fitting new boiler - LPG or Oil?

[Doctor Drivel]

Are they expensive to run? Gas a very cheap to cook on.

[Grunff]

While I haven't actually done any measurements, I think they are one of the cheapest in terms of running costs. This is because they have near

100% energy transfer into the pot/pan.

[Guy King]

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On a related note - some of the combi boilers round here have a blown concentric flue right up to the ridgeline. Depending on the weather you can sometimes see the exhaust coming out of the flue and running down the roof and into the gutter like mist.

[Colin Wilson]

Makes your chips taste funny too :-}

[Doctor Drivel]

Probably an anti-plume kit. These slot over the centre exhaust pipe of the flue and then you run it to a convenient spot using plastic pipe. They look the pits. All they need do is fit a blending valve on the boiler return to keep the return temp at 60C, above the dew-point, and no pluming.

There is one condensing boiler available that does not require a condensate drain as well. The Atmos Drain Free:

[Guy King]

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boiler installations where the coyboys have just bunged the condensate drain through the wall to let it dribble. When the weather's cold it freezes up and the boiler safety cuts out - leaving you with no heating when it's coldest!

Trouble is - it's more to go wrong, innit.

[Doctor Drivel]

The dribble or the pump?

[Guy King]

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The pump.

[Doctor Drivel]

Better having it connected to a drain od course. But if one is difficult to get to the Atmos is ideal.

[PeTe33]

I would agree. On ours you just flick the "C" button once the pan is to temp and it holds it there cutting in and out at about 3 seconds on, 3 off.

Even at full tilt, you can put your finger on the cooker top right up to the edge of the pan which also means everything that gets spilt will wipe away in seconds.

Bloody marvelous invention, though there isn't an abundance of magnetic pans on the market to chose from.

[Doctor Drivel]

Destined to go the way of Betamax then.

[Michael Chare]

No, though perhaps because of their initial cost, and the fact that most people have gas, they will likely remain just a niche market.

[Guy King]

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And expensive! I'm going to have to do a good deal of thinking before I choose a boiler, but it looks like a stainless heat exchanger is going to be right up there high on the list.

[Doctor Drivel]

It may work out cheaper if ripping the place to pieces is in order to get a to a drain pipe.

Yep.

[PeTe33]

Nope, because the technology can be embraced by every manufacturer unlike betamax.

Besides, if all else fails you can always use cast iron stuff. " le cruisier" etc.

[Owain]

Quite a lot of the "cook's essentials" (own-brand) range on QVC say suitable for induction, and not expensive.

Owain

[Guy King]

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Access would depend on where the boiler went. It's in the kitchen at the moment, but if it's moved to the airing cupboard above then it's not far to the bathroom drainstack.

[Huj]

Thanks to everyone for their help, have decided to change to oil condensing. Does anyone have an opinion on the esse oil fired cooker only??? Wife thinking of purchasing one!

[Grunff]

Cheap and nasty. We threw one out when we moved here.