Hi Petal!
Sorry not to being able to comment on your link. It's a PDF data sheet and I have only an analog connection, the Minister for Environment Destruction promised me years ago a broadband connection but it never came....
So I checked your link and compared it with the sedbuk page. (
http://www.sedbuk.com ) Your boiler scores at a "D" rate, 78-78.1% efficiency. That is not the worst rating , but not good either.Nowadays no boilers are installed with an energy rating of less then "A". Unless the consumer/client is considered by the irresponsible installer as an idiot who could be taken for a ride.
Check out your heating bill/domestic hot water bill incl. maintenance (chimney cleaning, adjustments and cleaning of the boiler etc.!) and see if a 10 % to 15% reduction in your anual costs will justify a € 1,000 investment to become a profitable investment.
€ 1.000 for a halfways decent condensing boiler without outside temperature sensor. Just a plain combi condensing boiler. I paid for mine 3-4 years ago €1,700 after trading down and shopping around. And now they're just €600...
A similar developement as to the computers: Once modern technic has become standard the prices drop dramaticall.
A new boiler should-as the old ones - have a live expectancy of around ten years. Capital depreciation (spelled right?) should be at around 7 jears. That's when the original investment will have been paid off by the savings on maintenance, capital costs (borrowed money?), spare parts and fuel. So you would have another 3 years usage time of pure profit - compared to the old boiler. At average most modern boilers looked after "by the checkbook" would get much older before a replacement is needed.
Drill a hole through the wall , 6 inch or 15 cm wide for €100.-. Place the fluepipe into it, fill back any gaps - €30.-. Fix the boiler to to the wall - €20.-. Connect the heating pipes/ gas pipe (certification necessary!) / fresh water pipe incl. insulation - depending on the length and obstacles - roughly € 500.-.
So in my estimation, for the average Irish home a sum of €600 would cover all the costs for the work to fit a modulating combi condensing boiler.
If you're not born with two left hands some of the job can be done by yourself, but stay away from the gaspipe. The insulation of the water pipes for example.
The freeing of the workplace for example-remove all obstacles to help the handy men. Cover the flooring with masking tape and plastic foil etc., take care of the rubbish ( the old banger can be exchanged for the new one at the retailplace as an "electrical good" without extra charge!).
So you should be in for around €1,000-€1,500. Check out yourself if it's worth it.
A combi condensing boiler would also free some space for good: you wouldn't need the hot press any more- 1m2 gained, that is about 1% increase of value to your (supposed to be ) average home due to more space made available.
Check your local bookshop for Collin's DIY book, most steps to be taken are described there.
If you can afford it/ if you're willing to pay for it try to find a heating engineer.
He/she would most likely recommend a solar collector and a 300l tank for domestic hot water.You would have to reuse the hot press again for the tank (the attic might do so as well-access!) and you would have to invest more money at the initial point of investment. But in the long term (how long is your house to be expected to serve?) it is certainly worth it. Always demand a calculation sheet when asking someone for a professional opinion. No signed numbers-no signed check.
Good luck!