I have seen a house I want to buy, but the energy rating is the worst! I think it's the above boiler. The boiler has a brown cover, if I remember rightly, definatly the writing is in a brown panel.The house runs on LPG and the present owners say it runs the rads and gives hot water, ( which I thought odd as there is also an electric immersion heater)
Anyone got a clue as to how old the boiler might be?

sue m july 2009, July 2009

Thank you very much for your help, I thought it was old. The boiler effciency rating is part of the hips rating, I did check this when the guy came to rate my current house.
Your information has helped me make a decision on what to offer for the property. Thanks again

sue july 2009, July 2009

I believe the Glow Worm Space Saver Mk 2 boilers were last made in 1988 -

http://www.homeheatingguide.co.uk/efficiency-tables.php

The efficiency rating is shown as 65% which is very low in relation to the 90% of modern boilers.

The immersion heater is not an indication of anything sinister - the system requires a hot water storage tank (combi boilers do not have this luxury) and it's a sensible precaution to have an immersion heater in the tank to cater for any boiler faults - I have an "immersion" and have used it for hot water twice in 5 years - almost a life saver.

I'm not sure if the energy rating in the seller's documents take the boiler efficiency into account - I can imagine a certain lack of insulation and double glazing contributing to the low score.

If you plan to buy the place and install a replacement boiler expect to pay in excess of £2500 unless you go with British Gas in which case it will be considerably in excess of £2500.

Good luck...

Peccavi, July 2009