Condensing boilers explained

[SMurray]

Getting an energy efficient boiler in your home will see your fuel bills dramatically reduced. With conventional boilers the flue gases are waste and exit at 250-300ºC. With a Condensing Boiler (http://www.northerngasheating.com/gas-boilers/condensing-boilers.php) it its extra heat exchanger to reduce the temperature of flue gasses down to 50-60ºC which is the correct temperature to create steam which then condenses to water giving up large amounts of latent heat. You will find condensing boilers are £300 - 400 more expensive than conventional designs but they are far more efficient. Compared to conventional boilers which have a maximum efficiency of about 80%, condensing boilers efficiency can be as high as 95%. You will find the saving on fuel will pay back the additional boiler cost in less than 4 years.

[Always Problems]

I want a condensing boiler because apart from being more efficient dont you get "Hot Water on Tap" as my present system is the old fashioned one where we have a "Tank in the Attic". But its the cost. Whereas you can see Condensing Boilers advertised for £600 the cost of having a "Gas Safe" fitter install one could be £1000 just for labour only. I know I will have to get one because the house I have bought has an old (15 yrs) Gloworm and I had to have a new circuit board which cost over £300, whereas had I known the price I would have put the £300 towards a new boiler.

[jeffrey]

Plus I am told that condensing boilers do not last nearly as long as traditional 'Potterton' [?] ones.

[Solent Watcher]

£600 for a condensing boiler is the bottom end of the market. (nice words for cheap!!)
Do your research there are a number of ones now that have 3 year warranties on them BUT also check your gas supply pipe. Given the age of your boiler suspect it may be 15mm (same as the standard pipework to taps etc) in which case, if you do not wish to change the pipework whilst strongly recommended as it is more expense, you can get condensing boilers that will run off of 15mm HOWEVER they all run better off of 22mm.
Recommend that you do not buy boiler from internet on the basis that if there is a problem with it it is much harder to sort out than if it came from the shop down the road!! Expect to pay £800 ish for decent boiler PLUS a futher 2 - 300 for timers etc and filter units (these are a must in my view) PLUS if your system is 15 years old and has never been power flushed out then £200 - 300. That is a must as you do not fit new boilers to contaminated systems!!

You do not need a gas safe engineer to fit the boiler BUT you do need one to commission it!! £1000 for other parts and labour slightly on the high side for a two day job