"Mika" wrote in message
om...
Hiya All,

Just thought I'd share some info on condensing boilers with everyone,
and get some feedback.

I have been shopping around to get my old cast-iron open vent boiler
system changed to a direct combi system, and considered a condensing
boiler, Anyway, cut a long story short, found that Graham Group
(www.graham-group.co.uk) are doing the "Big Green Boiler Scheme" and
you can get a condensing boiler at a discounted rate (very good rates
they are too!).

Anyway, was just about to buy one through the scheme (Vaillant EcoMax
824), and was told by a friend to phone a guy who works for British
Gas, doing their boiler replacement scheme. He's going around fitting
condensing boilers for British Gas, and doing work on the side for
cash. I mentioned that I was interested in the condensing boiler as a
replacement, which he said in all honesty that BG are "recalling" and
"replacing" condensing boilers because of reliability issues.

There are numerous makes of condensing boilers. What make(s) In general, a
condensing boiler is "no" more complex than a regular boiler. Anyone who
says differently knows ***k all about them.

BG had the Ideal ICOS on their list but were not pushing it because of
initial reliability problems. Ideal addressed the issue by taking the fan
control off the main control board and now all is fine.

He also mentioned that the "Part L" regs will be extended for another 3
years,
so new dwellings will not be required until 2007, not the April 2005
the goverment has publicised.

So far 2005.

Any feedback on these rumors?

Conclusion....I'm going for a Glow-worm (now owned by Vaillant) 30Ci
Plus from "Mr Central Heating" (http://www.mrcentralheating.com/) with
the usual 7 rads and pipe pack (£735 including VAT). My thinking is
stick with what works, rather than go for new technology, and possibly
upgrade (if I'm still in the house) some years down the line.

Your feedback/comments welcome.

The Glow Worm is a good boiler, with Vaillant parts in it. Ideal have
Vaillant parts and some boilers to be introduced will be pure Vaillant
except for the badge. Ideal boast that no part in the boiler )(except the
heat exchange) takes more than 15 minutes to change. So if you are charged 2
hours to replace something question it.