Recommend me a new gas boiler?

janmc

We're looking at replacing an oil boiler with a gas one. From asking around, it sounds like Viessmann have the best reputation - would any one agree/disagree with this? It's for a standard 3bed house, around 1100sq ft.

Some other quick questions
1. Can you have a back boiler on an inset stove working with this? (There are currently pipes to a back boiler in an open fire)
2. Is there any difference between wall/floor mounted in terms of efficiency/price?
3. Do most central heating systems heat the water as well, and if not, is it difficult to do this retrospectively?

Thanks in advance.
PS If anyone knows approx costs on the one they'd recommend, please feel free to share :P

janmc

Viessmann, Worcester Bosch and valiant are my top 3 all good boilers, system controls are just as important as choosing the boiler, the more control you have the cheaper your bills can be.

janmc wrote: »

1. Can you have a back boiler on an inset stove working with this? (There are currently pipes to a back boiler in an open fire)

solid fuel stoves can be used in conjunction with a gas boiler but must be fitted so the stove can have no negative impact on the gas boiler, personality I don't like it and prefer the stove to heat a second coil on the hot water cylinder.

janmc wrote: »

2. Is there any difference between wall/floor mounted in terms of efficiency/price?

Gas boiler tend to be wall mounted now.

janmc wrote: »

3. Do most central heating systems heat the water as well, and if not, is it difficult to do this retrospectively?

a combination boiler will heat your water instantaneously as you open a hot tap and a system boiler will heat your cylinder if you have one

heinbloed

The Viessman Vitodens 300-W 208 wast tested as "best" ("Testsieger") by German Stiftung Warentest ( Europe's largest independant consumer organisation) in 2010.

The complete test here for €1.50

http://www.test.de/Gasheizkessel-Mehrwert-dank-Brennwert-4108206-4108208/

and the Vitodens 300-W 208 here offered by an Austrian mail order company:

http://www.guenstiger.de/Test/Testbericht/Mehrwert_dank_Brennwert_Gasheizkessel_mit_Solarspeichern_320681.html


There are many more out there. Ask for independant test results done to international standards.
Make sure the boiler matches the demand (energy demand calculation done to EN12831 or similar).

And yes: Gas boilers can prepare domestic hot water.

slavetothegrind

don't go mail order you will get it from a local rgi cheaper and warranty no problem either.

Agents in ireland are precision heating.

There is a list of manufacturer trained and approved installers here,

http://morethanheat.co.uk/#

at least one of them posts regularly in this forum ( not me)

heinbloed

heinbloed wrote: »

The Viessman Vitodens 300-W 208 wast tested as "best" ("Testsieger") by German Stiftung Warentest ( Europe's largest independant consumer organisation) in 2010.

The complete test here for €1.50

http://www.test.de/Gasheizkessel-Mehrwert-dank-Brennwert-4108206-4108208/

and the Vitodens 300-W 208 here offered by an Austrian mail order company:

http://www.guenstiger.de/Test/Testbericht/Mehrwert_dank_Brennwert_Gasheizkessel_mit_Solarspeichern_320681.html


There are many more out there. Ask for independant test results done to international standards.
Make sure the boiler matches the demand (energy demand calculation done to EN12831 or similar).

And yes: Gas boilers can prepare domestic hot water.

Appliances sold in other country's are not always suitable to be fitted here and it can effect the warranty.

JohnnieK

I would have to go with Viessmann:D. If you are dead set on the stove tied into the heating as well then look at the Vitodens 100W Compact.

Price would be very hard to determine because a site survey would need to be done. Most installers would give free surveys and estimates. The Vitodens 300 is not stocked in this country.

janmc

Thanks for the replies all. We'll be going with an RGII installer definitely. We're trying to get prices as updating the boiler might be outside the budget but have got estimates of between 2K and 5K, and obviously there's a big difference between the two! That's why I was looking for a recommendation - the 2 plumbers might have very different boilers in mind. (Chats/estimates were informal, will be requesting a specific price along with other work later). I looked at the SEAI website for info on efficiencies, but there is a huge selection of gas boilers, and I didn't know where to start to be honest.

I asked about floor/wall as there seem to be a good few floor mounted ones on the SEAI site, I assume wall mounted ones can be put under counter if needs be anyway?

The back boiler wouldn't have occurred to me if there hadn't been one in place already. I thought it might be no harm to keep it as there is only one fireplace in the house. I might think about it again though.

janmc

janmc wrote: »

I asked about floor/wall as there seem to be a good few floor mounted ones on the SEAI site, I assume wall mounted ones can be put under counter if needs be anyway?
.

You would be limited by floor standing as most manufactures do wall mounted, Worcester Bosch do a nice one but i'v only seen the brochure.

A boiler must be fitted with the manufactures clearances in mind, some wall mounted boiler wouldn't be suitable.