Back Boilers and Oil Boilers

CEON44

Would like some help on what type of back boiler and oil boiler to buy. First of all the oil boiler. I have at present a 90/120 firebird which quite simply doesnt do the job. I have it installed about 6 years but think I should have gone for better spec at the time. I am now considering a condensing oil boiler. Can anyone recommend which type/size to get? For your information I live in a chalet type house with 4 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, 2 bathrooms. Around 2000sq feet approx.
Now on to the back boiler. I dont currently have a back boiler but want one installed. Access is easy enough as the back of the fireplace leads on to my hall way. I have looked at a Grant triple pass 18" model which seems to be one of the best. Issue here is the specs say it heats up to 10 radiators. I have 14 radiators, although some are quite small and some rooms arent even used so they could be turned down low or off completely. Maybe there are back boilers available that can heat up to 14 radiators? Reason I want the back boiler is that I really like to burn the open fire over the winter and without a BB then I also need to run my oil heating to keep up the temperature in other rooms. Even if the BB cant make full temperature in the rooms it would still mean that I would need to run the oil less to compensate. Anyone who can offer any advice?

alexsewell

Pm you a guys number we used

jtk174

Been looking at this myself recently. After applying for the HE grant a year ago, people started telling me about the problems they were having with condensing boilers and how expensive to fix. So I didn't bother!

In any event, it turned out my rads weren't heating too well because of sludge in the system. I did drain my system and add chemicals for a week or 2 and this made an enormous difference ( some thumping of the rads helped also ). However, I have decided to bite the bullet and get the system power flushed, before the end of the month. About £435!

It would appear that the last guy to work on the boiler( 5 years ago ) did not replace the inhibitor in the system and this was a contributory factor.

Here is a link to info about boiler specs ( not sure if this is the exact boiler you have but you can look at other models ) http://www.homeheatingguide.co.uk/efficiency-tables.php?model=009029

Would be interested to hear how you get on as my sytem also has 14 rads and an existing ancient back boiler.

sheerdelight

An oil boiler of your size should comfortably heat a 2000 square foot house all the more if rads are small and/or are off unless your house has very little insulation!

butterflymum

CEON44 wrote: »

Can anyone recommend which type/size to get?

This might be helpful:

http://www.idhee.org.uk/calculator.html

CEON44

Thanks for all these replies. As sheerDelight says above my existing boiler, which isnt too old, should heat my house. So maybe I need to find out why it isnt rather than spend too much on a new condensing boiler. I definately want to go with the back boiler anyway as I like to have the open fire most days over the winter so any heat generated there wont be totally lost. Interested in Renewablespro solutions. Never heard of stuff like that, never even heard any plumbers round here mentioning things like that

CEON44

thanks Renewablespro. The vortex energy saver seems a nice piece of kit. I will ring them Monday and see if they have any suppliers here in Northern Ireland.

@ jtk174. Maybe I need to power flush. I have no idea what state my rads are inside. i'm in this house almost 8 years and I've never had to drain/refill the system. £435 seems quite a whack to pay though for something so basic.

Still interested in anyones view on the back boiler as well. As in first post is there a boiler on the market that will sufficiently heat 14 rads?