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Condensing boilers "multi-billion-pound con-trick"

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  • vaio wrote: »
    "serviced like a car" implies there are parts that get changed on time or hours use basis and adjustments to be made.

    Is this indeed the case? or is it a quick run round with hoover, check the gas pressure, stick the flue gas analyser on and collect £100 for passing Go?


    and every five years a British Gas £1000 powerflush....older boilers were more tolerent.


    all the best.markj
  • vaio
    vaio Posts: 12,287 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    five years seems to be boiler replacement time for lots of people (which of course will involve a powerflush too)
  • edgex
    edgex Posts: 4,212 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    alanobrien wrote: »
    They were sold to the public as more fuel efficient which is true. However, the real problem with them is the lack of reliability, durability, high maintanance need and cost.

    It only takes a tiny leak on a typical pressurised condensing system to shut it down, by comparison and old unpressurised standard boiler was far more fault tolorant.

    Then there's the "need" for power flushing a modern invention for making even more money out of the public.

    When they talk about efficiency they seem to conveniently focus on running cost and leave out maintenance and replacement cost i.e. they ignore life cycle cost which is the real issue.

    I am sure they will become more reliable over time but before that happens people will be forced to spend a lot more money maintaining and replacing units.

    So becoming a Gas safe registered heating installer is probably a good career choice for the next 20 years :o


    also, how much greater is the efficiency when compared to a new 'standard' boiler?


    then you have to look at how efficient & well insulated the house that the boiler is heating is;
    a 90% efficiency boiler on for 5 hours a day
    will be more efficient overall than
    a 95% efficiency boiler on for 7 hours a day

    but government=stupid
  • A._Badger
    A._Badger Posts: 5,881 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edgex wrote: »
    also, how much greater is the efficiency when compared to a new 'standard' boiler?

    but government=stupid

    Not to mention how much energy is wasted making and then repeatedly replacing this disposable junk?

    I seem to recall a certain John Prescott having his pudgy little fingers in this train wreck, don't I?
  • edgex
    edgex Posts: 4,212 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Just checked its 65% , Theres very little radiant heat from the chimey breast AFAIK
    Many A rated boilers are between 89-95% efficient.. Personally speaking I will change mine for 2 reasons ,firstly its costing me a packet in gas compared to my neighbours and 2nd I want a wood burner (as Im a Joiner and have plenty of offcuts)


    ANYONE HAVE A BRIQUETTE MAKING MACHINE TO COMPRESS WOOD SHAVINGS THEY WANT TO SELL pm ME.:D
    http://www.scrap-your-boiler.co.uk/do-i-qualify.php?manufacturer=2&model=2&boilertype=1&modelqualifier=


    but how old is your current boiler?
    how efficient would a like-for-like replacement be?


    as an example, we had to have our back-boiler replaced a few years ago (sits in the chimney breast behind the gas fire)

    the current model available from baxi is SEDBUK Band A rated (90%+)

    we have cavity-wall insulation, loft insulation, double glazing


    so how much more efficient would a combi be?
    & at what cost & hassle?
  • welda
    welda Posts: 600 Forumite
    ]North sea gas at some point WILL run out..probably in our lifetimes..then we will become reliant on gas piped from europe and beyond and LPG which is already being shipped in.

    Close to depletion now, both north and southern sectors, Morcambe Bay is of course dwindling daily, since the heady good ol days of NS gas and oil, the various governments and oil/gas companies have only been too interested in creaming off to benefit the shareholders.

    LNG is now available for import to UK, OZ has massive reserves of NG, onshore developments are on-stream to export NG in LNG format, I shudder to think what we in UK will be paying for any type of gas??

    Regards......
  • wallbash
    wallbash Posts: 17,775 Forumite
    Time to go Nuclear
  • wallbash wrote: »
    Time to go Nuclear

    we are already, the french are building us some:D

    bet they'll last ages...
  • vaio
    vaio Posts: 12,287 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    and be cheap to run
  • Verrrrry interesting but stupid. Facts are that I had a Vokera non-condensing combi boiler for twenty years and 5 years ago when it became unreliable and costly to maintain I changed it to a WB condensing combi. My gas usage reduced by 25% and I've had not one problem. In view of the negativity about combi boilers I'm surprised it's still working.
    Yes combi boilers are more complicated than conventional boilers mainly due to the built-in diverter valve but for me the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.
    Named after my cat, picture coming shortly
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