oil boiler broken - help!

[majee]

our oil boiler has had it. we've been using a lot of kero lately and got a strong kero smell from it in the last day or so.
we had a guy in to service it and he said he can do a fix but that he would recommend buying a new condensor type boiler given the age of our one and it's efficiency the older it gets. I'm inclined to agree with him. Has anyone replaced their old boiler for a condensor type one lately? If so

- what was the model and cost
- how much did it cost to install
- did you qualify for the seai grant.

I saw on the seai website that you need to install heating controls and upgrade your boiler to qualify for the grant. Am I correct in saying that if I install just a new boiler, I don't qualify for the grant?

tanx
majee

 

[Shane007]

1. Grant Vortex is the best oil boiler on the market. Cost for boiler & flue will be approx €1,300 for 26kw and approx €1,400 for a 35kw. This is for a boiler house model. Approx €100 more for an outdoor model/utility model. You will need to add on cost of fittings, remote acting fire valves, auto bypass valve, inhibitor, condensate drain if required, pump if needed and a powerflush to the system.
2. Labour will depend on the system but no more than a day.
3. You will not qualify for an SEAI grant for a new boiler only. You must do a heating control upgrade also to qualify. The grant is €400 for heating controls, €160 for new boiler and €50 for BER.

 

[majee]

thanks shane. I meant to say as well that the house is 3 story. would this model be suitable for pumping up a couple of floors etc or would I need to go to the next output, 36-46kW. The price you mention isn't too bad. I was reckoning on about €2k for the unit and unknown for the installation.

majee

 

[Shane007]

You must calculate each room size & determine the required radiator sizes, compare that to the existing radiator sizes, add up all the larger outputs and add 1.5kw per 50 litres of domestic hot water. Add 10% to the total for system losses and that will determine the output of the boiler required. Try not be tempted to over-size for the sake of it.
The pump required can also be calculated but for a 3 storey I would be putting in something like a Grundfos 25/80. Expensive but a must. Cost for that pump is about €300.00.