"MJA" wrote in message
...
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?
The Quinta is a commercail boiler, so more expensive. At this point
consider a system update. How about a quality high flow combi, giving high
pressure showers? The Broag 39C combi will do in most cases.
Have a Magnaclean on the return to the boiler. That will prevent any
blocking up of the tubes in the heat exchanger.
The Broag, has a 5 year guarantee. They use primarily industry standard
components and little plastic with Honeywell brass hydrobocks. The Broags
are better quality than Vaillant and much cheaper. They are a well priced
quality boilers having a superb control system with integrated outside
weather compensation and OpenTherm control protocal control.
http://www.avantaplus.co.uk
http://www.tradingdepot.co.uk/DEF/ca...meha%20Boilers
The control options. Wiring the combis is simple:
http://www.avantaplus.com/docs/Issue...%20Booklet.pdf
Go for the Avantaplus range.
Now what is your system like? Cylinder? vented? how many showers? Baths,
etc. Then it can be whittled down to what you really need. It is no good
putting a modern boiler on an outdated DHW/CH system. Go for gold.