On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 20:06:43 +0100, Jim D wrote:


Do any of you consider combi boilers and sealed systems a false
economy? I installed my system ten years ago. Since then, I have had
to spend about £100 a year just maintaining the boiler! My boiler
(Chaffateaux Britony 80) has given problems of one sort or another
about once a year, on average, and the parts are not cheap.

Then there are the other disadvantages associated with combis too..

I'm seriously wondering if I'd save money by ripping the boiler out
and installing a conventional boiler with header tank etc... (It's a
three bed semi).

Or, I could use the combi boiler as a conventional boiler... Would
that be feasable? Then some of the components wouldn't get used (the
diverter valve, the secondary heat exchanger, etc) so they would never
play up!

Firstly, have you read the BoilerChoice FAQ?

Realistically: I own or am personally responsible for 2 conventional and 3
combi boilers.

My experience is as follows:
Combi 1. Vaillant Turbomax. 5 years. 1 DHW flow micro switch.
Combi 2. Vaillant Turbomax+. 3 years. 1 inexplicable electronics lockout,
reset and no further troubles.
Previously Alde 7kW (sic) storage combi. During 5 years 2 fans.
but replaced due to increasingly inadequate HW production.

Combi 3. Vaillant Sine (about 20 y.o.). 8 years. 1 t/couple.
1 overhaul of DHW diaphragm assy.

Boiler 1. Potterton Profile 30e. (about 15 y.o.) 6 years. 1 pump.
Boiler 2. Keston C25. (2.5 years) 1 gas valve, replaced before it went
down "hard".

Have I been exceptionally fortunate? I don't think so.

--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html
Gas Fitting Standards Docs he http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFittingStandards