Unsecure chicken perches

[HappyhenSG]

Evening all

 

We're looking to replace our oil-fired boiler and are considering a secondhand Rayburn. Does anyone here have any experience of buying, moving, installing, servicing one? We don't know anyone with one and don't want to make an expensive mistake! Hope someone here can help.

[Chicken Licken]

I have a 1956ish Rayburn Regent - It is great for cold winter days and gives a lovely warmth to the kitchen - I have washing drying in front of it as I type. I think they can be a pig to move. I understand from the man who repaired my one that the old models were not designed with moving in mind. Having said that he does, and refurbishes them for sale. Here is the link to his website http://www.solidfuelboilers.co.uk/html/for_sale.html. I can't believe that an old one like mine is for sale on there for £2000!! Still it looks like it is in a bit better condition!!

[lillybettybabs]

We have just done that, It was a bit stressful and a gamble with a second hand.

I think it all came to around £2000 (Raybun and install)

[Christian]

I bought my house in October last year and the oil Rayburn was already here. I love it - It is a very steep learning curve and am still trying to suss it out, but the kitchen is always lovely and warm. Great for stews, drying washing etc....

 

No idea about installation etc etc, but why not phone up a company and have a chat with them?

[craftyhunnypie]

We love our oil fired Rayburn too! Brilliant it is. Ok Oil is a bit expensive, as you have to pay for it all at once. But when you think you are getting, warmth, hot water, drying your washing & cooking in & on it. I think it is worth it!

Hubby changes the wicks in ours about every 4 weeks. You know when they need changing as it gets sooty & the kitchen smells of oil. It will also rumble! He found a place on the net that sells all parts for regular maintenance. Our was serviced before we moved in. But hubby loves faffing with it. He air blasted a part out of the 'boiler' side of the Rayburn with his compressor. Hmm. It cleaned it brilliantly though & it works like a dream.

I love warming my pj's on the Rayburn!

Emma.x

[HappyhenSG]

Thanks all. Our main concerns are moving one from its current location (wherever that happens to be) to our house. I know they are really heavy but also a bit 'delicate'. Also, knowing whether it works properly. OH is a dab hand at buying classic Triumphs but we are both completely clueless as to what to look out for in Rayburns

 

I'm a bit more cautious than OH and would rather spend a bit more and buy a refurb'd one from a Rayburn dealer, than a private seller.

 

We are already on oil (no mains gas here) so supply is already in place, just needs re-routing slightly.

 

I'm looking forward to a much warmer kitchen and pjs too

[Purplemaniacs]

Hubby changes the wicks in ours about every 4 weeks.

Emma.x

We have an aga and that gets a new wick once every 6 months.

 

I love our aga the warmth it gives to the kitchen is fantastic.

 

Our neighbour bought a second hand aga to replace his very ancient converted one (coal to oil) he paid a local aga engineer to collect it from its old house and then reassemble it. He had no problems with it. I would imagine moving a Rayburn would be similar to an Aga.

 

Chrissie

[The Dogmother]

Looking at the prices on that site, I might try to get the outlaws to get theirs taken out - they used to use it as their main source of heat/cooking, but de-commissioned it about 15 years ago and installed regular central heating. It's still in the back 'parlour' and gets used as a piece of furniture.

[CatieB]

I have a solid fuel rayburn which was in our house when we moved in. I love it everyone comments on the warmth and character it gives the house. Its a different type of warmth.

 

I dont have any experience of moving or installing but know how to service it (having watched people I know do mine myself as its dead simple) I dont know if its only the solid fuel ones that are so simple though.

 

You dont specify if you are only considering an oil one and if it will be your only source of heating and / or hot water. They are important questions particularly as I know some users struggle to get them to cover everything. They are known to be tempermental but I believe that is because people often expect them to do too much and connect too many radiators etc. You need a realistic expectations of what it needs to do.

 

For example originally our Rayburn used to burn extremely hot and the one "run off" radiator was lovely and toasty nearly all the time. However we altered our bathroom and moved the radiator a few feet and increased the size of it substantially (not realising you are not supposed to). We really notice the difference

 

I like the fact mine is solid fuel. Although you have to buy and move the fuel I feel it is more controllable. We can see what we are using and alter it accordingly.

 

 

Looking at the prices on that site, I might try to get the outlaws to get theirs taken out - they used to use it as their main source of heat/cooking, but de-commissioned it about 15 years ago and installed regular central heating. It's still in the back 'parlour' and gets used as a piece of furniture.

 

This is definately worth doing. We had some work done on our Rayburn last year and the guy that came in was very very keen to try to persuade us to sell. We are not interested but he asked that if we ever change our mind we contact him. There is obviously a good market

[HappyhenSG]

@ CatieB

 

We are only considering oil because we are not on mains gas, and we already have an oil fired boiler. We don't want the expense of electric or the mess of solid fuel. As this will be replacing our boiler it will be our only source of heat and hot water. We have been looking at the bigger models that can do more radiators. However, I am planning on keeping my existing cooker. Our houses were built in the late 1940's and all had Rayburns fitted. Ours had already been removed by the time we moved in but next door only got rid of theirs last year so I'm very impressed with the build quality! We're also planning an extension which involves re-siting the boiler, so thought we might as well take the opportunity to replace it as it's now starting to go on the blink! It's really the issue of moving and installing a second hand one that is making me a bit apprehensive - but we can't be going down the route of a brand new one, that would add too much to the budget!

[newcountrygirl]

we purchased a reconditioned one for our cottage a year ago. It looked lovely (red) but I have never got to grips with controlling the temperature for cooking. I can get it to run the central heating no problem (solid fuel) The other thing is about 2 months ago the black enamel on the top started bubbling and coming off in lumps. Luckily we are moving so I can kiss it goodbye. I had always longed for one but wouldnt have one again unless it was Gas and an Aga.