Existing Solar panels (hot water) and need a new boiler - help!

dreyfuss

Ok so our 30+ year old gas boiler has had it's day and started to leak. We are thinking it's time to replace it :(but...we have hot water solar panels that currently feed into the hot water tank which complicates it somewhat.

New boilers seem like a bit of minefield with what you can get and we're not sure whether it's more cost effective to get a boiler that will accommodate the panels and pay for the panels to be converted or get rid of the panels and just get a new boiler? Has anyone come accross anything like this? The panels came with the house when we bought it so had nothing to do with their installation!

My husband has given me the job of looking into it (Joy!) and don't really know where to start or where to go!

(then there's the possibility of grants - I'm getting so confused...._pale_ )

Any help/advice much appreciated:A

penrhyn

Disconnect the panels, the more efficient boiler will more than compensate for the minimal savings that they make.

Thats just my Ecosceptic view of course.;)

sheffield_lad

Ok the panels should be going into the hot water cylinder and if the cylinder is all ok there should be no reason not to keep the solar thermal.

I would get a few heating engineers in to give you a quote but would have thought a standard condensing boiler will do the trick.

GL

Canucklehead

You are only changing the boiler. It'll be a heat only or system condensing one.

Can't see the complication with that.

Get some quotes in.

Bone up on solar thermal and cylinders if you are not too well versed in the technology.

Fire_Fox

You might be best reposting this on the 'In your home/ DIY' board, it's not really a query about energy supplies. Article on grants
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/grant-grabbing

Make a list of qualified and recommended heating engineers and have them over to advise and quote. Take notes whilst they are there and research what they recommend.