Standard boilers cheaper overall than Condensing ?

nande2000

As part of my ongoing search for a new heating system one installer has reccomended I install a standard non-Condensing Oil boiler.

Due to space constraints it has to be external and the house is very exposed and is susceptible to frozen outdoor pipes in winter.

Question is, anyone ever done the math as to whether regular boilers are cheaper in the long run anyway ?

As far as I can make out the standard boiler is 85% efficient compared to 94% with the equivalent Condensing model, the standard boiler is also £500 cheaper to buy. My installer is saying it should also last longer than a condensing boiler.

Owain_Moneysaver

Quite possibly, but you are only able to install a new non-condensing boiler in very limited circumstances now.

macman

What are the circumstances that would allow your installer to fit a non-condensing boiler in a domestic property (if that is what it is)?

nande2000

macman wrote: »

What are the circumstamcnces that would allow your installer to fit a non-condensing boiler in a domestic property (if that is what it is)?

He didnt fully explain, but the gist was that it is a remote exposed property susceptible to cold winters and options for siting the boiler is limited. It is just an option at this stage and they havent confirmed formally that they can do it.

nande2000

Interesting ive just googled it and it is a points system to determine if you are ok to have a nc boiler. The mere fact that i am restricted to oil in a detached house and the existing boiler position could not be used for a condensing boiler (no where for the condensate pipe to go) means my property is suitable for a NC boiler.

Cardew

nande2000 wrote: »

Question is, anyone ever done the math as to whether regular boilers are cheaper in the long run anyway ?

.

As far as I am aware there has been no comparison in running cost on MSE between new Non-Condensing boilers and new Condensing boilers. This is simply because there are few NC boilers are fitted.

There is much conjecture that the theoretical efficiencies of 94% etc in condensing boilers are rarely achieved in practice(much like manufacturer's mpg figures on cars) as it is not possible to always be in condensing mode.

The major reservation most of us(with N-C boilers) have about condensing boilers is their reputation for unreliabilty; with Electronic circuit boards costing £hundreds to replace, something even the most skilled fitter can do nothing about.

There are load of posts on MSE of N-C boilers giving trouble free service for decades - mine is a mere 24 years old.

I have no information on the reliability of new non-condensing boilers, but if they are as uncomplicated as boilers of yesteryear it would be a no contest for me N-C every time.

My suggestion would be research as much as possible about new N-C boilers, before making a decision. You may get some useful info from foreign websites.

nande2000

Thanks. The options for NC boilers seem to be Mistral and Grant, though Grants are only made to order (so 4-6 week lead times) and they are about to discontinue making orders.

Are Mistral any good ?