Best place to get a new boiler from?

[X5Sport]

After 16 years it seems our boiler is now well beyond 'end of life' and spares are becoming harder to find and expensive.

I'm loth to waste money on keeping it going and a number of people have suggested that I buy a new Vaillant boiler.  The central heating boiler we have is I think called a 'system' condensing type as we have a hot tank, cold expansion tank, stats, valves, pump etc.  I know there are different ways of doing it now but clearing the house to get the floors up to redesign the system is not an option.

I'm guessing that we ought to replace the pump, shower pump and diverter valve at the same time as the system will have to be drained, flushed and modified to meet the in/out for the boiler plus adapt the exhaust to comply with new regs (we're told ours is now too close to an outside door!).

Anyone got experience as to where to get the hardware without getting fleeced?  I'll then need to find a specialist to put it all in as I'm not playing with things I'm not 100% sure of.  I can act as a labourer/gopher though. 

[Mpower]

I had recently swapped an very old potterton boiler that was on its last legs totally unefficient and went for an combi boiler albeit a Worcester Bosch CDi range.

It has halved our gas usage and the central heating has been more efficient also.

Had it installed in the loft out of the way,removed water tank and hot water cylinder in the bedroom airing cupboard freeing some extra storage for the wifey!
Quite a lot of the old pipe work removed as the pump/ valves were no longer required as the new boiler has it all contained.

Advantages of this setup is hot water when you want it rather than wait for it to heat up saving heating costs for unused hot water.

Lee

[Horizon]

[quote="X5Sport"]
After 16 years it seems our boiler is now well beyond 'end of life' and spares are becoming harder to find and expensive.

I'm loth to waste money on keeping it going and a number of people have suggested that I buy a new Vaillant boiler.  The central heating boiler we have is I think called a 'system' condensing type as we have a hot tank, cold expansion tank, stats, valves, pump etc.  I know there are different ways of doing it now but clearing the house to get the floors up to redesign the system is not an option.

I'm guessing that we ought to replace the pump, shower pump and diverter valve at the same time as the system will have to be drained, flushed and modified to meet the in/out for the boiler plus adapt the exhaust to comply with new regs (we're told ours is now too close to an outside door!).

Anyone got experience as to where to get the hardware without getting fleeced?  I'll then need to find a specialist to put it all in as I'm not playing with things I'm not 100% sure of.  I can act as a labourer/gopher though. 
[/quote] all gas appliances and boilers have to be fitted and signed off by a Gas Safe registered engineer, you can fit them and get the signed off, but most will refuse to sign off pipework etc that they havnt installed.
If your old boiler was a system boiler IE hot water Tank one and not a combi you will probably have to get the pipe size upgraded from the meter to 22 or even 28 mm, as you need about 19 MB of gas pressure at the boiler when all your other gas appliances/ bobs/ fires are on full.
Leave it to the pros, not worth risking your families lives. Get a few quotes first. Vallient s are good, so is Worcester, you can get a ten year warranty these days if you shop around.

[X5Sport]

[quote="Horizon"]
You will probably have to get the pipe size upgraded from the meter to 22 or even 28 mm, as you need about 19 MB of gas pressure at the boiler when all your other gas appliances/ bobs/ fires are on full.

Leave it to the pros, not worth risking your families lives.
[/quote]

Pressure wise we're fine.  National Grid found we were getting 30mb when they were here a couple of weeks back pumping water out of the local main!!  We only have the boiler and a new super efficient hob so I'm hoping demand will not exceed capability.  The run from the meter to the boiler is only about 12'  too.  Increasing the size won't be easy as it's buried in concrete.

Don't worry, only the pros will do the job.  Worcester were/are the second choice too.