Big boiler recommendations and installers in South Cambs?

Big boiler recommendations and installers in South Cambs?

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AstonZagato

Original Poster:

12,652 posts

209 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
I have a large boiler. When I bought the house 18 years ago, it was a floor mounted thing that was the size of a large chest freezer. We replaced it about 8 years ago with a Keston C110 (it apparently kicks out 110Kw). It consumes industrial levels of gas (I'm not kidding - when I try to "compare the market" I get errors telling me that we can't possibly use that amount of gas).

It started going wrong after a year and has malfunctioned consistently every few months.

It has just been condemned! The service engineer has slapped a DON NOT USE sticker on it and disappeared.

DON'T EVER BUY A KESTON.

So what are the current best boilers out there that are man enough for our needs?

Any good people in the South Cambs / North Herts area that can quote?

Tom_C76

1,923 posts

187 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
If you really need a 110kW boiler you will use a lot of gas, that's enormous.

Might be worth having a chat with an M&E engineering firm to check what you really need, that size will be above most plumbers comfort level. Try Roger Parker Associates or Greenheat to see if either can help.

AstonZagato

Original Poster:

12,652 posts

209 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Thanks.

It's a Georgian house with 8,000ft2, high ceilings, drafty (but listed) windows. The architect specced the 110Kw boiler when we renovated the ground floor, so I'm guessing some informed thought went into it. Our consumption went down when we fitted the new one. We have too many radiators for British Gas to give us their domestic service contract.

However, I will definitely google theses ME firms and try to contact them tomorrow.

Nickyboy

6,700 posts

233 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
AstonZagato said:
Thanks.

It's a Georgian house with 8,000ft2, high ceilings, drafty (but listed) windows. The architect specced the 110Kw boiler when we renovated the ground floor, so I'm guessing some informed thought went into it. Our consumption went down when we fitted the new one. We have too many radiators for British Gas to give us their domestic service contract.
I'm not surprised your gas usage is high if you're heating the air planes fly at

AstonZagato

Original Poster:

12,652 posts

209 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
biggrin
To be clear, 8,000 sq ft. Couldn't work out how to create a superscript 2 in the forum.

Sheepshanks

32,530 posts

118 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
I don't know if it works at your scale but for somewhat smaller installations it's common to use a couple of more normal size boilers in parallel.

(Second thread today to mention a Keston being condemned).

Edited by Sheepshanks on Friday 6th May 00:01

AstonZagato

Original Poster:

12,652 posts

209 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
The Keston had two boilers inside a single shroud, I seem to recall.

Grandad Gaz

5,090 posts

245 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
You're into a commercial installation with that size building. Two or three "normal" size boilers feeding into a manifold would be the best solution.

It won't be cheap!

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
Is biomass an option, or does that work out more £ than mains gas? Maybe some sort of chp system to put a bit of leccy out to the grid even?

Sheepshanks

32,530 posts

118 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
AstonZagato said:
The Keston had two boilers inside a single shroud, I seem to recall.
Seems it is. Hanging it on the wall must have been fun!

People seem to expect modern combis to only last 8-10yrs but 8yrs for yours seems pretty poor. Are the people who've worked on it Keston "specialists"?

AstonZagato

Original Poster:

12,652 posts

209 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
People seem to expect modern combis to only last 8-10yrs but 8yrs for yours seems pretty poor. Are the people who've worked on it Keston "specialists"?
No idea - my wife organised it. I do recall that Keston have been useless when it has gone wrong in the past.

JPJPJP said:
Is biomass an option, or does that work out more £ than mains gas? Maybe some sort of chp system to put a bit of leccy out to the grid even?
Not sure it is. The boiler is in the rear of the property and access is a challenge (it backs on to a walled garden).

Grandad Gaz said:
You're into a commercial installation with that size building. Two or three "normal" size boilers feeding into a manifold would be the best solution.

It won't be cheap!
Yup. The choice of lube is salt or sand...

fastgerman

1,911 posts

194 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
AstonZagato said:
I have a large boiler. When I bought the house 18 years ago, it was a floor mounted thing that was the size of a large chest freezer. We replaced it about 8 years ago with a Keston C110 (it apparently kicks out 110Kw). It consumes industrial levels of gas (I'm not kidding - when I try to "compare the market" I get errors telling me that we can't possibly use that amount of gas).

It started going wrong after a year and has malfunctioned consistently every few months.

It has just been condemned! The service engineer has slapped a DON NOT USE sticker on it and disappeared.

DON'T EVER BUY A KESTON.

So what are the current best boilers out there that are man enough for our needs?

Any good people in the South Cambs / North Herts area that can quote?
Replacing our Keston on Wednesday, British Gas turned it off physically for being unsafe - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

GRL

252 posts

223 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
8000 sq. ft yikes Commercial boiler territory. Worcester have a 120kW unit (GB312) ~ £5k or Ideal make a Imax Extra unit that may be worth looking at. I have no idea who would install these for you though.

Boarder1

196 posts

246 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
Just sent you an email.

guindilias

5,245 posts

119 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
I specced an ATAG 115kW recently - together with all the headers, insulation, valves, controls etc. it came in at about £7500 without installation.
That was using a control system that plugs in to the boiler in place of the standard control panel, can control 3 pumps and 3-ports individually - so pretty versatile.

AstonZagato

Original Poster:

12,652 posts

209 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
fastgerman said:
Replacing our Keston on Wednesday, British Gas turned it off physically for being unsafe - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I've never heard a good word said about Keston. Best of luck!

guindilias said:
I specced an ATAG 115kW recently - together with all the headers, insulation, valves, controls etc. it came in at about £7500 without installation.
That was using a control system that plugs in to the boiler in place of the standard control panel, can control 3 pumps and 3-ports individually - so pretty versatile.
Might simplify the current set up which has 5 timers and 9 zones,

Boarder1 said:
Just sent you an email.
Thanks, I've passed the details to my wife who is at home today.

GRL said:
Worcester have a 120kW unit (GB312) ~ £5k or Ideal make a Imax Extra unit that may be worth looking at.
There seem to be a few brands with suitable units. Potterton, Viessmann are a couple I have heard of but there seem to be a bewildering array of brands - I want to buy once on this purchase!

I did come across an interesting concept. Flow Energy. http://www.flowenergy.uk.com. They use gas to generate electricity for the house/grid and use the waste heat energy to heat the home. I might start a different thread as I might not find anyone venturing into this thread on the concept.

silversurfer1

918 posts

135 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all


If i was specking this for my own house i would go down the domestic boiler route connecting 3 to a low loss header that way if one goes down you still have two running and and your also paying for domestic servicing and spares that are readly avaliable on the shelf rather than the more expensive commercial route.

ss

dave_s13

13,813 posts

268 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
GRL said:
8000 sq. ft yikes .....
That is a LOT of fekin feet!!!!!

Can you share a floorplan, it must be enormous.

AstonZagato

Original Poster:

12,652 posts

209 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
I don't have a floorplan. It has a lot of rooms. It has 11 loos (it used to have 12 but we got rid of the gardener's loo). Seven beds, seven reception rooms, cellar, pool house.

andy43

9,548 posts

253 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
Relatives have a Buderus (Worcester Bosch) GB162 - 100kw into a low loss header. It's been fine in the couple of years it's been running, although as suggested above I reckon two/three chunky domestic boilers all feeding into the same header/thermal store/neutraliser would be more breakdown proof and probably cheaper in parts if not labour.
Don't envy you - although their Buderus is on LPG - I calculated it costs £7 an hour with a full head of steam smile