INTERGAS HRE 28/24 Combi

[Old Account]

Open forum ron

Sorry riley, can’t remember what I actually wrote. Did I write something which I shouldn’t? I’m sorry if i did

 

[Riley]

No worries

 

[Arthur]

Just on the Intergas front, if you do not have a Combimate fitted it is more than likely that in a hard water area the hot water side will give you grief. It can be cleaned in situ with a hand pressurisation pump - Rothenberger type- with Kamco descaler in warm/hot water probably take 20 mins.
A check with the local water authority will give you the Clark scale for the area & if over 200 a Combimate is required. If below an in line Adey scale reducer is approved.
I speak from recent experience & although they suggest the in line unit - which was fitted to the boiler in question- there is no mention about the over 200 on the Clark Scale requirement.
We have now fitted 20-30 of the Intergas units & have only come across this scale issue on a couple. It is very easy & quick to descale & will take less time than most secondary plate heat exchangers plus no seals to be replaced either.

Arthur.

 

[Stan]

Interesting Arthur.

I was prompted to check my own Clark figure in the South West - but it bore no relationship to the figure 200. It's between 3.6 - 7. The figure that did seem to fit in was the Calcium Carbonate figure - mine's 51 - 100 and other regions did go over 200.

Additionally, may I get you to settle an uncertainty in my mind as I contemplate a replacement Intergas Heat Only boiler. I asked the question above but it's still not been explained to me. When fitting, say, a HRE OV 18 I can't find a definitive answer to whether you need the Fitting Kit (the jig) or not. I gather the offset flue kit is obligatory in order to avoid the flow and return (although even that point seemed uncertain in earlier replies) - but do you "have" to fit the jig (i.e to stand the boiler off the wall an inch or so) or will the additional offset flue elbow allow the regular elbow to sit flush with the back of the boiler (i.e. facing the back wall but without overhanging it). But if it does overhang the rear of the boiler then presumably you have to chamfer the hole in the wall to accommodate it?

 

[Riley]

I’d really forget the Intergas if you're not getting the answers you want Stan

 

[Stan]

But am I asking such difficult questions?

(be honest 🙂)

 

[Riley]

To those such as myself who don’t fit Intergas then yes. I’d be contacting Intergas by email and ask for confirmation in writing. It’s likely you will end up with bits you don’t need in a fitting pack but that happens so often.

 

[Stan]

To those such as myself who don’t fit Intergas then yes. I’d be contacting Intergas by email and ask for confirmation in writing. It’s likely you will end up with bits you don’t need in a fitting pack but that happens so often.

Indeed, you could be right. As you might remember I asked Intergas on the phone but the reply was vague.And, yes, he said if you bought the jig you throw away the expansion vessel and all the pipework and fittings. (he actually said you could try and sell them🙁).

I asked Arthur coz he said he'd fitted 20 or 30 Intergas - so I was figuring he would know.

 

[Riley]

You’d be amazed how few vented Versions are fitted these days. I would get it on writing from Intergas because then you have some comeback. I am assuming you are sourcing your own boiler?

 

[Stan]

You’d be amazed how few vented Versions are fitted these days. I would get it on writing from Intergas because then you have some comeback. I am assuming you are sourcing your own boiler?

Yes, I'm beginning to see that now. It just happens I don't want a Combi and even a System Boiler is just that bit beyond what I'm comfortable with (call me old fashioned).

Re. sourcing - I was hoping to get my Gas Safe mate (an Ideal enthusiast) to do the half day course at Barnstaple and use me as his guinea pig. And I would imagine he would be happier getting the boiler himself (he uses Wolseley / Plumcenter IIRC).

Plan B might be just to contact one of the registered Intergas fitters - but the nearest one isn't all that local.

Thanks for time and trouble.

 

[Riley]

No bother. Why Intergas specifically? There are many manufacturers that offer much better after sales support and parts are more readily available

 

[Stan]

Mainly as it's a 23 year old system and the heat exchanger is said to be more bombproof than those on others. ( narrow waterways that are apparently prone to blockage etc.)

The Ideal Logic MAX is an obvious alternative but half the respondents here say they are unhappy with the leaking sumps and pin holed HEXs. Plus, can I trust them to genuinely uphold their 10 yr warranty if they're unwilling to acknowledge issues that others keep telling them about?

Other than that I suppose it's Vaillant or even WB but my mate isn't approved with either (he's Ideal and Baxi registered) and the warranty is therefore reduced considerably.

Where does your own favour lay?

 

[Riley]

I have converted much older systems to pressure with no dramas. Has anyone looked your system over for potential weakness? Most installers will insist on a proper flush which is a fairly robust flow exercise which can also highlight system weakness. You may be being paranoid unnecessarily. Also it’s not hard to be able to offer Vaillant extended warranties. I wouldn’t touch wb. I like Glow-worm at the mo and all you need as an installer with them is to register with club energy

 

[Arthur]

Stan,
200 CaCO3 mg/l is about 14degrees on the actual Clark scale but there is always a conversion to CaCO3 mg/l hence the 'above 200'.

Unless you need to pressurise the system you will not need the rear frame - not sure they show it for that model in their blurb, I think they show a stand alone vessel & valves.
The offset flue kit allows for a boiler replacement with a conventional center flue hole, & also avoids the flow & return pipe. You can use a straight out flue but you will struggle with the pipe tails & have to shorten one of them, also part of the joint would be in the wall & you would need to do some artistic finishing with plaster to keep it in view. The offset removes all that drama.
Regards

Arthur.

 

[Stan]

Ta. How would my mate get access to Vaillant's additional warranty? Presumably do the course?
Ideally, if it wasn't Intergas? I'd have rear flue ( makes installation a bit easier on space grounds) hence the Logic is OK - BUT a neighbour has just had a Vaillant Ecofit Pure (with a rear flue option ) fitted.
It's cheaper than an Ecotec (which doesn't have the rear flue option) and only has 2 yr warranty as standard so I would really want to get their uprated warranty with a Ecofit Pure.

Point taken re. my concern about presurised system.

Further thanks.
'

 

[Stan]

Stan,
200 CaCO3 mg/l is about 14degrees on the actual Clark scale but there is always a conversion to CaCO3 mg/l hence the 'above 200'.

Unless you need to pressurise the system you will not need the rear frame - not sure they show it for that model in their blurb, I think they show a stand alone vessel & valves.
The offset flue kit allows for a boiler replacement with a conventional center flue hole, & also avoids the flow & return pipe. You can use a straight out flue but you will struggle with the pipe tails & have to shorten one of them, also part of the joint would be in the wall & you would need to do some artistic finishing with plaster to keep it in view. The offset removes all that drama.
Regards

Arthur.

All received Arthur. Many thanks for putting both points into context for me. You've cleared up the offset flue conundrum nicely.