I am thinking about having my old, inefficient but reliable gas
boiler replaced next summer. I have been reading manuals and other
web resources, mainly looking at German and Dutch manufacturers.

The review of the Giannoni stainless steel heat exchanger at
www.gas-news.co.uk/archive/storage/pre-10/2007/comment/1006.htm
does not fill me with confidence -- too much plastic, and no way to
strip it down to clean it.

On the other hand, cleaning the Worcester WB3 aluminium heat exchanger
at www.gas-news.co.uk/archive/storage/2008/comment/1001.htm seems
labour intensive, particularly if it is needed every year.

I have been looking at the Dutch company Remeha (Broag, their UK
importers, are just down the road). I believe the Avanta has a
Giannoni heat exchanger, while the Quinta has a cast aluminium heat
exchanger.

I prefer the look of the Quinta -- it seems more solidly built and
accepts an external 0-10v modulating input if I wanted to update the
system controls later. However, I am wary of the aluminium heat
exchanger.

Now that condensing boilers have been around for a few years, what are
people's experience with the relative life and cost of maintenance of
aluminium vs. stainless steel?

Regards,

MJA