02-02-2012, 11:05 AM
Hi Folks, trhanks for the replies so far, keep the ideas coming. I won't be replying for a few weeks as I will be away but managing to read the mails.
Present boiler is on an interior wall uner a lined flue from original oil boiler. Looking at literature it appears that vertical flues up to 10M are allowable (at cost) for some boilers. Horizontal flue in cieling space to outside wall (3M) would be a pain and would discharge into a narrow alleyway between houses, but probably clear of opening windows.
Gary, not so far had any gas valve problems, but replaced a few thermocouples. Gas valves are usually bought in by boiler makewrs (Honeywell?) and are meant to fail to safety. (the faulty ones I've heard about have all done this).
My gas valve is electric with an boiler waterjacket stat that removes the LV power to the coil.
Present flue terminal on chimney has never presented any problems and it is convection, not blown. If a blown flue is blocked it is presumably fail safe?
Solar system will be a coil in the very base of the cylinder. Heat collector will be on porch roof at first floor level and same level as cylinder. System will be pumped and contain a glycol mixture with a small header tank in the loft. Control will be via several "LM" type sensors at various points in the system. I may also need to look at a "dump" sytem in case of overheating in summer.
The Gloworm sounds promising if they give a 5 year warranty, but I need to do a lot more work before deciding.
A further question, what is you opinion on boiler and system flushing equipment and methods?
Bear in mind that whatever happens the system will be opened up this summer. Cylinder will be removed (and opened) to fit solar coil.
Pipework will be open as I will be tidying up and re-positioning the manifold and motorised valves. It would even be quite easy to take the boiler right outside to flush it.
System has been run with inhibitor since new, some trace of black gunge when a radiator has been removed and some kettling in boiler now, but no real gas/air in system problems (one particular red will need bleeding every 4 months)
Thanks, Ed
Ed
Present boiler is on an interior wall uner a lined flue from original oil boiler. Looking at literature it appears that vertical flues up to 10M are allowable (at cost) for some boilers. Horizontal flue in cieling space to outside wall (3M) would be a pain and would discharge into a narrow alleyway between houses, but probably clear of opening windows.
Gary, not so far had any gas valve problems, but replaced a few thermocouples. Gas valves are usually bought in by boiler makewrs (Honeywell?) and are meant to fail to safety. (the faulty ones I've heard about have all done this).
My gas valve is electric with an boiler waterjacket stat that removes the LV power to the coil.
Present flue terminal on chimney has never presented any problems and it is convection, not blown. If a blown flue is blocked it is presumably fail safe?
Solar system will be a coil in the very base of the cylinder. Heat collector will be on porch roof at first floor level and same level as cylinder. System will be pumped and contain a glycol mixture with a small header tank in the loft. Control will be via several "LM" type sensors at various points in the system. I may also need to look at a "dump" sytem in case of overheating in summer.
The Gloworm sounds promising if they give a 5 year warranty, but I need to do a lot more work before deciding.
A further question, what is you opinion on boiler and system flushing equipment and methods?
Bear in mind that whatever happens the system will be opened up this summer. Cylinder will be removed (and opened) to fit solar coil.
Pipework will be open as I will be tidying up and re-positioning the manifold and motorised valves. It would even be quite easy to take the boiler right outside to flush it.
System has been run with inhibitor since new, some trace of black gunge when a radiator has been removed and some kettling in boiler now, but no real gas/air in system problems (one particular red will need bleeding every 4 months)
Thanks, Ed
Ed
