Gas Ch Boiler Problem

[ladyalex]

Hello. Any gas boiler experts out there? Or anyone who has had a similar problem and solved it ?
We have a gas boiler. A conventional one, not a condenser type. We have a hot water tank and central heating. The boiler is more than 20 years old but has been regularly 'serviced' and recently had both the hot water pump and the central heating pump replaced.
The problem is that the boiler fires up and gets the rads nice and hot, then everything cools down. The heat gets too low for comfort. Then the boiler fires up again but only for 5 minutes at the maximum, so the rads never get properly hot again.
We have had a procession of British Gas men, often 2 at a time in the house over the last 10 days, all coming up with different 'soutions' none of which work.
They have 'rebalanced' our rads, checked that there is no significant 'sludging' changed the schedule so that the Hot Water heating is not on at the same time as the Central heating, made sure that the rads that we don't need to be on are set as low as possible, given us a new room thermostat....all to no effect. And yes, you have guessed it, they say that our boiler is too small for the system, we need a new boiler and a powerwash. That boiler has kept us warm and toasty for years.

We think that there is a problem with the boiler timing mechanism.

Any ideas anyone ?
Thanks a lot.
:-))

[The Builder]

Great news Lady Alex.
I'm sorry that we were not able to offer much more than commiserations, but at least we've been able to liberate you from BG.

Boiler efficiency has shot up in the last 23 years. You should now be also getting more heat per £ than you ever have.

I don't doubt that it even feels warmer. The installer has obviously set the whole system up for best efficiency. Something that might have been unlikely on an ancient system.

;o)

[ladyalex]

Thanks to you too Builder.....it does help to chew it over and hear what other folks say on here..especially when they know much more than we do....
:-))

[bednobs]

i have recently got so fed up with the service (use that term very loosely) from BG that i ditched their boiler cover. In he way of sod;s law ive had nothing but trouble with it since!

[ladyalex]

I feel your pain, bednobs. We eventually got a local independent plumber to supply and fit the new boiler . He has his own Service Plan which is much cheaper than BG, so we're going to take that out.
He also has a showroom within walking distance so, any problems and we can speak to someone directly.