I just want some hot water - please help if you can

[GleamingHeels]

The background

• One really old Worcester condensing boiler (14+ years)
• Went kaput in early December - heating and water
• Trusted local guy fixed it, heating fine, though he was concerned that water wasn?t very hot and thought the diaphragm was going (again - he's been here before over the years, last time was at least two years ago) but also suggested that it was probably time to replace the boiler (eeek)
• Heating has been fine ever since, however he was probably right, we have hot water for about five seconds when heating is on and none thereafter, we have no alternative means of making hot water other than the kettle and the cooker and this has been the case for nearly 3 months now The problem
• DH is unemployed, I lost my quite well paying job last April - we have used up our savings to live on
• I can, only just, afford to spend around ninety pounds now (saved up and b'day money) which would cover the first hour and maybe enough to fix the boiler if it is the diaphragm
• It's possible that the boiler is too old to easily get parts The question
• How can I find out if the diaphragm is fixable without spending my precious £90

I guess I am being unreasonable, why shouldn't anyone expect payment for coming out to assess the situation, I'm just worried that I'll shell out and be no further forward and have to carry on washing hair in freezing water and 'showering' with a washing up bowl filled from the kettle

I'm sure that there are plumbers who do free quotes, and to give the quote they'd have to diagnose fully.

Ask the local guy whether he will, if he's someone you trust. Just explain to him that you really cannot afford to take his advice of replacing the boiler as finances won't allow it just yet.

Thanks lazydog should have said; we have asked him, it's disappointing that though he's been looking after our boiler for the fourteen years we've lived here and we've been totally happy with him and recommended him to others and he looked at the boiler as recently as December, he's neither willing to commit nor willing to make another check in order to quote definitively.

He's a 'past retirement' person and I think he is entitltled to pick and choose the work he wants to do... but I don't know what to do next

Have a look at this: www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/boilers-and-central-heating/one-off-boiler-repairs.html

British gas do a fixed price repair. No matter what it is, and guarantee the work for a year. The price varies nationally, it was £164 when I used them.

Could you get a plumber from the yellow pages to come out and quote so you have an idea what you are looking at, and if it will be less than BG you can save up and use them or if it will be much more, you can use BG.

This won't solve your immediate problem as its more than £90, but its a fixed figure to work towards.

I've never had to pay a plumber to come out and have a look, and I've been through some plumbers!!

I can recomend one in the NE if you are local.

X posts. Taking too long to type as I'm scoffing chocolate!!

Hi Lazydog seemed like a really good idea (thank you) so tried British Gas, just did the 'chat' thing on their site - I can either have a free quote for a new boiler or pay £69 to have someone come and either fix or quote - but it's £69 even if his advice is that there's nothing to be done but replace the boiler.

Well that's a bit shit of BG :(

Ring around friends/neighbours and see who they recommend. Like Oreocrumbs, I've never paid a plumber to come and have a look...although some will/would only estimate, not quote, which I'd be very wary of accepting.

oreo thanks, but I need a qualified gas/heating type plumber and I can't find one who will come out to a broken, old boiler without a charge out fee. I think this is because they'd have to take the boiler apart, then put it back together - I'd be happy to save up. I just really want to find out whether I could get hot water back for a couple of hundred (if I save) or a few thousand (depressing amount..)

I'm near Cheltenham if it helps anyone else advise

As you are currently on a low/non income are you entitled to the warm home grant thing that will give you a new boiler...

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Energyandwatersaving/Energygrants/DG_10018661

any handy friends who could install an electric shower over the bath for you?? You need access to a cold mains pipe and the electricity (fuse cupboard) quite near by

if the heating is working but not the hot water that would mean you can at least have a hot shower

We had a worcester combi boiler installed in a renovation and it was always breaking down, and I swore then I would NEVER live anywhere without an electric shower ever.....the whole boiling water for a bath or clean hair is utterly soul destroying.

Thanks for all the fab replies, I have to deal with a separate slight domestic thingy - will read properly tomorrow, sorry

www.help-link.co.uk/grants/warmfront.php?a=uk. Would you be eligible for a warm front grant?