I've settled on an Intergas boiler.

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Seems a daft idea to fit a boiler which is really a combi then decide to use it as an Open Vent boiler (Another gripe of mine about Intergas but that's another thread).

Decide what you want exactly rather than trying to compromise. If you want a combi, do the full conversion now. If you want to keep your cylinder have a system boiler and make it a sealed system.

I convert all systems to sealed, regardless. My view is that if your Open Vent system is prone to leakage, leaking somewhere or other issues, you may as well address them sooner rather than later. One, a leaky system will knacker any new boiler in due to the introduction of fresh water into the system, secondly if a pipe goes the F&E tank will just keep filling. Least on a sealed system it'll only loose the water in the system and cause less damage.

Did a combi conversion last year and theirs was OV. On making it sealed it was evident there was a leak. Turned out the pipes had corroded under the wooden suspended floors downstairs, had been leaking for years and made a right mess under there. If we'd just put an OV back in we wouldn't have been any the wiser.

 

[king of pipes]

You just need to unplug the sensor to make it open vent . Kop

 

[Stan]

Yes, I accept my line of thinking is flawed.

I have no evidence of any leaks in the drops which are behind the plaster board of the downstairs walls but accept I wouldn't be aware due to the open vent currently in place and that a system boiler would tell me if there was.

Everyone's contributions are getting me thinking (a lot).

 

[Stan]

Re. Unplugging the sensor- yes indeed you reminded me the rep. said that today. He said an awful lot and it's true to say I can't recall every word.

 

[John.g]

It would be a bit surprising if this is intergas approved.

 

[Stan]

It would be a bit surprising if this intergas approved.

I'll obviously stand to be corrected, as always, but the Intergas Technical Manager, David Stanley, speaking about the HRE & Eco RF combi tells viewers of a Youtube video how to convert the boilers to an open vent by disconnecting the pressure sensor.

It's at 7 mins 30 secs on this clip

 

[Riley]

Still doesn’t sound a particularly professional step to me. Look Stan if you want Intergas go with Intergas I think you could get a lot better ideas if you get quotes from other companies. Even if you don’t use them. That’s my opinion. I can’t really see the appeal of Intergas myself but there we are. I think a lot of the positive reviews will be down to the fact that they are still a relatively new player to the uk market so common faults will not be appearing yet. Also as said before, in my own limited experience, the one time I’ve worked on one and needed a part it had to come from Holland. I just think you need to think long and hard about what you’re trying to achieve long term as this just doesn’t seem the cost effective way to do it

 

[Stan]

Appreciate your additional thoughts there. Ta.

 

[Drewy]

Separate the boiler from the system with a plate heat exchanger and fit a Viessmann Vitodens 200 that will modulate nice and low.

 

[Rob Foster]

Separate the boiler from the system with a plate heat exchanger and fit a Viessmann Vitodens 200 that will modulate nice and low.

Regardless of which boiler I fully agree that the principle of fitting an intermediate heat exchanger really is the way fwds for the future...when we have had some spare time we have been exploring this area.
In fact once my new workshop is up and running ...is into this area we are heading. Even if it is a sacraficial unit deduct cost of a
magnetic type filter and boiler parts damaged by liquid sandpaper it starts to make sense.
Rob Foster aka centralheatking

 

[Stan]

Just as a point of information - and to correct my mistake :-

We covered the question of the amount of head required to get the Xclusive to operate open vent. I said I had 3.6 bar and pointed to the video clip in #31.

I need to come back to say that I checked with the Technical helpline and whilst the information in that clip is correct - it does NOT apply to the Xclusive. The Xclusive won't run as open vent just by removing the pressure sensor - all the other models do - but not the Xclusive. They plan to correct that situation in time but it's not available now.

I value the suggestions, advice and options given here and thank you all again. I really am listening and taking note.

 

[John.g]

Regardless of which boiler I fully agree that the principle of fitting an intermediate heat exchanger really is the way fwds for the future...when we have had some spare time we have been exploring this area.
In fact once my new workshop is up and running ...is into this area we are heading. Even if it is a sacraficial unit deduct cost of a
magnetic type filter and boiler parts damaged by liquid sandpaper it starts to make sense.
Rob Foster aka centralheatking

Are you suggesting Rob that the intermediate HX should be fitted in the event of retrofitting a gas fired boiler to a open vent system only or in all cases? My own > 40 year old open vent system is very clean but has never leaked or required top up as I have a isolating gate valve fitted in the F&E tank make up which I open every month or so to check for any leaks.

 

[Rob Foster]

Are you suggesting Rob that the intermediate HX should be fitted in the event of retrofitting a gas fired boiler to a open vent system only or in all cases? My own > 40 year old open vent system is very clean but has never leaked or required top up as I have a isolating gate valve fitted in the F&E tank make up which I open every month or so to check for any leaks.

not at all your boiler has water pathways the width of the M6 its the modern small boiler hx
that water pathways less than a *** paper and diverter valves that I mean. centralheatking

 

[king of pipes]

Well John that's what you do I have done the training and it is approved by Intergas . Kop

 

[John.g]

Do what?

 

[king of pipes]

It would be a bit surprising if this is intergas approved.

Unplugging the sensor- yes indeed you reminded me the rep. said that today. He said an awful lot and it's true to say I can't recall every word.[/QUOTE]

 

[John.g]

They must have great faith in the F&E tank never running dry.

 

[Riley]

They must have great faith in the F&E tank never running dry.

Which let’s be fair should never really happen on a well designed system

 

[Ben-gee]

although how many times have you been asked to change a three port valve because "the electrician tested it and says it's knackered that's why you have no heating" only to go up into the loft - knock down the arm of the ball valve in the f+e and listen to that glugging sound as the empty system re-fills......

 

[John.g]

Agree,although its only recently? that sensors are being fitted to oil fired boilers (mine has none) perhaps its to do with the oil fired boiler HX having a water capacity of ~ 20/25 litres and the temp sensor picking up on the high temp (steam generation in that water space) when water level is running low vs gas boiler HX (coil) of only 2 or 3 litres?.

 

[Riley]

although how many times have you been asked to change a three port valve because "the electrician tested it and says it's knackered that's why you have no heating" only to go up into the loft - knock down the arm of the ball valve in the f+e and listen to that glugging sound as the empty system re-fills....

Agreed but that’s not down to design. That’s a failed component. Lot to be said for sealing the system

 

[John.g]

It's very surprising to me at any rate that any manufacturer would even contemplate removing a sensor, what about the warranty in the event of damage due to low water level?.

 

[Larry Legroom]

stan,you have being doing homework re a new boiler.

You probably know intergas are a reliable brand and last a long time (if correctly serviced). Due to their longevity they don't need exchanging so often,that is now a problem for intergas.
other consideration is intergas have not entered the renewable market and in their home country natural gas is being phased out,so no more new builds resulting in less boiler sales and the existing gas customers are being offered decent cash incentives to go to an alternative renewable heat source.
Here in Uk they have not taken much of the lucrative new build market,which is a shame.
intergas have been bought out-acquired by an American company but will still operate (for how long we don't know) a European subsidiary.
Good luck.
LL

 

[Larry Legroom]

Opps,duplicate post. edited away.

 

[Riley]

stan,you have being doing homework re a new boiler.

You probably know intergas are a reliable brand and last a long time (if correctly serviced). Due to their longevity they don't need exchanging so often,that is now a problem for intergas.
other consideration is intergas have not entered the renewable market and in their home country natural gas is being phased out,so no more new builds resulting in less boiler sales and the existing gas customers are being offered decent cash incentives to go to an alternative renewable heat source.
Here in Uk they have not taken much of the lucrative new build market,which is a shame.
intergas have been bought out-acquired by an American company but will still operate (for how long we don't know) a European subsidiary.
Good luck.
LL

Interesting first post. Intergas Rep??