New boiler/tank question - sorry if wrong place for post

myriadabellium

Skiduck wrote:

have u checked the database? if not, give me the make and model and I'll do it - I'll also tell you if there are any known issues with parts etc and if it is worth considering replacing due to other issues.

I've had a look in the database, but I'm not sure what I'm looking for - the front of the boiler says "Ideal E-type" but no serial numbers or anything, and the controls say "Potterton 2000". It's floor mounted with a huge flue on the outside wall of the house. That's all I know! There's no paperwork for it anywhere...

Skiduck

myriadabellium wrote:

I've had a look in the database, but I'm not sure what I'm looking for - the front of the boiler says "Ideal E-type" but no serial numbers or anything, and the controls say "Potterton 2000". It's floor mounted with a huge flue on the outside wall of the house. That's all I know! There's no paperwork for it anywhere...

hmmm - the database doesn't recognise it and it's not in the parts catalogues, are you sure there is no other model name on it?

The only floor standing on the database is a Concord.

one of the only times I'm been stumped :rotfl:

Stormy

I don't think a lot of old boilers are on that database, before the sebuk ratings?. I could never find my old Ideal Elan 2 (NF230) on there and its about 14 years old.

Mike

Skiduck

Stormy wrote:

I don't think a lot of old boilers are on that database, before the sebuk ratings?. I could never find my old Ideal Elan 2 (NF230) on there and its about 14 years old.

Mike

you could be right there mate, so the efficiency would have to be an assumption - I would gues at 65-70% as Ideals aren't too bad on efficiency; so the installer saying you would gain 45% is talking half truths, the max you would save is 35% more realisticallly between 30-25%.

BTW aren't the Elans great with they're shiny glass front??? - who's idea was that?


I did find this from the HSE

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/crr_pdf/2001/crr01374.pdf#search=%22ideal%20e-type%20boiler%22

They say the Ideal Etype has a "sub-standard flue configuration" when investigating CO incidents - so that could be another consideration for you.

myriadabellium

Skiduck wrote:

hmmm - the database doesn't recognise it and it's not in the parts catalogues, are you sure there is no other model name on it?

The only floor standing on the database is a Concord.

one of the only times I'm been stumped :rotfl:

Definitely no other model name - I took the front off to have a look near the dials, too! Thanks so much for your help though!

myriadabellium

Skiduck wrote:

you could be right there mate, so the efficiency would have to be an assumption - I would gues at 65-70% as Ideals aren't too bad on efficiency; so the installer saying you would gain 45% is talking half truths, the max you would save is 35% more realisticallly between 30-25%.

BTW aren't the Elans great with they're shiny glass front??? - who's idea was that?


I did find this from the HSE

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/crr_pdf/2001/crr01374.pdf#search=%22ideal%20e-type%20boiler%22

They say the Ideal Etype has a "sub-standard flue configuration" when investigating CO incidents - so that could be another consideration for you.

Thanks so much - that's really useful to consider! :T

I'm on maternity leave at the moment, so definitely no spending until after Christmas but replacing the boiler has become our new top priority

a&akay

I had a Potterton Netaheat MkI with an old style cast iron heat exchanger and 2 years ago I installed a Ravenheat condensing boiler myself from B&Q (I have an indirect system ie feed and expansion tank). I log my gas usage every month so I can definitely say that 30% savings are realistic for condensing as long as you try to run it at near the best thermostat setting recommended in the user booklet except for the depths of Winter. I use the setting that keeps my hot water at 60 deg C, not the best but what I want, and still made 30%. I can't recommend Ravenheat now from experience as I think they are rubbish but a British Gas engineer who fixed my boiler recently (he had been with them a long time) recommended Worcester Bosch for lack of breakdowns, costly but worth it in the long run.

justtoclarify_2

BG may give a guarantee, but it may require time and energy to reach a resolution you are happy with if the problem you have is not trivial. The boiler will come with a guarantee, a good one will have 2 years at least. A good CORGI registered plumber will also guarantee their work albeit with only their own backup. Since the local company will normally send out a qualified heating engineer/plumber person to do the quote, rather than the salesman sent by BG, you should get any queries you have answered and fewer suprises during installation.

If you don't have a personally recommended CORGI registered plumber, you could check on the boiler manufacturer's websites and cross check any names against corgi. I know at least Worcester Bosch have a link on their site to fitters of their boilers.

If you have not already done it, you could consider having your system power flushed, this is not cheap, but if sludge has built up in the system this will make it inefficient. It should be less expensive than a new boiler, plus its recommended if you fit a new boiler and use any of the existing pipe work and/or radiators. If you have radiators which never get properly hot, radiators with cold spots or need bleeding frequently.

On the positive size, if your system is that old and you decide to replace it, the new radiators are much smaller for the same output, so you could gain quite a bit of wall space. Oh dear that means decorating!

david29dpo

also, forget the timer, or leave it on constant and get a programable thermostat.