Hi,

I am currently looking to upgrade my boiler and was wandering what 
experiences people have had when buying the condensing boilers. My father 
was advised that he needed to change all the rads as none of the companies 
he approached would guarentee the boilers unless he did so. The advice I've 
had from the companies I've spoken to is that a power wash is sufficient if 
not a bit over-kill and a chemical wash would also do. I'm consciouss that 
the reputation of the condensors is that they are susceptible to crud in the 
system but the advice does seem somewhat confused.

Also anyone got some recommendations for decent manufacturers (for a 3 
storey, 4 bed, 2 bathroom house)

Thanks

"Endulini"  wrote in message 
news:3Iudnc_OY41laLPVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@brightview.com...
> Hi,
>
> I am currently looking to upgrade my boiler and was wandering what 
> experiences people have had when buying the condensing boilers.

Very good, it uses a lot less gas than by old boiler behind the gas fire!

>My father was advised that he needed to change all the rads as none of the 
>companies he approached would guarentee the boilers unless he did so.

That's because they want to rip him off by fitting a whole new system.
It's all down to money and how much they can make.  Greed.  Probably
cowboy companies.  Take no notice of people paying for adverts in
Trading Standards Magazines, they offer no guarantee, don't inspect
the work of people they recommend and it doesn't apply to subcontractors.

> The advice I've had from the companies I've spoken to is that a power wash 
> is sufficient if not a bit over-kill and a chemical wash would also do.

That's right, that's all I had on my system.

>I'm consciouss that the reputation of the condensors is that they are 
>susceptible to crud in the system but the advice does seem somewhat 
>confused.
>

It's deliberately being confused in order to be used as "sales talk".

> Also anyone got some recommendations for decent manufacturers (for a 3 
> storey, 4 bed, 2 bathroom house)
>
> Thanks

On Sat, 17 May 2008 16:13:17 +0100, Endulini wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I am currently looking to upgrade my boiler and was wandering what 
> experiences people have had when buying the condensing boilers.

Much the same as buying non-condensing boilers: just walk into the
plumbers' merchants, pay some money and take it away. For a somewhat
larger value of 'some' than the old ones, but hey! that's progress.

> My
> father was advised that he needed to change all the rads as none of the
> companies he approached would guarentee the boilers unless he did so.

How many companies was that? He needs to try some others.

> The advice I've had from the companies I've spoken to is that a power
> wash is sufficient if not a bit over-kill and a chemical wash would also
> do. I'm consciouss that the reputation of the condensors is that they
> are susceptible to crud in the system but the advice does seem somewhat
> confused.

Condensing boilers in general probably have smaller waterways more
susceptible to blocking, but some designs are more likely to be prone to
this than others. There was a thought-provoking article in gas news about
the potential for un-clearable blockage in the current poxi/batterton
design with its multiple parallel waterways in a vertical circular
arrangement. The current Worcester-Bosch design with its vertical axis
seems to me inherently less susceptible, though it may have other
weaknesses we haven't learned about.

-- 
John Stumbles

Question Authority

"Endulini"  wrote in message 
news:3Iudnc_OY41laLPVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@brightview.com...
> Hi,
>
> I am currently looking to upgrade my boiler and was wandering what 
> experiences people have had when buying the condensing boilers. My father 
> was advised that he needed to change all the rads as none of the companies 
> he approached would guarentee the boilers unless he did so. The advice 
> I've had from the companies I've spoken to is that a power wash is 
> sufficient if not a bit over-kill and a chemical wash would also do. I'm 
> consciouss that the reputation of the condensors is that they are 
> susceptible to crud in the system but the advice does seem somewhat 
> confused.
>
> Also anyone got some recommendations for decent manufacturers (for a 3 
> storey, 4 bed, 2 bathroom house)
>
> Thanks

I think many manufactures will only guarantee a boiler if the old system has 
been power flushed out.  Saying that we had our system power flushed and the 
plumber then fitted one of these


 http://www.adeysolutions.co.uk/professional.asp  Incredible product that 
actually works,  after only 10 minutes of running the heating the magnet had 
a thick layer of sludge attached to it.

"Endulini"  wrote in message 
news:3Iudnc_OY41laLPVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@brightview.com...
> Hi,
>

> Also anyone got some recommendations for decent manufacturers (for a 3 
> storey, 4 bed, 2 bathroom house)
>
> Thanks

Vaillant is a well respected make and Worcester-Bosch is another

On 2008-05-18 06:40:43 +0100, "PC Plod" 
 said:

> 
> "Endulini"  wrote in message
> news:3Iudnc_OY41laLPVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@brightview.com...
>> Hi,
>> 
>> I am currently looking to upgrade my boiler and was wandering what
>> experiences people have had when buying the condensing boilers. My father
>> was advised that he needed to change all the rads as none of the companies
>> he approached would guarentee the boilers unless he did so. The advice
>> I've had from the companies I've spoken to is that a power wash is
>> sufficient if not a bit over-kill and a chemical wash would also do. I'm
>> consciouss that the reputation of the condensors is that they are
>> susceptible to crud in the system but the advice does seem somewhat
>> confused.
>> 
>> Also anyone got some recommendations for decent manufacturers (for a 3
>> storey, 4 bed, 2 bathroom house)
>> 
>> Thanks
> 
> I think many manufactures will only guarantee a boiler if the old system has
> been power flushed out.  Saying that we had our system power flushed and the
> plumber then fitted one of these
> 
> 
>  http://www.adeysolutions.co.uk/professional.asp  Incredible product that
> actually works,  after only 10 minutes of running the heating the magnet had
> a thick layer of sludge attached to it.

Which wouldn't be needed had he cleaned the system properly and if a 
corrosion inhibitor was used and maintained.     Keep in mind that this 
is treating the symptom and not the disease.   The system is continuing 
to corrode and deteriorate and the radiators are likely to develop 
holes and leak.

With correct system design and use of inhibitors, radiators will not 
produce sludge and will last for decades.

Endulini wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am currently looking to upgrade my boiler and was wandering what
> experiences people have had when buying the condensing boilers. My
> father was advised that he needed to change all the rads as none of
> the companies he approached would guarentee the boilers unless he did
> so. The advice I've had from the companies I've spoken to is that a
> power wash is sufficient if not a bit over-kill and a chemical wash
> would also do. I'm consciouss that the reputation of the condensors
> is that they are susceptible to crud in the system but the advice
> does seem somewhat confused.
> Also anyone got some recommendations for decent manufacturers (for a 3
> storey, 4 bed, 2 bathroom house)
>
> Thanks

We had an Alpha CD32C condensing combi installed about two years ago and 
it's brilliant, especially when coupled with the Wireless 7-day EasyStat 
programmer/timer thingy, and it comes with a manufacturer 3-year warranty. 
We had a complete new system installed because the old system was what I 
believe is called a "Primatic" system - only one header tank in the loft and 
no way to insert chemical inhibitors etc., into the system so rads needed 
far more than a powerflush.

John

"PC Plod"  wrote in message 
news:XpOdnWVSYc_1XLLVnZ2dnUVZ8sbinZ2d@bt.com...


> http://www.adeysolutions.co.uk/professional.asp  Incredible product that 
> actually works,  after only 10 minutes of running the heating the magnet 
> had a thick layer of sludge attached to it.
>

Collects iron oxide from where exactly?
Did he flush the crud or no? If he did there shouldn't be any iron oxide to 
collect.
Check he put inhibitor in the system and it isn't fresh corrosion or your 
system won't last long before it leaks.

On Sat, 17 May 2008 16:13:17 +0100, Endulini wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I am currently looking to upgrade my boiler and was wandering what
> experiences people have had when buying the condensing boilers. My
> father was advised that he needed to change all the rads as none of the
> companies he approached would guarentee the boilers unless he did so.
> The advice I've had from the companies I've spoken to is that a power
> wash is sufficient if not a bit over-kill and a chemical wash would also
> do. I'm consciouss that the reputation of the condensors is that they
> are susceptible to crud in the system but the advice does seem somewhat
> confused.
> 
> Also anyone got some recommendations for decent manufacturers (for a 3
> storey, 4 bed, 2 bathroom house)
> 
> Thanks

Various ppl have given quite sensible answers, i.e. ones I agree with. A 
lot more info is in the boiler choice FAQ. 


-- 
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk 
Gas fitting FAQ  http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html