How big are bottled-gas boilers nowadays?

Fogmatic

Our bottled-gas boiler (made in 1993, fitted about 1996) has finally died.

We're lucky enough to know a fully qualified gas fitter we can trust. But while we're waiting, it would be a great help to get some idea whether these boilers have grown in the last 20-odd years. It would save us a lot of anxiety if we knew we could have one that wasn't any bigger.

On searching this forum, it seems the only way to find out these days, as a consumer, is to ask about the size of people's existing ones (or sizes known to any fitters out there)*. The manufacturer(s) would be useful too (might save a bit of the fitter's time, and bring our next bath a little closer!).

The boiler's only to supply hot water (though the old one may have been suitable for central heating as well, for all we know about boilers). We do cook with gas, but from a separate bottle (to save waste when there isn't enough gas left to fire up the boiler).

The diameter of the old one is 55cm/21½", give or take a few mm (the basic cylinder that is, without the protruberances). It has interior insulation (which worked very well).

The old boiler's about 138cm/54½" tall (the height's a little less critical than the diameter). The label on it says "Fuel: LP Gas, and Storage Capacity 190 litres (which is just right for us). If it helps, I can post/attach a photo of the label with more specs (if I can remember how to do that here).

It was made by A.O. Smith (a US company), and supplied by Calor, but we decided not to proceed with Calor after all (despite cheaper gas from big tanks) and just keep the boiler we bought from them. (Long story).

*If you want to know why I'm asking, we're in for major disruption if they have got bigger. We've done more than our share of living on building sites, and at about 70 we've got more & more averse to time-sinks!.
(Just to add to the fun, we're expecting relatives this summer, on a visit they've arranged their working lives around).
The cupboard we built for the old boiler is only just big enough to get it in/out, and we built our rooms around it (the place was just 1 space when we moved in).

Pete67

AO Smith water heaters are very popular still, not sure if there is an Irish agent, but can be got in the UK:

Sales UK
A.O. Smith Water Heaters
Unit B7 Armstrong Mall,
Southwood Business Park,
Farnborough
Hampshire, GU14 ONR
T: 0870-AOSMITH (267 6484)
For general inquiries: sales@aosmith.co.uk

Give them a shout and see what they recommend as a replacement for your existing water heater.

Fogmatic

Thanks Pete (sorry to disappear - am on borrowed tablet, as Windows decided to block me out of my own computer!).
I might try that email address, but have an idea I tried before & was blocked from communicating with them ( due to not being a professional). The site let me see a list of current model numbers, but no info about them.
It's some sizes I was hoping to find out, of any makes available here (I don't know if every fitter can get Smith ones anyway; perhaps they just have 1 or 2 accounts with their favourite suppliers?). I just wondered if anyone out there had an LP gas boiler they could throw a tape measure at.

Pete67 wrote: »

AO Smith water heaters are very popular still, not sure if there is an Irish agent, but can be got in the UK:

Sales UK
A.O. Smith Water Heaters
Unit B7 Armstrong Mall,
-Southwood Business Park,
Farnborough
Hampshire, GU14 ONR
T: 0870-AOSMITH (267 6484)
For general inquiries: sales@aosmith.co.uk

Give them a shout and see what they recommend as a replacement for your existing water heater.

Fogmatic

Thanks Pete (sorry to disappear - am on borrowed tablet, as Windows decided to block me out of my own computer!).
I might try that email address, but have an idea I tried before & was blocked from communicating with them ( due to not being a professional). The site let me see a list of current model numbers, but no info about them.
It's some sizes I was hoping to find out, of any makes available here (I don't know if every fitter can get Smith ones anyway; perhaps they just have 1 or 2 accounts with their favourite suppliers?). I just wondered if anyone out there had an LP gas boiler they could throw a tape measure at.

Pete67 wrote: »

AO Smith water heaters are very popular still, not sure if there is an Irish agent, but can be got in the UK:

Sales UK
A.O. Smith Water Heaters
Unit B7 Armstrong Mall,
-Southwood Business Park,
Farnborough
Hampshire, GU14 ONR
T: 0870-AOSMITH (267 6484)
For general inquiries: sales@aosmith.co.uk

Give them a shout and see what they recommend as a replacement for your existing water heater.