New Boiler - Softened Water - Separate Feed?

johnllew

I'd appreciate some advice from someone in the know. We're considering replacing our 20 year old Netaheat boiler and have been quoted for a Baxi condensing boiler. Our water supply goes through a softener that uses salt in the process. I have been told that the softened water is not compatible with the new boiler's heat exchanger and that a separate hard water feed is necessary to the heating feed/expansion tank which will cause expense and disruption. Are there any boilers out there that are happy to use softened water?

Canucklehead

Good morning: Your RGI should be able to advise but in the event he/she won't/doesn't know....use a boiler with a stainless steel heat exchanger eg. Vaillant or Viessmann. Kamco has a list of boilers with aluminium heat exchangers here.

HTH

Canucklehead

beetlebum_2

I would definitely contact the boiler manufacturer to get a definite answer from them. I recently asked Worcester Bosch the same question (though it was a combi I asked about).

johnllew

Thanks. I am able to shut off the softener temporarily whilst filling the CH cistern; in practice how often in future is the system then likely to draw softened water providing there have been no leaks?

MX5huggy

Hardly ever for filling the CH and it should have inhibitor in it anyway.

Presume you have a of water tank then and not going for a condensing combi but a condensing system boiler.

PS please reconsider the baxi and go for something else as recommend by Canucklehead.