Based on discussions in other recent threads, it seems to me that there can
seldom be a financial justification for replacing an operational boiler
purely to achieve higher efficiencies and lower running costs.

Looking at my own situation (12-year-old Baxi Solo 70/PF) - using the
information on the Sedbuk site [http://www.sedbuk.com/ then "View Efficiency
Database" and scroll down to running cost table] the best I could hope to
achieve by going from an old light-weight boiler to a modern condensing
boiler would be 25% p.a.

Since I currently spend about £400 p.a. on gas, I might hope to save £100
p.a. Assuming a £2k project cost for sourcing and installing a new
high-efficiency boiler, it would take about 20 years to break even, by which
time I'll be over 80, and the 'new' boiler will be long-since dead, even if
I'm not!

Of course, one would normally upgrade the control system at the same time -
increasing overall efficiency a bit more in the process. In my case, I have
a fully interlocked boiler (Y-Plan) already, so my boiler isn't needlessly
keeping itself hot. However, I don't have TRVs, and am conscious of the fact
that some rooms are too hot some of the time in order to ensure that others
are hot enough.

I suspect that's it's much easier to justify the outlay on tweeking the
controls - particularly if you DIY. I reckon I could probably save £50 p.a.
for an outlay of about £200 if I were to fit TRVs on most rads whilst
keeping the current boiler - and this is a much more pleasing proposition.

Looks like my project for the summer is mapped out!
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Cheers,
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