Oil fired heating burners...?

[Ed5995]

I have a oil fired heating burner which is 35 years of age. It gave me a little trouble last winter and is I suspect a bit hard on the fuel. I was thinking of replacing it but need advice on a make which can offer good reliability, longevity and fuel efficency. What about Worcester Bosch? Are condensor boilers best? Help!

[superkartracer]

Burn wood

[Ferg]

I'd buy Grant and condensing boilers are pretty much the law, anything less than Sedbuk A is going to offend an Energy Efficiency Inspection if you sell the house.

[NDA]

The Worcester 'Camray' boiler that I had put in my mothers house came highly recommended - and it's been 100% reliable.

We have a Worcester Bosch in our house (gas boiler) and the service from Worcester is excellent.

[liner33]

I'd never buy another grant boiler , mine has had niggles since it was first installed and needs work every year just to keep it working properly!!

[Ferg]

liner33 said:

I'd never buy another grant boiler , mine has had niggles since it was first installed and needs work every year just to keep it working properly!!

How bizzare.
Of all the oil fired boilers I have ever fitted, or even serviced, I've had fewer problems with Grant (particularly the condensing versions) than any other.
Top of the list, incidentally, GAH (Thermecon/Thermeco)...

[liner33]

Ours isnt a condensing one though it was fitted about 5 years ago just before the change over in that time we have had valves replaced , 2 new pressure vessels and its failed to start and needed a callout about 4 times .

[Ferg]

A combination boiler?
Hmmm.... I think they use Zilmet vessels like everyone else, so that'll be bad luck (unless there's something odd in your water).. Burner is a buy-in too, of course, but nevertheless I've never heard of any Oil Boiler be consistently THAT unreliable. They are so simple when compared with gas boilers that, so long as the commission is done well and they get a yearly service, they just go on and on and on.

[liner33]

yep , combi, its still got a fault now if you run the hot tap for a while the water goes stone cold and the boiler doesnt seem to be cutting it to heat it. Luckily thats a niggle as it only feed a small proportion of the house as the rest is on economy seven for hot water

[Ferg]

Oil combination boilers need storage to be able to react quickly. Unlike a gas boiler the heat can't transfer from flue gas to water quickly enough.
Sounds like the pre-heat isn't working, or possibly the domestic heat exchanger is blocked (or the water is running though it too quickly) so that that it can't keep up with the demand from the tap.

[Ed5995]

The local heating engineer recommends both Worcester Bosch and Grant. He knows I like cars and portrays Worcester as the Mercedes and Grant the Volkswagen of the burner world. If he's right, is there a big price difference too?

[satans worm]

The grant condensating boiler is the most efficient oil burner out their at over 95pct.
I think the boch is more like 90pct.

[NDA]

Ed5995 said:

The local heating engineer recommends both Worcester Bosch and Grant. He knows I like cars and portrays Worcester as the Mercedes and Grant the Volkswagen of the burner world. If he's right, is there a big price difference too?

Our guy recommended Worcester Bosch - which is what we have - and it's faultless. Also a 3 year guarantee for everything, so any glitches and you get a Worcester man who sorts it out. So far I'm very impressed.