many people upgrade their boiler when it is working perfectly, and this means finding a working combi boiler in good condition is a rarity. Also, how do you check your second hand boiler is working properly before it is fitted?
Boiler Fitting Cost and Guarantee
Although you might be able to pick up a second hand boiler for a fraction of a new one, you cannot scrimp on fitting costs. Gas combi boilers must be fitted by a qualified professional, and the cost of fitting alone is usually around £500.
Also, second hand boilers bought from the classified ads or auction websites often come with no sort of warranty or guarantee, and should it fail after a short while you could end up paying out even more for it to be repaired. Add all of the costs together, and you may have been better off getting a brand new boiler in the first place.
Buying Ex-Display Boilers
One way of getting the benefits of a new boiler but at a reduced cost is to contact local builder’s merchants or plumbing showrooms to ask if they have any boilers which are ex display or end of line. These boilers are unlikely to have been used, but may be less than pristine after having been sitting on the shelves of a warehouse.
Many still come with warranty, and buying in this way can save £200 or more off the cost of a brand new model straight from the manufacturer.
Wood Burners and Solid Fuel Stoves
Wood burners or solid fuel stoves and boilers have a longer lifespan than combi boilers, and this is a sector of the market where second hand may be better.
Always check why the burner has been removed from a property if buying privately, and it may be better to look for reconditioned burners from a retailer as these will have been checked for safety and to make sure they come up to current standards.
A second hand wood burner or biomass boiler also needs to be installed by a qualified engineer, and checked for carbon monoxide emissions.
