Stainless steel is the key and here is why. . .

Heating technology should work together to ensure the smooth operation of the entire system – from boiler via burner, control unit and heat exchanger, to deliver the highest possible operational reliability. Today, domestic and commercial boiler technology demands the most reliable, energy efficient components. Contact us for a quotation

A key component in choosing the right system, is the heat exchanger within the boiler, as maintenance costs, durability and product lifetime should all be considered when buying a boiler. As the two most common types of heat exchanger in the UK condensing boiler market, we have examined the differences between stainless steel and aluminium to offer a comparison of quality and longevity.

Stainless Steel Heat Exchangers:

Used by Viessmann throughout its entire condensing boiler range, stainless steel heat exchangers provide a high resistance to corrosion in a wide variety of pH levels, therefore increasing the useful life of your boiler. This provides long term value for money and requires less system downtime due to maintenance.

Important points to consider:

• Increases useful life of your boiler.
• Less downtime due to maintenance.
• Does not require use of system inhibitors.
• Recommended for filling with potable water (drinking water) no inhibitors required.
• Self-cleaning.
• Higher grade corrosion resistant material.

Aluminium Heat Exchangers:

A lightweight and alternative option, Aluminium heat exchangers also provide high heat transfer but require special inhibitors when maintaining the system, which if not used can result in a high risk of damage to the boiler. Annual maintenance is also vital to remove aluminium oxides, which can build up and clog the condensate line.

Important points to consider:

• pH treatment critical to longevity of the heat exchanger.
• Artificially softened water not permitted.
• Aluminium material corrodes through aluminium oxide build up and erodes further at high flow rates.
• Reduced lifetime of the heat exchanger.
• Cheaper to manufacture than stainless steel.

All Viessmann gas condensing boilers are equipped with stainless steel Inox-Radial heat exchangers. This technology brings with it an extremely high efficiency rate of 98 percent and exceptionally reliable and efficient operation during its long service life.

Viessmann guarantees the Inox-Radial heat exchanger for ten years against leaks resulting from corrosion.

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Now down to the main plant room. . .

Two Viessmann gas boilers installed and awaiting to be fully connected and turned on.

To an untrained eye, such as mine, even I can see the work that has gone into this Plant Room by the sheer size of the new cylinders and pipework.  All the old dropping pipework is coming out to be replaced by new straight and completely secured 2 ½” iron pipework and fittings.

This not only shows the magnitude of the work involved, but that careful thought and design consideration has been made, to fit into the space available and to make all the equipment accessible and serviceable in the future.  Not forgetting that until it is time to switch over to our new system the old system has to be running as the hotel is fully booked as the work continues.

The Technical Side:

I would like to give you a rundown of the equipment used in this installation:

– 2 x Viessmann-W 200 Vitodens 60kW boilers
– 2 x Viessmann Vitocell 300-B 500L Cylinder
– Viessmann Low Loss Header and insulation
– Spirotrap MBL 2 ½ “
– Spirovent Dearerator 2 ½ ”
– Pumps
– 2 ½” Pipework
– Controls – Weather Compensated

Which means:

Our customer will have complete control of the heating and hot water system within the hotel.

The main plant room has 1 underfloor heating circuit for the conservatory, used as the dining room.  Then 3 individual fully weather compensated heating circuits for the main house ground floor, 1st floor bedrooms and 2nd floor bedrooms.  Meaning different temperatures and timings can be set for the different sections of the hotel.

So from an atmospheric conventionally flued system to include boilers and water heaters, they now have a balanced system with Viessmann high efficiency condensing technology with full weather compensation.

What a difference we can make!

Written by ‘The Girl in the Office’.

When the owner of a former listed rectory dating back to around 1600 in a small village outside Salisbury, Wiltshire, came to replace the property’s fifty year old boiler and gravity fed heating system, he naturally had high expectations.

The project needed to significantly reduced running costs (the old system consumed 2,000 litres of oil per month), provide a constant space heat temperature and enable the heating, hot water and secondary hot water circuits to be controlled independently and remotely. Salisbury-based Viessmann partner, AHS Ltd., specified a Viessmann Vitorondens oil-fired boiler, with weather compensation and Vitotrol 300A remote controls. The result is a modern, fuel efficient heating system which is saving £8,000 per year, or around 70 per cent of his previous expenditure on oil.

The Technical Side:

• 60kW Vitorondens 200.
• Vitocell 300-B 500L.
• 3 x Header Divcon Units with mixers.
• Vitocom 100 with Virotrol App.
• Vitotrol 300A remote control (3 heating circuits).
• Wilo Comfort COR-2 pressure booster set.
• Break tank.
• 2 x large expansion vessels.

Viessmann Vitorondens oil-fired boiler, with weather compensation and Vitotrol 300A remote controls.

The new heating system comprises three fully weather compensated heating circuits and one constant temperature circuit for under-floor heating.

Which means:

Saving space, saving oil.

With oil bills of almost £13,000 per year at the 6,660 sq. ft., six bedroom, four bathroom home, fuel efficiency was a major priority. The Viessmann system – attractive because of its product build quality, system performance and user- friendly controls – was also the only one to come with weather compensation controls. These would fully optimise the Vitorondens 200’s efficiency and improve internal comfort, regardless of external temperature.

The installed system provides three fully weather compensated heating circuits and one constant temperature circuit for under-floor heating. One cylinder loading circuit with controls operates the heating and hot water and also the secondary hot water circuits. A welcome benefit of the advanced Vitotrol 300A controls is that AHS can monitor the system remotely on behalf of its client.

Noise was also a key consideration as the boiler’s flue would terminate above an outside seating area. The Vitorondens outperformed its competitors on noise levels.

AHS was called in as one of the few companies who could take on the complexities of the equipment and the task of designing, specifying and constructing a new, 9 ft by 6 ft plant room, in an outbuilding next to the main house. Tight for space and access, there was a lot of kit to install and most of it had to be dismantled and built inside the room. Thanks to the swift work of AHS, the crossover to the new plant room was achieved in just two days.

Overall the installation has resulted in a huge reduction in heating costs and oil consumption of around 70 per cent. Says a satisfied AHS Customer:-

In a property with no particular thermal efficiency, the installation of a highly efficient oil boiler and the very latest in temperature curve control programming has achieved a massive shift in performance.

Written by ‘The Girl in the Office’.