Need a new boiler

[Andrew May]

The flue pipe within the boiler is corroded to the point of having holes in it. It may be possible to replace it but all the screws are all rusted so it could open up a whole can of worms. The interior is all rusted as well - which I think is a design fault with that boiler. Oh, and there is a leak inside which makes it difficult to light in the morning. A decent boiler it is not so I don't really want to start pouring money into it when it is going to get replaced with a bigger one next year anyway.

Andrew

[Tim Streater]

Really? I never believe any publication (or person) that purports to have punctuation symbols as part of its name.

[Chris French]

But that's not a reason for condemning a boiler. Having a new boiler installed is expensive, so for most situations the payback time in terms of the savings over the old one is significant.

[Roger Mills]

+1

My sentiments entirely!

However, now that the OP has described the problem in a bit more detail, that particular boiler does appear to be FUBAR.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I'm generally now pleased with my self installed Viessmann WB2B. I did have initial problems with it tripping - which eventually turned out to be a faulty ionization electrode, now replaced with a modified design, and fine since.

I must admit to having found the (operating) instructions rather daunting

- mine is a weather compensation type. And actually programming the thing

- too many multi-function buttons. I'd hope a current one has better software. Would be nice to have one which can be programmed via a laptop. Although if you do find an installer who knows them well, it shouldn't be a problem.

Viessmann UK were very helpful on the phone - even knowing it was a DIY installation.

I've not seen every boiler on the market, but the Viessmann does appear to be very well built where it matters. The actual heat exchanger casing is a thing of beauty.

[John Rumm]

To an extent I think that is partly a German thing... the Vaillant ons have similar levels of "control" (or complexity if you prefer), and can be integrated into a vast array of different system types, different control types, and widely varying applications.

The manuals are often good at the low level detail, but frequently miss out the big picture. e.g. Control XYZ lets to so this or this, but no indication of why you might want to do either. Usually after much wading through assorted manuals you work out that XYZ is only of interest if e.g. you have a solar coil you want it to interface with, or a controlled blending valve on an underfloor heating loop. This is sometimes also hampered by the language translations in the manuals and interfaces being a bit clunky at times. (e.g. if the boiler decides that the primary system pressure is too low, the weather compensator will have a message "Service Heat Generator"), so you go to the boiler and its flashing its pressure gauge display on its screen, which makes you wonder why the main message could not have been a little more informative.

Does it not also have a bus interface accessible for this purpose? On mine you can buy a CD and cable from them that allows a computer to do all that.(I did not bother since the weather compensator has a fairly simple scrolling LCD and twist and click type of interface that makes getting at most of the settings easy enough)

Yup handy to know.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Nothing like that. There is a bus for zone programmers - but it doesn't say anything about it interfacing with anything else. Sadly. It is some 6 years old, so it could well be later models do.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

No Rumanian lawyers round your way? ;-)

[ARW]

And has it broken down in the last 6 years? Cost you a fortune? Or just done what it was supposed to do:)

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Not broken down. But did have problems with it tripping out on occasion, simply 'cured' by pressing the reset. Turned out to be the ionisation electrode - changed for an improved version. Found by accident - it wasn't a fault Viessmann UK seemed to know about. Part cost about 35 quid. Otherwise nothing.