Which is the best gas boiler?
We need to buy a new gas boiler but do not know where to look or which is the best.
My OH seems to think that he wants a condensing boiler and not a combi one.
Anyone know anything about them…and where is the cheapest place to buy?
Many thanks
May 21st, 2008 at 2:50 am
condensing boilers… combi boilers.. same thing… condensing is the way forward as can be 99% efficent.. shop around.. for dealers and fitters.. their not cheap and plumbers will rip you off
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Worcester Bosch are highly rated. Any boiler you buy will be condensing, its just a matter of whether you want combined heat and hot water (ie instantly heated hot water) or stored hot water. Benefits of combi are a dry loft and no hot water tank. Drawbacks are possibly low HW flow (20 mins to fill a bath). Aim big to get a decent HW flow.
June 1st, 2008 at 5:11 am
All domestic boilers that you can buy in the UK are now condensing boilers.
Under the regulations forced on the UK by the EU, they are all you can buy.
They are more efficient and save energy.
However, they use more energy to make. They will break down sooner and the replacement parts you will have to buy will have used more energy to make. Plus will cost a lot.
In a dozen or so years they will need replacing. So more costs and a mass more energy used in the making of the new boiler.
But so what, in theory (if not in practice) you are saving the planet.
A combi boiler simply has an inbuilt pump. If the pump develops a fault it will cost double the price of an external pump to replace.
A system boiler (which is what I think your OH is thinking of) also supply’s the hot water to the taps. Great idea, just don’t turn on more than one tap at a time unless you like cool water. To get over this problem, just install a bigger boiler than you would normally expect.
As you have to comply with EU regulations, I suggest you look at. Good prices and good service.