MSE News: 70,000 can save with boiler scrappage scheme

Pincher

e-mail boilerscrappage@est.org.uk
TEL 0800 988 0404

The admin seems to be on track now.

Pincher

Two months after getting the £400 voucher, the boiler is now on the wall, pipework looking good.

I put in an electronic water descaler around the mains stopcock,
to reduce the possibility of limescale build up.

Before we started, I ran the heating system for three weeks with Sentinel X400 sludge remover. Then we did the power flush using Kamco FX2.
The new regulations want 22mm gas pipe from the meter,
which obviously implies the gas supply needs to be at least 22mm from the pavement.

The gas supply was changed 20 years ago, with the new yellow pipe from the pavement. By pure chance, we did the kitchen last year, so the gas pipe from the meter is 22mm. The gas supply connection on the boiler is only 15mm, so we had to reduce the supply pipe!
The Glowworm Flexicom 30SX HE we got is supposed to be old plumbing friendly, so that's probably why it's 15mm: but what is the point if you are not allowed to use the old 15mm gas supply?

The condensate from the condensing boiler is supposed to be mildly acidic, and will eat through metal pipes and masonry, so you can't just drain it to the outside. Fun and games with a one metre long masonry drill bit found a path to the kitchen drain: 600mm drill bit was 200mm too short! Diagonal drilling through an outside wall to avoid exposing the condensate pipe to the outside freezing conditions. This pipe will NEVER freeze: yeeehaaarrggh.

Pressure relief valves are not allowed to connect to the condensate pipe, because it can potentially melt the plastic, but at least you can vent it outside at foot level.

The plumber also put in an external expansion vessel, because the internal one is not enough for the size of house.

The plumber had a Glow worm engineer round to resolve a few non-standard issues, but he also answered a few general questions I had.

"What is the difference between the stainless steel and aluminium exchanger"
stainless steel = small bore = clogging up, aluminium = large bore = never clogs.

"Is smaller bore more efficient?"
Yes, but only by less than 1%.

"So why do people buy stainless steel exchanger boilers"
Fashion. He always recommends the Flexicom, because they have larger bores. They are intended for older dirtier systems, so you don't need a Magnaclean filter. Also, the flames come from above the exchanger, so the jets won't clog due to falling soot.

"So if I got a small bore boiler, is a Magnaclean mandatory?"
No, because you are supposed to install it in clean systems like new builds, or a complete central heating system replacement, so you have new radiators and pipes.

"But a new system becomes an old system, there will be sludge and debris eventually."
Not if you DRAIN THE SYSTEM ONCE A YEAR, and put in fresh inhibitor,
which we recommend in the manual. It's basically like servicing a car once a year.

So, my conclusion is:

1. Put in a Fernox TF1 filter, which filters both magnetic AND non-magnetic particles.
The TF1 is designed for injecting inhibitor fluid as well, and seems to be easier to clean out than the Magnaclean.

2. NEVER buy a small bore boiler.
With a TF1 on the primary return, I CAN buy a small bore boiler in ten years time, but only if somebody puts a gun to my head.
Having gone through this exercise, I must say the condensing boiler concept is mad.

Unless you are completely redoing your kitchen, how are you supposed to run the new pipework demanded by the regulations: 22mm gas supply, condensate pipe, and pressure relief. For the bigger house, you also have to find a place to put the external expansion vessel. I have an outside boiler room, so surface pipework is no big deal, but if it's in a nice fitted kitchen, it will be like a Borg ship.

The ten year life expectancy is not so bad, assuming all I replace in 2020 is the boiler. The Flexicom 30SX HE was £655.75 inc VAT from PlumbNation, which is not bad at all.

The bizzare thing is, my plumber usually gets his stuff from Plumbcenter whose list price is £1,219.06 inc VAT, and then the boiler I bought from PlumbNation was delivered by Wolseley, which is the parent company of Plumbcenter. The delivery note was printed on the same stationery as he usually gets. So I got the boiler cheaper than he would have from the same company with trade discount!

The total bill will be between £3,000 to £4,000, but that's only because I splurged on a £1,000 Megaflo hot water cylinder, instead of keeping the old vented one. £1,000 for a water tank, streuth!
Well, the old boiler was about 30 years old, so had to bite the bullet at some point. Assuming the Flexicom lasts ten years, we are looking at £400 per year.

Hey, I am only getting £400 this year, what about the next NINE years?

Pincher

Sent off the voucher and plumber's invoice on 31st March, got an e-mail today (7th April) saying they received it, and expect 25 days to process it.

mulmul

Pincher wrote: »

Sent off the voucher and plumber's invoice on 31st March, got an e-mail today (7th April) saying they received it, and expect 25 days to process it.

didnt the scheme ended on 26th of March?

Pincher

mulmul wrote: »

didnt the scheme ended on 26th of March?

My voucher expires 17th April, 12 weeks from date of issue.
I think I am one of the early ones, so there are weeks to go yet.

veruccasalt

I had my £400 paid on 1st April-very pleased I was too!

footboy

samba wrote: »

I've been planning on doing it this way myself - didn't realise you could still get the £400 off if you bought the boiler yourself. Let me know how it goes.

It went well! I provided copy invoice from the plumber and copy receipt from Wickes for the boiler.

£400 rebate banked 10 May 2010.

Happy! Yes! All done and working very well thank you very much for £663!

steve

Pincher

The £400 turned up on 11th May.


January

Applied and received voucher.
Can't get started because it's in an outside boiler room, and concrete won't set properly in the freezing cold. I would freeze to death without heating!

February

Still freezing.

March

Start begging the builder to get a move on.
Voucher going to expire!

April

Sent off the voucher.
Got confirmation e-mail on 7th April to acknowledge voucher received.

May

£400 arrive in bank account on 11th May.

Summary
________

Spent about £4,000 , got £400 off. Half a year gone.
The VAT is £700 on £4,000, so the Treasury is £300 better off.

What happened? Have I just been mugged?