Choosing a new boiler

[DavidJW]

My 20 year old boiler will need replacing soon so I am trying to find out as much as I can about what is on the market now.

The present boiler is only 50,000 BTU (14kW) and it provides plenty of heat and hot water (indirect cylinder) so I can't see any reason to install a larger one.

But when I look at manufacturer's specs for the "better" boilers such as Vaillant, Atag, etc they all seem to start at about 24kW, although they modulate from 10-25kW.

Question:

Will a 24 kW boiler running at 14kW output be wasting gas compared to a 14kW one running at 14kW output?

Ali v Stainless steel: One web-site I looked at , which preferred Atag, suggested that boilers with ali heat exchangers only lasted about 5 years before they had to be replaced and that the cheaper (Vaillant!!) stainless steel ones were not much better?

Question:

Is this true or just sales hype?


Lastly, I only have a limited space to install the boiler (wall cupboard 690mm high, 440mm wide, 320mm deep.)

Question: What boiler would you recommend (not combi or system)? I don't mind paying the extra for one with a long life and good reliability.

I expect I will get as many suggestions as replies for this last one!!

 

[kevplumb]

err try a search

 

[DavidJW]

err try a search

Done that and just get more confused as there are so many choices!

 

[kevplumb]

so you go in on quality or price

 

[pannierstan]

I would say Vaillant myself. Stainless steel seems to be fine. Or you could go with may others that have stainless.

Alloy h/ex ar fine and 5 years I think is a load of ****e.

Sounds like you are looking at Combis to me. Take a llok at system boilers, Vaillant do smaller 12 and 18 Kw I think.

Stan

 

[kevplumb]

you could do worse than borderhouse (yeah spelling is crap ) had one in bits in me hands

nice peice of kit

btw dont mention the scruff dropped the heat ex on his foot

 

[DavidJW]

Just spent an afternoon going through the SEDBUK database and manufacturers websites and managed to reduce the list to 7 firms.

Baxi have four boilers listed with identical specs as far as I can see. They are: Solo 15 HE; 50 HE Plus; Potterton Promax 15/2 HE Plus and Platinum 15HE (but some sites say this is a combi and I only want a regular heat only boiler. Can any one tell me if there is any difference between these models?

The other manufacturers in my short list are: Alpha, Broag Remeha, Gledhill, Glow-Worm, Ideal and Worcester. Which should I avoid and which are more reliable?

 

[DavidJW]

you could do worse than borderhouse (yeah spelling is rubbish )

Thanks for the suggestion. I guess you mean Boulter Buderus! Unfortunately it is too wide for the space I have available on the wall.

 

[Alfredo]

The aluminium heat exchanger in my Ideal turbo2 condenser has done 13 years so far..I just keep it well dosed up with Sentinel x100. It'l fail one day.

If the system is properly cleaned and maintained the heat exchanger should certainly not fail in 5 years, whateve its made of.

I'm not going to suggest a boiler..my current favourite costs a bit much.

Current modulating gas valves will only consume relative to the load placed on them, so if running at 14kW.You will use less gas even if max rating is 24kW. I suspect that once hot they run at a lot less than 14kW. If you install all the appropriate controls you can help the boiler out even more.

Alfredo

 

[DavidJW]

I'm not going to suggest a boiler..my current favourite costs a bit much.
Alfredo

I'm not worried about the price - the limiting factor is the size of the cupboard!!

Thanks for the info about modulating valves and life of ali exchangers.

 

[Alfredo]

Mine got eliminated on size..The Buderus..its a real quality piece of kit.



Alfredo

 

[nickso]

ive heard some people say they like the buderus.....ive seen a few and thought they looked cheap and nasty.

only serviced them though not done any proper work on one yet

 

[JohnD]

ive heard some people say they like the buderus.....ive seen a few and thought they looked cheap and nasty.

only serviced them though not done any proper work on one yet

Do you mean they don't go wrong much?

 

[DavidJW]

I asked this earlier but it seems to have got forgotten! Can any shed provide an answer?

Baxi have four boilers listed with identical specs as far as I can see. They are: Solo 15 HE; 50 HE Plus; Potterton Promax 15/2 HE Plus and Platinum 15HE (but some sites say this is a combi and I only want a regular heat only boiler). Can any one tell me if there is any difference (apart from price!) between these models?

 

[dan the man]

Fit the remeha. Great bit of kit.

End of the day its their 7th generation condensing boiler, most manufactures are on their 1st or 2nd.

The boiler has been engineered not designed and its quality. Just been on a course for the remeha and i fitted one a few weeks ago- very impressed.

small too