New Oil Boiler

Rockman

Hi

I need a new oil boiler and have been given 2 quotes. The cheaper quote is to replace my existing oil boiler with an updated version of the same which will be 92% energy efficient. The second option, which is £500 more expensive, is to install a new condenser boiler, which will be 96% energy efficient. Apparently most new homes being built have the new condenser boiler installed as standard.

Can anyone advise?

Thanks

rogerblack

Well - if you believe the numbers, you'd need to put 1/4% = 25 times £500 of oil through it to come out even.
That is - £12500.
Do you even expect it to last that long?
Air-air heatpump may be another option - it can be basically as cheap as gas, with a properly installed and specified system.

zeupater

Hi

I agree with Roger's assessment ..... On such a small difference manufacturing and installation tolerances come into play .... It would be advisable to note the guidance given for comparison of SEDBUK efficiency ratings ...

"Boiler efficiency tests are subject to measurement uncertainty. Consequently small differences in the efficiency values calculated from them are not significant and should not be relied on when comparing boilers. Statistical analysis suggests that if two boilers have SEDBUK values 3 percentage points apart then there is 95% confidence that the boiler with the higher value is more efficient."

Check out the boilers you are interested in on the SEDBUK database ... http://www.boilers.org.uk/ ... also, a £500 difference does seem a little high and would probably be open to a little price negotiation .... there's always the option of having another supplier quote for the same model.

Out of interest, is there any difference in the installation between the two ?, I take it that the updated model isn't really a 'plug & play' replacement and some work is required, and if you are looking at changing the storage tank etc is it the same for both quotes ??

For guidance, someone mentioned an oil boiler change costing £3k on these threads recently .... I would have thought that a pretty straightforward change should cost well below this, even with an 'A' rated boiler from a brand such as Worcester etc ...

HTH
Z