"Boovee" wrote in message
om...
Hi, I`ve trawelled through the NG`s regarding this but there are a lot
of old posts on the subject. Can it be brought right bang up to date.
The questions I`d like to know please a
Are Condensing boilers now reliable?

MUCH better now but I'd suggest you opt for one with a stainless steel heat
exchanger rather than Aluminium purely from personal experience of failures
of Aluminium ones

If this is the case, are the Ravenheat models sold in B&Q any
good.....older posts suggest not but why would B&Q stock them in they
were inferior. Has this model improved? Is the Worcester still the
King of the boiler crop?

Personally I'd go for a Glow Worm HXi model of appropriate rating. (Cxi if a
Combi)
Be aware however that if you expect it to give its full performance your
existing radiator sizing "may" not be optimal.

Why is there a reluctance for a fitter to suggest (or even pretend not
to know about!!) a condensing bolier? Around what sort of reasonable
price would I expect to pay for a good, not overly expensive decent
boiler? Any recommendations?

For a long time I advised my customers to consider ALL the implications
fully before blindly going for a condenser but apart from the practicality
of routing a condensate to waste pipe there isn't really a lot of other work
for the installer. Now maintaining it afterwards requires a lot more
technical ability but most of the plumbers avoid this sort of follow up work
like the plague, prefering to let those who can do this sort of work.

I am in the process of replacing my old gas boiler. The house will
need an extra 4 radiators taking the total to 10. What sort of BTU
rating condensating boiler would I need? I do not intend to run my two
showers of this new boiler (not yet any way).

This sort of question cannot be answered simply. You will have to carry out
a proper analysis of the house heating loading using one of the recognised
methods such as the Myson HeatLossManager program. I undestand this is not
presently available on their website but someone on here is usually able to
email you a copy.

Thanks in advance for the replies. I know there are lots of questions
but I have very limited time to get a replacement.......
DB

Winter is weeks away yet (I hope)