Condensing gas boiler vs old boiler

montanas

Hi guys, been looking for my answer everywhere.
My 17yrs old gas boiler needs a good service and couple parts to be replaced ( expansion vessel and thermostat), so i thought it might be a good idea to get it replaced with a new condensing one instead of spending money on old one.
Are the new boilers really that more efficient as they claim?
Anyone can tell their experience after getting a new boiler?
Any help much appreciated!

DGOBS

IMHO:
condensing vs non-condensing will give you about 10% efficiency gain
modulating vs non modulation will give you another 4-5% efficiency gain
zoned system (timed and used correctly) vs non zoned could give you up to another 15-25% efficiency gain


If you look at how a modern boiler works, it's like comparing cars, old gas guzzlers vs modern turbo fuel injected
(essentially the same technology was applied to the boilers)

Dardania

I'd tend to look at it on a cost/benefit analysis. Can the upgrade cost pay for itself in less than say 5 years? As the couple of thousand for a new boiler can buy an awful lot of gas versus the couple of hundred for the components & service...

Sometimes it is most beneficial, if one was looking to spend a few thousand to save on efficiency, to invest it in better controls (e.g. automatic valves on radiators, zone different spaces properly), and use the old boiler more effectively.

So that you know, SEAI offer a grant for upgrading heating controls, and for upgraded heating controls with a new boiler:
http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Better_energy_homes/homeowner/Step_1_Decide_on_work_to_be_done/

DGOBS

As for return on investment...insulate, insulate and then insulate.....any money left ...insulate.
Then think about the boiler

dodzy

montanas wrote: »

Hi guys, been looking for my answer everywhere.
My 17yrs old gas boiler needs a good service and couple parts to be replaced ( expansion vessel and thermostat), so i thought it might be a good idea to get it replaced with a new condensing one instead of spending money on old one.
Are the new boilers really that more efficient as they claim?
Anyone can tell their experience after getting a new boiler?
Any help much appreciated!

One thing is for sure. No condensing boiler is going to last you as long as the old work horse you currently have. I'm on a potterton prima F50. It's had a fan and a few capacitors replaced on the PCB. No doubt it's inefficient, but still going strong after 24yrs. Very well put together with little that can fail.

+1 on insulating. By far the best way to spend money to reduce long term heating costs.

Dtp1979

dodzy wrote: »

One thing is for sure. No condensing boiler is going to last you as long as the old work horse you currently have.

If you powerflush a system first, install a mag filter, good inhibitor and wire the boiler correctly then and boiler will last donkeys years