Our boiler has sprung a leak. It's a Baxi Solo 3 PFL 50 (non-combi). I've not investigated yet but I reckon it's likely to be the heat exchanger. I can get a replacement HE for £115. It's not currently working as the central heating fuse has gone and likely the control PCB has been fried too by the leak dripping onto it. Luckily, I hopefully have a repaired PCB from a previous fault.
When it was installed, only about 7 or 8 years ago, it was a 'drop-in' replacement for a Baxi Solo 2 because it was easy but my understanding at the time was that it shouldn't have been installed and I should have had a more efficient model, possibly a combi, but I can't remember. That would have been a job for a plumber, entailing extensive pipework changes. I chose to do it myself with friends' assistance, none of us Corgi-registered.
A new boiler, installed properly, would cost somewhere between £2,000-£3,000 (depending on type) I reckon, which I'm keen to avoid
. I'd guess having the HE changed professionally would cost around £300-£500. Changing it myself shouldn't be much more that the cost of the HE, perhaps just a tool or two, some PTFE tape etc.
So, with that background, would you entertain doing the work yourself? Is there any point getting a Corgi-registered bloke (or blokette, we're non-sexist at Jaxie Towers) in? Can I just get the work checked by Corgi man? I'm an engineer (electrician) by trade and am confident of being able to do the job safely but possibly with much swearing.
What would you do?
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