convert heating to sealed system?

[missmouse]

Would it be advisable to convert my heating system to a sealed type? The reason I ask is my boiler often makes a kettleing noise. Ive tried the usual ideas - flushing, silencing treatments but after a while it becomes noisy again.
The boiler is an Ideal Elan RS balanced flue unit which I installed about 23 years ago. My main concern is the possibility of leaks if I pressurise the system.
Please dont advise me to fit one of these new condensing combi pieces of junk which will last at best 7 or 8 years & require ££££ worth of parts within that time such as PCB's, fans, valves, pumps etc. My old boiler may not be most efficient but there is very little to go wrong, in fact in 20+years Ive only had to replace the gas valve ( £15 new from Ebay!) the thermocouple twice ( £5 - B&Q) & a thermostat (£7 - Ebay) - beat that for reliability!

 

[ukrobj]

With the greatest of respect, sounds like you keep track of the pennies and it makes me question your comment of flushing. Was it actually powerflushed or just some chemical added then drained?

I'd start with a Powerflush first, it's going cost, but certainly not as much as a new boiler. I'm sure there are guys on fleabay that advertise their powerflushing skills.

 

[Whitespirit66]

Or, get along to your local tool hire.

I take it, the treatments included descaler, and the pump is OK?

 

[bhm1712]

i recently enquired about doing the same to my 23 year old boiler and was informed that it cannot be done due to the fact that the boiler is not compatible with a sealed system. This is because it does not have an overheat thermostat which requires manual reset, and was never designed for use under sealed system pressure.

 

[missmouse]

i recently enquired about doing the same to my 23 year old boiler and was informed that it cannot be done due to the fact that the boiler is not compatible with a sealed system. This is because it does not have an overheat thermostat which requires manual reset, and was never designed for use under sealed system pressure.

Ive read on other forums that this boiler does have an o/h stat & in fact there was a sealed system kit available for it at time of production.
No, Ive not had the system powerflushed only chemicals.
Ill inquire about hiring such a tool & give that a go.
The pump isnt making any strange noises & the system despite the annoying noise, works perfectly hence my desire to keep it!
The noise had gone for months after dosing it with fernox concentrated silencer but since I removed a rad to redecorate, it has returned! Ive redosed with the chemical but this time it doesnt seem to be doing its job!
My thoughts were that by making the system pressurised this may quieten it down a bit ?

 

[Whitespirit66]

Your Elan can be used on a sealed system.

However, it would be better to solve the underlying problem, rather than redesigning your system.

 

[dcawkwell]

Don't mess about just change the boiler. Your existing boiler is 23 years old
man!

Boilers don't last forever.

 

[missmouse]

Don't mess about just change the boiler. Your existing boiler is 23 years old
man!

Boilers don't last forever.

I would do so if I was still able to buy a similar conventional boiler! As Ive said, I dont want to buy one of the new condensing ones because although I know they are more efficient for gas use, they will cost far more in the long run due to their unreliability! I have several properties which I let out & all have these boilers so I know they are junk!
I am a great believer in not making things un-necessarily complex!