Combi Boiler

sal1958

Hi,
We live in a new build house (5 years old) and the combi boiler has broken down (one of the copper pipes has corroded right through). The plumber can get a part for it which will hopefully keep it working until the summer when we will replace it. Is there a better type of boiler we could replace it with, which will last longer and not freeze up in cold weather, which is what happened with our current one. I'd rather pay more and have something that is better. Any ideas would be gratefully received.

garethgas

Copper doesn't corrode. What is the make/model of the boiler? 5yrs old isn't very long to justify a replacement

ormus

probably nothing wrong with the boiler, its the condensate pipe that freezes up.
due to incorrect installation.
the pipe must be a minimum size, and a decent fall.

and maybe insulated too, in certain exposed areas.

lee_w

you can buy a heater trace kit for your condense, that will stop it freezing

as for boilers, worcester or vaillant are probably considered the market leaders and best on the market

sal1958

The boiler is a Gloworm CX30i. The copper pipe is corroded and has copper sulphate crystals on it, possibly as a result of when the waste pipe froze last winter and water backed up and cascaded through the boiler. The plumber has put a larger waste pipe on for us now so hopefully that can't happen again.

lee_w

gloworm are part of vaillant, not a bad boiler you have, far worst out there

Canucklehead

sal1958 wrote: »

The boiler is a Gloworm CX30i. The copper pipe is corroded and has copper sulphate crystals on it, possibly as a result of when the waste pipe froze last winter and water backed up and cascaded through the boiler. The plumber has put a larger waste pipe on for us now so hopefully that can't happen again.

Hi: as a potential side issue you might want to check this out as it might apply to your appliance. The OH recently attended the same series boiler that hadn't been serviced in the last couple of years and had the original seal.:eek:

Only replace your GW if it is beyond economical repair.

HTH

Canucklehead

garethgas

sal1958 wrote: »

The boiler is a Gloworm CX30i. The copper pipe is corroded and has copper sulphate crystals on it, possibly as a result of when the waste pipe froze last winter and water backed up and cascaded through the boiler. The plumber has put a larger waste pipe on for us now so hopefully that can't happen again.

That sounds like flux residue. Copper sulphate is blue, I suspect your pipe was more of a green colour.
I repeat, copper doesn't corrode.
The boiler will give you a good few years yet so unless there's been a major failure, I'd certainly hang on to it.
Any chance of a few pics to clarify?