Replacement for KFB 50

haymur

I have a glow-worm KFB 50 boiler with single flow and return pipes feeding up to 7 radiators and a worm in 30 gallon Immersion tank. It is about 16 years old . I don't know the life span of this type of boiler. I have done a few repair services on it over the years ie new PCB board, several pilot tube assemblies and seals and a bearing lube on the fan. The pilot jet seems to have caused the main number of repairs as it blocks fairly easily. IT Is located outside of the house in a small housing with a left side mounted dual exhaust / intake flue.
I am thinking of getting a cheap basic boiler to replace it, can anyone recommend a model to replace it. I don’t think I need a condensing or combi unit. The current one has a rating of 50,000 Btu’s which I think is 15 Kw. I would like to get a brand which has easy to get parts at a reasonable price. I notice that small parts on my current one have doubled in price over the last three years.

DGOBS

Hi Haymur, given the information you have posted here, I will make the assumption that you are not a registered gas installer, and you should be aware that tampering with or installing gas appliances in this country without being registered is an offense.

Current building regulations (since April 2008) also require any new or replacement boiler be of the condensing type (unless specific measurable installation issues preventing such are present)

In the interest of safety, advise in this instance should not be given to you, as what you have done, and are proposing to do would constitute a danger to both yourself and the people in your vicinity.

I understand that this will not be the response you require, or hoped for, but unless you know what you are doing and have the correct installation and test equipment, with the correct methods for testing, this is not safe (or legal)

Please take this advise with the good intention it was given with, for your own sake.

haymur

The reason I posted my question was to get a consensus of opinion on the best replacement for my boiler rather than just go to one heating engineer and fit the one he recommends . I intend getting a RGI to fit it but only after I consider the best value unit for me. I have been in the service business for many years and don't want to end up with a unit that offered the best profit margin to the installer and not best value for me.

The reason I serviced my current KFB boiler myself was when I had my first breakdown I called out a registered firm and they replaced a part at a very high cost and then a day or two later for it to stop again. It was impossible to get them back to sort it out quickly so I decided to get out the schematic of the unit and do an analyst of the fault myself. I found that a small component was faulty and its failure caused the other part to malfunction. I want to the supplier and bought a new one fitted it and solved the problem. The unit is out in the open in a self contained housing not in the house or a outbuilding but still I did all the safety checks as laid down in its manual. I am a service engineer and have often worked on machines which have gas and electromechanical component parts and would always put safety as a priority . As I am not familiar with the current range of gas boilers I was looking for advice from heating engineers as to my best choice of a boiler

DGOBS

So, did you complete soundness testing when replacing pilot tube assys?
How did you test the combustion?
Gas rating the appliance?
Setting/checking burner pressures?

The manufacture does not specify all the 'safety' testing required, only the specific manufacturers checks.

Just because you work in the service area, that brings you into contact with gas appliances in no way justifies your illegal gas works.

Worchester Bosch would be my boiler of choice.

GASMANN

haymur wrote: »

The reason I posted my question was to get a consensus of opinion on the best replacement for my boiler rather than just go to one heating engineer and fit the one he recommends . I intend getting a RGI to fit it but only after I consider the best value unit for me. I have been in the service business for many years and don't want to end up with a unit that offered the best profit margin to the installer and not best value for me.

The reason I serviced my current KFB boiler myself was when I had my first breakdown I called out a registered firm and they replaced a part at a very high cost and then a day or two later for it to stop again. It was impossible to get them back to sort it out quickly so I decided to get out the schematic of the unit and do an analyst of the fault myself. I found that a small component was faulty and its failure caused the other part to malfunction. I want to the supplier and bought a new one fitted it and solved the problem. The unit is out in the open in a self contained housing not in the house or a outbuilding but still I did all the safety checks as laid down in its manual. I am a service engineer and have often worked on machines which have gas and electromechanical component parts and would always put safety as a priority . As I am not familiar with the current range of gas boilers I was looking for advice from heating engineers as to my best choice of a boiler

only a rgi is deemed competent + insured to work on gas appliances in the ROI, its black and white. when you were looking at the schematic you should have read the first page of the manual first where it clearly states who should maintain the appliance.

anyway get 3 quotes and ask for material and labour breakdown, being in the service industry you should know that.

JohnnieK

Viessmann or Ariston for me. Also, who ever ges the gig make sure they clean your system first and that there is a permanent live to the boiler if it's in the little out house.

DGOBS

lol, JK, think Gary has brought you totally to the dark side now, not even a mention of a WB anymore....lol (all good boilers though)

I went with WB, as ypu can pretty much get parts in most towns (HM)

haymur

Apart from the cost of the boiler, what would be the ball park cost of a engineer fitting and testing a new boiler .
Would anyone like to state the average life of a Glow worm KFB 50. I don't like to discard equipment if it still has a service life in it with a major refurbishment to extend its life . The unit has had a light use over its life with a average 2 hours per day over a 8 month winter heating season and 1 hour per day summer use for water heating. It is still running efficiently with no excessive noise and ignites up quickly when turned on

haymur

JohnnieK wrote: »

Viessmann or Ariston for me. Also, who ever ges the gig make sure they clean your system first and that there is a permanent live to the boiler if it's in the little out house.

I presume this would be for a frost protection system always to have power availible instead of only having power when the timer on period supplies it from the house

JohnnieK

haymur wrote: »

I presume this would be for a frost protection system always to have power availible instead of only having power when the timer on period supplies it from the house

Spot on. Most new boilers have built in frost stats that need a perminant supply. You would be amazed how many I come across that don't.