Having installed a Vaillant boiler in a rented property owned by this customer in 2008, we were invited to quote for a new boiler in his main residence, a very nice house near Hurstpierpoint, Sussex, UK.

This house has a smaller gas bill than before
We recommended the Vaillant 428 ecoTEC+ compact heat only boiler. This manufacturer has a unique selling point in that their external flue can be routed to a vertical termination point.

New Vaillant ecoTEC+ 428 (existing timer retained by customer)
Many condensing boiler installations have a nuisance factor in that the steam (or ‘plume’ as we describe it) passes visibly across the house and can be detrimental to the owner’s enjoyment. The Vaillant flue system can use a small white or black pipe that can, in most cases, run to eaves level to discharge the steam vertically. This is what we specified at this house.

Flue discharges next to gutter top right
The gas main to the old boiler was also feeding an AGA and a working pressure reading found the boiler to be grossly under supplied. A new, larger pipe was going to be needed; in fact, the previous installer of the boiler should have spotted this; but regulations were not as tightly enforced 20 years ago. It was not desirable to lift some fitted flooring in the kitchen, so with the approval of the customer we ran a new gas main through a store area and then at low level around the outside of the house to the new boiler.

The new gas pipe was hidden where possible
Our customer was pleased with the flue arrangements and can now look forward to saving some of his gas bill (the AGA will continue to use vast amounts!) and having the peace of mind provided by the 5yr parts and labour boiler warranty.
Quieter, smaller, more efficient and warranted for 5 yrs until 2014. A new Vaillant ecoTEC boiler has a lot going for it when installed by Hot Water & Central Heating!