attention Gas Fitters and Heating Engineers

Canucklehead

Hi


In your original statement you said 'condensing boilers' but that's like saying all cars are crap 'cos you have a Lada from 1963.

If you install a rubbish boiler like an Ideal, don't have it looked at from day one and fit it to a filthy system it will fail quite quickly.

If you fit a good boiler like Vaillant or Viessmann to a clean system with inhibitor, a filter on the return and have it serviced it will last you 15 years or more. (Viessmann guarantee their heat exchanger for 10 years) (even an Ideal will probably last longer too given the above scenario.)

Now will you quote me?

GSR.

gas4you

Generally be very careful with long HE warranty's.

They only cover manufacturing defects. If you get a problem, the manufacturer will usually take various water samples from your system and send them away for testing.

They will look for any excuse to say the water in your system has caused the problem.

I had one case with Ideal. The Ideal engineer on site tested the system water and said it was all ok and the warranty was valid, only to receive a letter from Ideal stating it wasn't covered as it had traces of Aluminimum in it.

Strange thing was it was an Aluminimum HE:T

Canucklehead

gas4you wrote: »

Generally be very careful with long HE warranty's.

They only cover manufacturing defects. If you get a problem, the manufacturer will usually take various water samples from your system and send them away for testing.

They will look for any excuse to say the water in your system has caused the problem.

I had one case with Ideal. The Ideal engineer on site tested the system water and said it was all ok and the warranty was valid, only to receive a letter from Ideal stating it wasn't covered as it had traces of Aluminimum in it.

Strange thing was it was an Aluminimum HE:T

Hi

That's why I was specific in mentioning the Ideal, (rubbish) and the Vailant ,Viessmann (stainless steel,ie: good) Fitted to a clean system.;)

GSR

roddydogs

Ok, let me "Rephrase" my question, All other things being equal, do not Condenser boilers, have More parts (to go wrong), and a thinner Heat Exchanger, and ON AVERAGE , given the same treatment, servicing etc. do not last as long as the non-condensers?

Canucklehead

Hi

Boilers have become more complex over the years not overnight (look at the Potterton Suprima) So yes they are more complex.
I don't think heat exchangers are any thinner.

I'm really not interested in a protracted discussion, I have my opinion and you have yours I stuck my neck out and said they will last 15 years you have conceded nothing.

Goodbye
GSR.

gas4you

The stainless steel HE is not actually bad because it is thinner as such, but the waterways are a smaller diameter. This causes them to be more susceptible to dirt in the system and blockages. A dirty system is about the fastest way to ruin any make of boiler.

On my Vaillant training course they estimated approx a 15 year life span.

On the Ideal training course many years ago now, they said about 10 years.

You will of course alwayse get electronic and moving parts fail whatever make they are.

mole02

Shame the original thread was 2005, as Baxi now make a Condensing Back Boiler with Fire!

lomb

No condensing boiler will last even 10 years. Unfortunately a fan flued boiler has more moving parts that are the weak link like the fan that blows the exhaust gas out, this is a 10 pound part(to the manufacturer) that costs 150-200 to replace. Secondly the exhaust gases are cool therfore one gets condensation and therefore corrosion on the sensors/electronics monitoring exhaust gas composition that help modulate the boiler. Numerous other moving parts are present like a gas valve the modulates the gas supply these also fail regularly. Obviously the PCB is modulating the power to various components and they burn out sometimes. The heat exchanger has finer passages that maximise heat transfer and therfore clog easier.
Any gas saved is eaten up in service calls and parts,if a heavy user it is probably more favourable to have a newer boiler but there isnt much in it. If you have one a service contract is mandatory.

eco-friendly_2

Totally agree! after several years most fans are rotten and rusted, chattering relays in PCBs is another, that's when the manufacturers start getting 'the rent in' ...


After 5 years take out a BG contract.