Combi boiler replacement

sparkykink

Hi there.
I'm new to the site, so I hope I,m within the rules posting this as a new thread ( I'm sure someone will tell me if not)?

I currently have a non condensing ravenheat combi boiler, which still works ok but seems to be using a lot of gas. ( this is based on the bills now being dearer in a 3 bed bungalow than our previous 4 bed semi where we had a condensing system boiler which had to heat a tankful of water in addition to heating the house).
Also, the DHW takes ages to get warm, it never gets hot!
The questions are should I replace it before it fails with a condensing combi to reduce the gas bill?
If so, what size combi would I need? (we have 10 smallish rads and have an electric shower, so the boiler DHW is only for washing the pots and general hand washing, shaving etc)
Also, which manufacturer would you recommend?

Many Thanks,
Dave

gas4you

A 28 Kw combi will be more than ample in your situation.

I personally would look at the Intergas or Broag 28Kw boilers.

Intergas would probably be my first choice these days.

sparkykink

Thanks for you reply, I'll have alook at these boilers although I hadn't heard of them before.
Do you reckon It is worth replacing the non condensing boiler before it fails?

gas4you

Whether something is worth replacing without it being on its last legs or failed is a decision only you can make.

Without seeing a boiler it is impossible to say. If it's really old you may get the scrappage deal on it.

inmypocketnottheirs

Or if you are over 60 and not on any other benefits you may qualify for the Warm Front Grant of £300 if the scrappage scheme runs out.

28KW would be ideal, have a look at Potterton or Worcester Bosch.

sparkykink

Thanks again for the replies.
Unfortunately I work for a living, the bioiler doesn't come under the scrappage scheme and I'm under 60. In other words, I qualify for S*d All.
You're right about the government taketh away.

Remember : It doesn't matter who you vote for, the government always get in

sparkykink

Forgot to mention
re: the Worcester Bosch
I had a W B system boiler in my old house, which developed circulation problems.
WB engineers came out following day (good after sales, I thought)
Unfortunately though, because the engineer flatly refused to concede that the boiler was faulty such was his confidence in the product that he insisted it was the radiator balancing.(being a humble sparky with 35 years of fault finding experience I did question how the system and the balancing had been ok for 3 months and then suddenly unbalanced itself???, but undetered he insisted the boiler was ok).
Still no circulation, but after turning the pump down ??? he said it would be OK now.
2 days later another engineer came out and said the 1st guy was talking out of his lower back, turned the pump back up and changed the PCB (which didnt rectify the fault).
Another 2 day's went by and a third man turned up (never the same engineer ?).
He plugged in a laptop and did a diagnostic check which showed ther boiler fired up, then shut down with the hot water not getting very far at all.
This time I suggested that maybe it would be a good idea to change the pump, the engineer said "well I will but I'm sure it's a pipework blockage cos these pumps never go faulty".
Hey presto, new pump - no problem.
Just wondered if anyone else had experienced similar, with engineers too confident in the product.
If they didn't go faulty or break down, they wouldn't be in a job would they?
Personally, Im not that struck on the Worcester Bosch, it never did get as hot as my old Ideal Elan, which it replaced.

Sorry for the essay!

Cheers.