Central heating quote

beanieandme

BobProperty wrote:

I'm not CORGI registered but I'll give a reply to your post until one of the CORGI guys spots it:
From what I know:
Condensing boilers are now the norm due to energy saving related changes to Building Regulations. There are exceptions but they are so rare you might as well say that for all normal domestic installations you will get a condensing boiler.
To install it properly, it has to be installed to the manufacturer's recommendations (or some Building Regs defaults, but I can't imagine a manufacturer not supplying instructions). So, compared to your old boiler, it now has to cope with a condensate drain and the manufacturer's instructions about that drain. Again, for example, let's say one boiler flue is allowed to be within 300mm of an opening window, but another manufacturer says the minimum distance for its boiler is 450mm, then that may preclude the use of that boiler in your situation.
Size of gas pipe: a lot of older installations worked (or got away with working) on 15mm pipe. A lot of moderner boilers only work properly on a 22mm gas pipe. So again, one boiler from one manufacturer may be OK with your existing pipework, another will require the pipework upgrading.
Powerflush: Same answer, it depends what the manufacturer's instructions say. If they say the existing has to be flushed and an inhibitor added, then that has to be done. If they say it has to be powerflushed and an inhibitor added, then that's what has to be done. (a powerflush would cost about £250 - that's a very rough figure)
If you don't follow the manufacturer's instructions, the installer shouldn't be filling in the certificate and the manufacturer's guarantee will be invalid. I recall various stories on other trade forums where a boiler had developed a fault shortly after installation and the manufacturer's engineer was sent to look at it. If the installation certificate was absent or not completed the engineer's time was charged for as there was no guarantee.
I don't see why anyone giving you a quote shouldn't detail what the programmer etc. they propose to use is. Equally, I don't see that anyone is not abiding "by the new regulations", they are just giving alternative solutions.
Now all I need is a CORGI plumber to confirm what I've said :wave:

Yeah, it's most obvious after having a few guys on for quotes that even though they offer the manufacturer's guarantee, they don't comply with the boiler installation manual. I've read up on a few myself. Some are obviously not abiding by the new regs if the measurement guidlines about the flue fall short, and they wish to place the new boiler where the existing one is.

beanieandme

Canucklehead wrote:

Good morning: Bobproperty has provided some relevant info. Your installer needs to calculate the size of gas pipe taking into account the amount of gas the appliance needs, the distance from appliance to meter and any other appliances on that supply and THEN how many bends and tees on that pipe (simple yeah!?) The Energy Saving Trust produces a range of useful documents: the link provided below will expand on many of the points made in this thread and help homeowners understand the process. Beanieandme: take a look at page 29 in the document.
Enjoy!


http://www.est.org.uk/uploads/documents/housingbuildings/ce30.pdf

Yes, they should, but when you get guys saying they'll fit a boiler that the manufacturer says only should go with a 22ml pipe, and he says no your existing 15ml pipe will be fine, what do you say to that? They just plonk it on, and hope it fires up, sod the calculations it seems.

BobProperty

beanieandme wrote:

Yeah, it's most obvious after having a few guys on for quotes that even though they offer the manufacturer's guarantee, they don't comply with the boiler installation manual. I've read up on a few myself. Some are obviously not abiding by the new regs if the measurement guidlines about the flue fall short, and they wish to place the new boiler where the existing one is.

beanieandme wrote:

Yes, they should, but when you get guys saying they'll fit a boiler that the manufacturer says only should go with a 22ml pipe, and he says no your existing 15ml pipe will be fine, what do you say to that? They just plonk it on, and hope it fires up, sod the calculations it seems.

So don't use them, get some more quotes. Not upgrading the pipe to 22mm seems to me a good way of keeping the quote down without the customer realising the consequences.

beanieandme

BobProperty wrote:

So don't use them, get some more quotes. Not upgrading the pipe to 22mm seems to me a good way of keeping the quote down without the customer realising the consequences.

That's just it, this is why I'm getting more and more quotes. As you can see, I know what I'd be getting into. I haven't found anyone I am confident with coz even though some might seem to be going with the new regs, they ignore the boiler manual. I can't seem to find anyone who goes by the book on everything. Know of anyone good in the Medway area?

Some also wish to quote right up by offering to put the boiler in a place that's just not ideal (loft/airing cupboard) when you can simply move it a few feet, have pipes over a window, and move it to another part of the wall in the kitchen.

Some want to make you think it's the law to have rad therms on every rad. It's concerning. I feel sorry for any ignorant consumers.

Canucklehead

Hello again: The old adage 'forewarned is forewarned' is an accurate one and the consumers' best weapon....we all have the responsibility to educate ourselves whether about purchasing computer components, best buys at local supermarkets or engaging the services of a local tradeperson. Bobproperty and I have given good (free) advice here and a thanks wouldn't go amiss

Good luck.

beanieandme

Canucklehead wrote:

Hello again: The old adage 'forewarned is forewarned' is an accurate one and the consumers' best weapon....we all have the responsibility to educate ourselves whether about purchasing computer components, best buys at local supermarkets or engaging the services of a local tradeperson. Bobproperty and I have given good (free) advice here and a thanks wouldn't go amiss

Good luck.

That's right. Be nice if we could find someone good, but we just can't. So we're not getting anywhere really are we?

THANKS