Government Boiler Scheme SCAM!! Underpowered boilers

Larry123

If you have participated in the government boiler scheme, I suggest reading this thread as you might have been given an underpowered boiler.

I have been speaking with British Gas today querying the central heating output of the replacement boiler we have recieved. Our original boiler is a Worscester 35CDI with a CH output of 27.5kW. The replacement boiler we have received is a Vaillant Ecotec2 Pro 28HE. After doing some research, I discovered this boiler has an output of only 19.9kW however British Gas were insisting it was 27.5kW... After checking online and speaking with Vaillant technical support, I can confirm that BG's figures are WRONG and the 27.5kW figure is actually the output for the LPG versions only.

I have gone back to BG with this information, who initially tried to talk themselves out of it. I explained to them the seriousness of this mistake and how this could effect 100's if not 1000's of other customers and they have now started to **** bricks. They are sending TWO managers out to the house this week to reassess our requirements and to resolve the situation.

Now obviously BG will not choose to do this for every customer that has received an Ecotec Pro 28 so I write this thread to bring this to their attention.

If you have had an Ecotec Pro 28 fitted, please note that its output is only 19.9kW and not the BG stated 27.5kW. You should compare this with your previous boiler output as the scheme promises a like for like replacement. If you chase this up with BG, do not let them try and give you the excuse they initially gave me, which is that "like for like" only means "a boiler of the same type, not of the same output"... if this were the case, they would be giving is all 1kW boilers... Please also note that the model number usually refers to the domestic hot water output, not the CH output.

You may want to check the outputs of any other boiler you have had fitted under this scheme as it seems BG is working off a falsely populated technical spreadsheet.

Having an underpowered boiler could cost you a lot of money in the long run, not only in the usage of gas but through maintenance as the boiler will be running far more often then it needs to/is designed to.

I look forward to reading some responses.

macman

The maximum boiler output is only relevant during DHW operation. The lower output should still be more than adequate to drive the CH side of the install.
An underpowered boiler will not use more gas, it'll just fail to produce the same flow rate that a more powerful boiler would, so if the flow rate is satisfactory (which it presumably is if the install has been in place for some time), there is no real issue.

Larry123

So are you saying that while the maximum CH output on the old boiler is 27.5kW, it is unlikely it ever utilised it and therefore 19.9kw should suffice? Baring in mind the house is a 200 year old stone house with thick caverty-less walls, stone floors and big windows.

The DHW is nearly 10kW less on this "replacement" boiler... is that at least an issue?

cajef

I am trying to work out how it is a Government Boiler Scheme scam, it is hardly the governments fault if BG fit a boiler that does not meet the requirements for a particular installation.

Larry123

cajef wrote: »

I am trying to work out how it is a Government Boiler Scheme scam, it is hardly the governments fault if BG fit a boiler that does not meet the requirements for a particular installation.

Lol, poor government.. Who said it was the governments fault? I am clearly blaming BG. The scheme is the scam. Don't be pedantic.

On more technical note, the government have provided the scheme and therefore should be monitoring it. If what macman say applies to my situation then great, but it might not apply to the 100's (estimated) of others have received a boiler underpowered by 10kW.

Nada666

How do the nitrogen oxide emissions compare?

Larry123

Nada666 wrote: »

How do the nitrogen oxide emissions compare?

Old one is class 2 and new one is class 5

poppasmurf_bewdley

I'm on LPG at home and I had one of these Vaillant Ecotec 2 Pro 28 boilers fitted almost two years ago under the scheme by Eon.

My understanding from the chap who fitted mine was that the LPG and non LPG are identical apart from a setting which he had to ring up for.

My boiler has been up to anything I've thrown at it.

daveyjp

OP CH output is irrelevant, 9-10kw is probably more than adequate for CH circuits. These are modulating boilers so only provide the heat required to maintain the CH water temperature. Our Ecotec never runs on full burner during heating cycles, even from cold, 60% output at most.

The 27.5kw figure is the hot water output and this is far more important for a combi boiler.

macman

OP: as pointed out, the only relevant factor is whether you get an adequate flow rate and that the CH is capable of warming the property within a reasonable time. I too find it hard to believe that the rated output between LPG and NG is different by as much as 7.5kW.
The rated output of the original install (was this a combi or a conventional boiler?) is irrelevant, as it could well have been over-specced when installed.

Larry123

This is great to hear. I'm glad my CH won't be affected... However I am still concerned about my HW being 9kw less than my original boiler. I am also concerned that there are hundreds of other people out there with with inadequate boilers.

The point of this thread was more to point out that BG have been fitting boilers with less overall output than they have stated. To me, that seems like a huge issue, but I seem to be alone... Once again the people have been played by a greedy corp.

For those questioning the figures, they are all online. The LPG does for what ever reason have a higher output.