Best Gas System Boiler (UK) Central heating ?

[Gaston aires]

Our last plumber told us not to fill our boiler with softened water as he said it could damage the heat exchanger. He fitted a bypass loop so we could top it straight from the mains.

That’s why our last boiler only lasted 20 years then.
See you at a rally soon

 

[Odd-no-more]

That’s why our last boiler only lasted 20 years then.
See you at a rally soon

Softened water itself is not the problem, but as softeners age, they can leak salt into the water, it's the salt that does the damage

 

[Landy Andy]

Our last plumber told us not to fill our boiler with softened water as he said it could damage the heat exchanger. He fitted a bypass loop so we could top it straight from the mains.

It depends on what construction, and type of boiler you have.

Aluminium heat exchangers can become porous with softened water, but a boiler with a stainless steel heat exchanger will be ok with softened water. It is not really a problem if it is a heat only boiler as it is the same water that gets circulated, but is much more of an issue with combi boiler.

I would not have a combi boiler as I live in a hard water area, and combi boilers don’t last long here. I would have a heat only boiler with pressurised cylinder. I would currently fit Ideal Standard Vouge boiler
12 year warranty, stainless steel heat exchanger, very nice integrated wireless controls, and made in the UK

 

[MichaelT]

Our last plumber told us not to fill our boiler with softened water as he said it could damage the heat exchanger. He fitted a bypass loop so we could top it straight from the mains.

But how do you shower with softened water if you don't heat it in the boiler?

 

[Landy Andy]

But how do you shower with softened water if you don't heat it in the boiler?

Possibly by it being a heat only boiler.

The heating circuit will be filled with hard water, this is then heated by boiler, and supplies the heating coil inside the hot water cylinder, which indirectly heats the used hot water

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[Odd-no-more]

But how do you shower with softened water if you don't heat it in the boiler?

The hot water is separate from the water in the boiler. It is heated though a heat exchanger

 

[oldiesontour]

If the rest of the system is the same age,I would also be thinking about that..even copper cylinders don't last for ever and the heat exchanger coils scale up,zone valve die fairly regularly radiators corrode Depending on your expected time In the property and personal belief of what the future holds in the way of gas taxation ,regulation etc,it may or may not be worth considering either a partial or complete electric system (£7500 grants at the moment),gas heating is about to be banned in new builds,(it didn't persuade me to go electric...had I been 10yrs or so younger I probably would have

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

We're still on immersion element for hot water, it's been in the tank for 40 years, but I'm not looking forward to the cost of replacing that. .

https://www.screwfix.com/p/tesla-titanium-immersion-heater-14-/74662

Top of the range one, hard and soft water.
Mike.

 

[Landy Andy]

We're still on immersion element for hot water, it's been in the tank for 40 years, but I'm not looking forward to the cost of replacing that. .

https://www.screwfix.com/p/tesla-titanium-immersion-heater-14-/74662

Top of the range one, hard and soft water.
Mike.

The price of the immersion is not the problem.
It’s getting the old one out that can be the costly bit after 40 years. You won’t find they last more than a few years where I live. Then it’s a new immersion and descale of the cylinder.