Best replacement gas boiler for house with 2½ bathrooms (1 special needs)?

C

Caromom

Guest
Hello everyone

We just had our boiler serviced by An Bord Gais and were told that we need to replace our existing boiler. I am looking for some advice as to (a) what sort of replacement boiler would be best – as I understand it a combi might not be suitable because of the number of bathrooms we have – and (b) what sort of questions we should ask when looking for quotes and/or what things we should stipulate – I have seen references in other posts to flushing the system and the use of inhibitor but I would be grateful for any other tips J .

Our existing boiler is a wall-hung Potterton Myson Prima F 50 which was already installed in our house when we bought it new in 1993 and which had 7 radiators running off it, 3 downstairs with thermostatic valves and 4 upstairs. In 2000 we built a two-storey extension mainly for our daughter who is disabled, adding a wheelchair-accessible bathroom and a further 2 radiators upstairs and 2 radiators downstairs making 11 radiators in total. For the last few months the radiators in the extension seem to have taken longer to reach the same temperature as those in the “old” part of the house. In terms of hot water needs, we have the kitchen plus two full bathrooms upstairs (both have electric power showers) and one cloakroom downstairs with just a toilet and wash-hand basin.

I would be grateful for any input – and also any recommendations for a registered installer covering the Dublin South-West area

Thanks
Caromom
 
I assume you have a hot water cylinder so you will be going for a condensing system boiler. see here for examples: www.baxi.co.uk/

the size of the boiler will depend on size and heat requirement of your home. an experianced installer will be able to size when on site.

make sure the circulation pump is correctly sized.

get three quotes, listen to what each installer has to say. they should be saying more or less the same thing.

ask for price to include Power flush,adding of inhibitor, boiler buddy fitted, and system to be balanced.

these things should come as standard, but they don't.
 
The reason he carries his certs is, according to him, some guys use other guys fitter numbers and its RGII since RECI have taken over the RGI programme. But I am sure you are aware of that.
Why would it be unusual, because others are too complacent?
 
Yes RECI is the body who now regulate the gas installers. I think it is a good idea that this guy does carry copies of his certs with him. it proves he is qualified. I also have heard where guys with out qualifications have used other guys numbers.
 
RECI took over last week and the new set up will be complete by the middle of this year.

Could he just not have a copy of his mates certs? a quick look at Id and installer number is far better. I don't think it is common practice to carry around qualifications.
 
I am sure he has drivers licence to back it up, unless he had gone to the trouble to forge it... lol ;-)
 
It is quite possible to have gas certificate qualifications and not be registered with Bord Gais, they are not the same things as registration entails more.
 
kingfo said:
It is quite possible to have gas certificate qualifications and not be registered with Bord Gais, they are not the same things as registration entails more.
Click to expand...
This is true, but anybody contemplating having work done should ask to see EL & PL insurance, if the company has a saftey statement etc.
Once a person holds the correct certs and has a fitter number, RGI or not they can sign off on certs of compliance, this regulation was due to change in January but did not due to the handover to Reci and the full establishment of the new body RGII
Under the new rules which means all gas qualified person will have to be RGII to sign off on any gas work.
Reci are "self-regulatory" and were formed at the request of the Dept of Energy in 1992 one can also assume that RGII is the same.
 
Thanks for your responses I have to say I don't think the Prima boiler owes us anything at this stage - it has had constant use over the last 15 years! Yes, we do have a hot water cylinder DavyJones - it is also an electric immersion but I don't think that we have ever turned on the immersion heater since we moved in 15 years ago - my daughter has very poor circulation owing to her disability so we tend to keep the radiator on in her bedroom and bathroom and turn on the heating at "getting up time" and "going to bed time" even in the summer as she feels the cold so much, and our heating is also therefore on a great deal of the time in the winter so that has been enough to give us all the hot water needed.

Caromom
 
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