Replcement boilers- do they have to be on an external wall

[rt8888]

Hi Can anyone help me

I have an old gas fired baxi potterton combi boiler comin to the end of its life and need a replacement. Its in an airing cupboard in the corridor of a 2 bedroom flat raised ground floor flat about 800sq foot with 2 bathrooms and 7 radiators. The fluing goes up into the ceiling and then I have no idea how it connects to the exterior. The floors are concrete

British Gas say that replacemnt will be really difficult because of the fluing. They say that new boilers have to go on an exterior wall. Is that true? If so that would mean I would have to resite the boiler in the bedroom or the living room.

Has anybody got any ideas of how I could get around this?

Thanks
Rachel

 

[mickyg]

no its not true, however a new flue will need to be fitted and access will be required to fit it and inspect it to the point it exits the building. So maybe this is what they are thinking about.

 

[kirkgas]

a new fan flued room sealed boiler does not need to be on an outside wall as there are many many flueing variations using bends and extentions, an external wall is definately easier(and cheaper)

 

[Deleted member 105431]

Whatever you do don't get BG to change the boiler, they are extortionate! Get some quotes but the nearer the boiler is to an external wall the better, boilers come in quite small sizes nowadays and some of them are very quiet.

 

[rt8888]

Thanks thats reassuring. Any idea what would be the easiest replacement for the baxi potterton powermax 155. I know they dont make these riduculous things anymore and there isnt anythin that can go straight in its place because of the flue but any suggestions what would be the best fit needing the least modification-somebody suggested a keston

Rachel

 

[gas4you]

A good quality combi, 35 Kw plus in size, or a system boiler and an unvented cylinder would be the nearest match.

Do not even consider an Ideal or Keston boiler

 

[Deleted member 105431]

Thanks thats reassuring. Any idea what would be the easiest replacement for the baxi potterton powermax 155. I know they dont make these riduculous things anymore and there isnt anythin that can go straight in its place because of the flue but any suggestions what would be the best fit needing the least modification-somebody suggested a keston

Rachel

keston are junk but so is the powermax. The glow worm ultrapower sxi 170 is similar in size and performance to the powermax as is the WB 550 but flueing may be difficult. Your best option may be to relocate the boiler I'm afraid.

 

[gas4you]

DM, I can't see why any boiler could not be fitted in place of the powermax. Usually they were fitted on the top floor so flueing is quite easy.

The only slight problem would be the prv and the gas supply perhaps.

 

[rt8888]

DM, I can't see why any boiler could not be fitted in place of the powermax. Usually they were fitted on the top floor so flueing is quite easy.

The only slight problem would be the prv and the gas supply perhaps.

I'm on the raised ground floor with concrete floors and a car park below. Any possibilty for getting the flueing through the floor? why are keston so bad?

 

[Deleted member 105431]

DM, I can't see why any boiler could not be fitted in place of the powermax. Usually they were fitted on the top floor so flueing is quite easy.

The only slight problem would be the prv and the gas supply perhaps.

I have been to many fitted with the twin pipe flue option that allow upto 30m flue lenghts!

 

[Deleted member 105431]

to the op is there another flat directly above the powermax, I assume there is?

 

[Deleted member 105431]

keston are expensive, unreliable and spares are VERY overpriced.

 

[gas4you]

DM, but even our Vaillants can go to these flue lengths when fitted with a twin flue.

OP. New condensing boiler cannot have the flue terminate below the boiler.

Where does your powermax flue terminate? The new boiler could do the same.

Keston are just unreliable rust buckets, owned by Ideal, which should be enough to put any sane human being off them

 

[Deleted member 105431]

DM, but even our Vaillants can go to these flue lengths when fitted with a twin flue.

OP. New condensing boiler cannot have the flue terminate below the boiler.

Where does your powermax flue terminate? The new boiler could do the same.

Keston are just unreliable rust buckets, owned by Ideal, which should be enough to put any sane human being off them

yes I agree but the powermax flue was installed at the first fix stage, to reroute the same retrospectively in a block of flats may be difficult/impossible.

 

[rt8888]

to the op is there another flat directly above the powermax, I assume there is?

Sorry DM hit the ignore button by accident
Yes the whole block have powermaxes which are causing havoc about 5 of us need to get them replaced including the 2 floors directly above me.
We are not sure where my flue terminates but it appears to be going into the flat above. Could all the flues of he the flats in one line be connected and have a common outlet