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Replacement boiler - condensing?
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ridgeback_moor
Joined: 11 Mar 2008
Location: Down 'ere
Posts: 615
 
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| Replacement boiler - condensing? |
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Well, we turned the central heating on last night for the first time this year, and the radiators only get tepid. Seems like the boiler (installed in 1997) can cope with the hot water requirements, but not heating the house at the same time. So, do I repair the exisiting old boiler, which has been making 'kettling' noises for some time (ie popping when the burners are on) or get a new one fitted? I understand if a new one's fitted it has to be the condensing type, which seems to be more prone to expensive failures. Or are they more reliable now? I know I need to get a CORGI registered plumber to look at it, but any recent experience of this type of thing would be appreciated. D3 TDV6 S 2005 - TorqTune, Privacy Glass, Remote FBH, 19" HSE Alloys, Boot liner, retrofit F&R PDC, RAI
Defender 90 Truck Cab TD5 2003 - Ifor Williams back, alloys (SWMBO's toy - well, one of them  )
Toyota Yaris 2008 (SWMBO's company shopping trolley)
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 Sun Oct 05 2008 4:57pm |
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10forcash
Site Sponsor
Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Location: In the naughty corner.... eligible for parole 2025
Posts: 14664
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condensing boilers are much more efficient and the way to go!
downside is that they are more expensive initially and may require any or all of the following changes:-
replacement flue - not a problem if it's a 'through the wall' type, if it vents to the roof then it could get expensive!
Flushing of complete heating system (not all 'Fernox' type treatments are compatible with the aluminium alloy heat exchangers)
replacement of gas supply pipe (some require a 22/28mm gas supply pipe)
On the bright side, some replacements are eligible for a Gov. Local auth. grant for part of the cost TorqTune for Freelander 2 Diesel, Discovery 3 / RR Sport TDV6 & RR Sport TDV8, Defender (TD5 & Puma) - available Now!
Vehicle modifications, preparation, training and equipment also available
Autologic Diagnostics equipped!
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 5:10pm |
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Pelyma
Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Clymping, Sussex
Posts: 4761
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Speaking as the son of a Corgi engineer (gas not toy cars) There are certain circumstances you don't have to have a condensing boiler, but it will help on energy ratings when you sell your home (and your gas bills) to have one. From what I understand, the condensing boilers are no more faulty than ordinary ones, a bit like cars they become more and more computerised and the reliability falls. Be careful of a lot of these firms who get you grants they tend to bump up there costs to compensate. DS3 TDV6 HSE
Silver with Alpacca (old one)
DS3 TDV6 HSE
Silver with Alpacca (new one)
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 5:15pm |
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Jimbob Squarepants
Joined: 27 Oct 2007
Location: Gulf of Mexico
Posts: 783
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All the points that 10 has just mentioned are what I found out last year when I got some quotes for a new boiler.
How long is it since you treated your present system. It could just be that the boiler is all choked up with calcium deposits and could be given a new lease of life with some additives. 07 Silver TDV6 XS Manual + Tubes, Tints, White indicator repeaters, Xtreme H7s, LR dog Guard and Valeao Windy-Wipers
Previously known as JAMES R
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 5:18pm |
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Bodsy
Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow.....
Posts: 6557
 
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sounds like your heat exchanger is blocked by crud.
If your not touching the gas bits and only the heat exchanger on the water side, then you don't need to be corgi.
I clear mine out once a year and give it treatment otherwise it gets a bit chilly on a cold winter morning! Would rather clear it out before the winter comes!!!!
You would probably benefit from a 'power flush' which is about 150 istr. This forces chemicals and greater pressure through all your rads and pipework and followed by a rinse before final treatment. Will normally make a huge difference ESP if not been done for a few years  it! It's got a load of black bits on OK!!!
Campaign successful....
We D3, therefore we are.
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 5:56pm |
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ridgeback_moor
Joined: 11 Mar 2008
Location: Down 'ere
Posts: 615
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Thanks for all the advice. I fitted a few extra rads about 4 years ago when I had an extension built, and topped up the corrosion inhibitor then. Never had a system flush though, and agree maybe the heat exchanger is clogged/scaled up. I'm tempted to run some flushing chemicals through the system, drain and refill and see if that works before parting with serious cash to replace the boiler. D3 TDV6 S 2005 - TorqTune, Privacy Glass, Remote FBH, 19" HSE Alloys, Boot liner, retrofit F&R PDC, RAI
Defender 90 Truck Cab TD5 2003 - Ifor Williams back, alloys (SWMBO's toy - well, one of them )
Toyota Yaris 2008 (SWMBO's company shopping trolley)
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 6:06pm |
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countrywide
Joined: 16 Sep 2007
Location: Sunny South Coast
Posts: 1807
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We installed one of the first condensing boilers almost 10 years ago. it is a Baxi Barcelona. I bought it myself from the Plumb Centre and also got £250 back as an energy efficiency grant when it was installed (by father in law who is Corgi registered).
In the early years we had some problems with the ignitor electrodes, flame sensor and combustion seal, but these seemed to have been fixed with revised parts. The only other problem we had was main circuit board, which was working but there were sparks arcing across the components on the PCB's. Have a service contract and they were replaced under that.
Since then we have had no trouble and compared to our old boiler our gas usage dropped by at least 40%. It is also self regulating between 30-100,000 btu, which means when we added radiators we had plenty of capacity. It's like buying a new car, never by a the first of a new design.
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 6:52pm |
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Bodsy
Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow.....
Posts: 6557
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If you're putting cleaning chemicals in, just make sure that you really do flush the system (several times)otherwise it will continue to be eaten away by the chemicals.
Or get ones you can easily neutralise  it! It's got a load of black bits on OK!!!
Campaign successful....
We D3, therefore we are.
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 7:45pm |
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catoperator
Joined: 29 Jan 2006
Location: hampshire
Posts: 143
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if you do go for a new boiler a worcester bosch greenstar would be a good choice
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 8:29pm |
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kevi
Joined: 18 Mar 2006
Location: in the rhondda valleys
Posts: 286
 
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These seem to work ok
280272421842 ebay TDV6 5 SEAT BASE NO GIMMICKS NO FUSS
tow pack, tasmods sills
IT goes without sayingthat you should never have more children than you have car windows
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 8:35pm |
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10forcash
Site Sponsor
Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Location: In the naughty corner.... eligible for parole 2025
Posts: 14664
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catoperator wrote:if you do go for a new boiler a worcester bosch greenstar would be a good choice
Second that - a mate of mine has installed a few and never had any problems or warranty callbacks TorqTune for Freelander 2 Diesel, Discovery 3 / RR Sport TDV6 & RR Sport TDV8, Defender (TD5 & Puma) - available Now!
Vehicle modifications, preparation, training and equipment also available
Autologic Diagnostics equipped!
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 8:37pm |
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mick
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Location: All over
Posts: 1010
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10forcash wrote:catoperator wrote:if you do go for a new boiler a worcester bosch greenstar would be a good choice
Second that - a mate of mine has installed a few and never had any problems or warranty callbacks
We have one of these no problems so far hot water on tap  get the worcester bosch service contract no more worries
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 9:11pm |
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SPOTTER
Joined: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 2208
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greenstar fitted three weeks ago to replace original 25 year old boiler............
Boiler very quiet but flue exhaust is much noisier than the original. However it was a plug and play installation so no disruption to the house. really ought to change this.........
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| Mon Oct 06 2008 6:12am |
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Renny
Joined: 30 May 2006
Location: Fife, Scotland
Posts: 80
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If installing a condensing boiler, go for one with weather compensation. This allows the boiler o run more efficiently (in its condensing mode) as it adjusts the boiler according to outside temp. Renny Thomson
aka Scottish Scrutineer
MSA Scrutineer
Scottish Cross Country Motorsport Club
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| Mon Oct 06 2008 7:36pm |
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Gareth
Site Moderator
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bob the Builders 'ere
Posts: 10228
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Just had this lot installed in the cellar
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I'm not an expert, but for info its a Keston boiler and I think its condensing  What I do know is that we no longer have showers that trickle tepid water, and run cold after 5 minutes, we now have loads of hot water at mains pressure.
The heating used to be from an ancient boiler that was like distant thunder when it lit, and used waaaay to much gas for the pathetic heat it put out.
With all the modern insulation I now have, and the modern controls, this setup is using much less gas to keep things warm. Silver TDV6 HSE
Pepper White Cooper S Convertible
Old English White MGB GT
Ex Military 109 Series 2a Soft Top
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| Mon Oct 06 2008 7:48pm |
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