Suggest gas combi boiler

[Depo]

Very interesting publication on aluminum vs stainless steel in boilers:
[DLMURL]http://www.weil-mclain.com/en/assets/pdf/WhitePaper_CompALSS_Final.pdf[/DLMURL]

But plumbers on forums are saying to steer clear from aluminum.

 

[Masood]

Very interesting publication on aluminum vs stainless steel in boilers:
[DLMURL]http://www.weil-mclain.com/en/assets/pdf/WhitePaper_CompALSS_Final.pdf[/DLMURL]

But plumbers on forums are saying to steer clear from aluminum.

Which plumbers on which forums? Nobody on here has made such a strong statement. There are marginal differences between the two metals in terms of performance, longevity, efficiency, etc.

It's pretty rare for the main heat exchanger to be the part that ends boiler life. Ignore what the heat exchanger is made of, focus on the quality and reliability of the other components, as they are far more likely to fail.

You've had sterling advice so far from people with real life experience, who actually install, service and repair boilers in the field, yet you seem far keener to trust a pseudo-academic paper based on research carried out in lab conditions by a boiler manufacturer!

Hardly the most unbiased of researchers, or the most statistically rigorous study!

 

[Masood]

As for the dB levels - you are seriously wasting your time even giving this any thought. As already stated, a washing machine or kettle will be much noisier.

How much time do you actually spend in your kitchen with no other appliances running? You're more likely to be in another room, shower, or watching telly, listening to music etc.

 

[Dotty]

Confirmation bias, Mas.

 

[stussy]

This is a ridiculous post. It's like saying I want to go on a 35 degree celsius beach holiday to the north pole.

However, that said, In my opinion, the boiler that comes closest to your original brief is the Viessmann 200W 30kw combi. Its bullet proof too.

 

[Depo]

That white paper doesnt say "dont buy aluminum". It provides quite in depth view on each metal and how it will affect boilers life.

Plenty of people are saying corrosion, grey goo, blocked lines.

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=stainless+steel+aluminum+heat+exchanger

Yes, aluminum does have 4.5x better thermal conductivity, but tube walls are much thicker due to fact that is not as strong as stainless steel - will crack and leak over time. On that fact, thermal cond. is equal.

 

[Depo]

As for the dB levels - you are seriously wasting your time even giving this any thought. As already stated, a washing machine or kettle will be much noisier.

House currently live in has Ideal combi. When I`m in bed upstairs I can hear it running and it drives me nuts. Noise seems to come up through pipes.

How much time do you actually spend in your kitchen with no other appliances running?

Its not about noise in kitchen, but living room & bedroom.

 

[Masood]

House currently live in has Ideal combi. When I`m in bed upstairs I can hear it running and it drives me nuts. Noise seems to come up through pipes.



Its not about noise in kitchen, but living room & bedroom.

That's not the boiler, it's badly installed and possibly badly designed pipework.

 

[Masood]

That white paper doesnt say "dont buy aluminum". It provides quite in depth view on each metal and how it will affect boilers life.

Plenty of people are saying corrosion, grey goo, blocked lines.

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=stainless+steel+aluminum+heat+exchanger

Yes, aluminum does have 4.5x better thermal conductivity, but tube walls are much thicker due to fact that is not as strong as stainless steel - will crack and leak over time. On that fact, thermal cond. is equal.

Corrosion - can be mitigated by a through powerflush on installation and proper dosing with inhibitor chemicals.
Grey goo - dealt with during thorough servicing
Will crack and leak over time - the rest of the boiler will have shuffled off its mortal coil long before this will happen (in normal circumstances). You may be unlucky and have a heat exchanger crack due to manufacturing defect, but I have replaced more SS heat exchangers than ally ones. The thinner walls make any weakness or manufacturing stress in the metal far more critical.

Seriously, you are worrying about things that are so unlikely to happen that you're not seeing the wood for the trees. Stop sweating the petty stuff!

 

[bert large]

When condensing boilers became the norm after 2005 Part L building regs. came into being, all the talk was of how aluminium heat exchangers wouldn't last the course & how stainless would be so much better.
In fairness I have not heard of any prematurely failed heat exchangers, ally or S/S so probably all just mythical nonsense, just like the year 2K bug !