It looks like my 25 year old gas boiler is on its way out. The British Gas engineer is coming on monday to hopefully sort it out this time (pilot light refuses to stay on). In the event that parts aren't available I'm mentally preparing myself to stump up for a new one.
Anybody replaced a bolier recently and how much did it cost?
If I went with British Gas to supply and install a new one, would they be totally uncompetitive compared to a local business? At least with BG there should be some comeback if things go wrong.
Trouble is, my record in finding competent tradesmen is pretty abysmal - recent examples being a roofer who failed to fix a leak and then did a runner; and a local glazier who bodged up a replacement pane so badly that the complete window had to be replaced by someone else. Both these tradesmen were recommended by friends and both had good reviews on websites, so I am now very reluctant to believe sites like these. Many years ago in a previous house (which we had only just moved into), I had a gas engineer (not british gas) condemn a boiler, however in hindsight I suspect there wasn't anything wrong with it (they also made a real mess of installing the new one).
I don't mind paying a premium for peace of mind, but I don't want to feel like I've been mugged !