Gloworm boilers ..?
 

I've a 9 year-old Gloworm conventional boiler (ie. gas fuel, chimney flue
and pumped + gravity heating system) in my house. Just casually wondering
how efficient such a boiler might be by today's standards.

Also, servicing wise, is there anything in particular I should be paying
attention to? Been here over 2 years, but haven't had it serviced yet.





a

"al" wrote in message
. uk...
I've a 9 year-old Gloworm conventional boiler (ie. gas fuel, chimney flue
and pumped + gravity heating system) in my house. Just casually wondering
how efficient such a boiler might be by today's standards.

Also, servicing wise, is there anything in particular I should be paying
attention to? Been here over 2 years, but haven't had it serviced yet.

There is a website giving efficiency comparisons for boilers, try Googling
for SEDBUK, boiler and efficiency and see what you get. Someone else
on this newsgroup will have the URL I'm sure if you don't turn it up,

Andy.

In article , Andrewpreece wrote:
There is a website giving efficiency comparisons for boilers, try Googling
for SEDBUK, boiler and efficiency and see what you get. Someone else
on this newsgroup will have the URL I'm sure if you don't turn it up,

www.sedbuk.com or check out our free program, see sig

--
Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk
Free SEDBUK boiler database browser http://www.sda.co.uk/qsedbuk.htm
[Latest version QSEDBUK 1.10 released 4 April 2005]

In article ,
al wrote:
I've a 9 year-old Gloworm conventional boiler (ie. gas fuel, chimney
flue and pumped + gravity heating system) in my house. Just casually
wondering how efficient such a boiler might be by today's standards.

Pretty poor, I'm afraid.

Also, servicing wise, is there anything in particular I should be paying
attention to? Been here over 2 years, but haven't had it serviced yet.

Then you should. Non room sealed boilers - ie those with a conventional
flue - can be lethal when faulty. If there's any problems with the air
supply, or blockages in the flue, or they're not burning efficiently for
any reason, they can produce carbon monoxide which is a killer.

Personally, I'd not even bother with a service, but change it for an RS
condensing type.

--
*How come you never hear about gruntled employees? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
Then you should. Non room sealed boilers - ie those with a conventional
flue - can be lethal when faulty. If there's any problems with the air
supply, or blockages in the flue, or they're not burning efficiently for
any reason, they can produce carbon monoxide which is a killer.

The flue at least is sealed behind plasterboard, which should help a small
amount. But yes, CO emissions are a worry.

Personally, I'd not even bother with a service, but change it for an RS
condensing type.


"RS"? Don't think I really have the money to replace it right now. Being
doing too many other major renovations to fit it in :o(




a

In article ,
al wrote:
Personally, I'd not even bother with a service, but change it for an RS
condensing type.


"RS"?

Room sealed.

Don't think I really have the money to replace it right now. Being
doing too many other major renovations to fit it in :o(

Do a regular check that the flames are blue with no yellow.

--
*Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 22:08:17 +0000, al wrote:

I've a 9 year-old Gloworm conventional boiler (ie. gas fuel, chimney flue
and pumped + gravity heating system) in my house. Just casually wondering
how efficient such a boiler might be by today's standards.

Also, servicing wise, is there anything in particular I should be paying
attention to? Been here over 2 years, but haven't had it serviced yet.


The boiler maybe 9 years but its design is much older.

As it has a conventional flue, you absolutely need to have it checked over
and probably cleaned every 12 months. This is not vested interest ****e
its serious essential safety.
It does not matter that the flue is partially enclosed. It draws its
combustion air from the inside and if anything goes wrong it will dump CO
in the house.

With all the right controls and a new boiler you could save perhaps as
much as 30%. Adding a wall themrostat and a few TRVs would however give
you a saving right away. Going to fully pumped and a cylinder stat also.


--
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

"Ed Sirett" wrote in message
The boiler maybe 9 years but its design is much older.

As it has a conventional flue, you absolutely need to have it checked over
and probably cleaned every 12 months. This is not vested interest ****e
its serious essential safety.
It does not matter that the flue is partially enclosed. It draws its
combustion air from the inside and if anything goes wrong it will dump CO
in the house.

I'm not sure I'm describing it correctly. I found reference to it on the
Sedbuk web page though. It's either a Glow-worm Hideaway 40 or 50
(described as regular, floor standing, non-condensing, gas, indoor, open
flue: no fan) with a power output of either 8.8kW or 11.7kW and SAP
efficiency of either 70.8% or 71%. That was a mouthfull ....

Does that match what you were thinking? Regarding servicing - is there
anything to choose between getting BG to service it or any other gas
servicing company? Are "normal" servicing costs much cheaper than BG's
annual plans?

With all the right controls and a new boiler you could save perhaps as
much as 30%. Adding a wall themrostat and a few TRVs would however give
you a saving right away. Going to fully pumped and a cylinder stat also.


I have a wall stat and I'm putting TRV's in all the upstairs rooms and the
hall as we speak! Haven't really looked into replacing the boiler, but I'm
thinking it would cost £1000's between the boiler cost and installation?



a