Condensing boiler - any views Help and information on all topics relating to your central heating, air conditioning and ventilation issues.

[marcus26]

I need to replace our heating boiler and as our hot water supply is fine as is so am not inclined to get a combi as gas pipe sizes are ok for condensing but not combi boiler. I would like any views positive or negative on the Ideal Icos 24HE condensing regular boiler or the Potterton HE 80 condensing boiler, including how the companies deal with any faults during the warranty period.

[screech]

go for a vaillant. i'd never go for a combi boiler over conventional and i'm a heating engineer.

the ideal boiler is on the god knows how many revision of the pcb (printed circuit board) and the electrodees will warp over the next couple of years, the condensate sump will get full of rubbish and block the condensate trap. this has happened over ever single version they've made and i've been unblocking boilers less than 1 year old. it's a manufacturing defect. there have been too many revisions to correct faults, for my liking, over the years and some still exist.

the potterton he 80 - is this the suprima he 80? in which case don't bother. the suprima is a cracking boiler but the he version is basically an 11 year old boiler with an additional heat exchanger bunged on it to make it more efficient. it's a 'b' rated boiler, basically means it's not originally designed to be a condensing boiler, but an adapted older boiler.

go for a boiler designed to be condensing in the first place.

i'd always vaillant all the way. get a 428 ecotec plus if you've got the feed and expansion tank (small tank) in the loft, or a 624 if it's a sealed system. the quality is far superior to the ideal and potterton.

i don't work for vaillant, i spend my days repairing and servicing boilers so know common faults and which are best for reliability. i fitted a vaillant boiler in my house last year. they aren't cheap but you get what you pay for.