Worcester Danesmoor Boilers (Oil Regular)

[MetalMonkey]

Looking at a replacement regular oil boiler as the jacket on the current one is more pinholes than jacket.

Anybody any experience with these Worcester Danesmoor Greenstar boilers? Are they reliable?
We want something with a stainless exchanger which won't corrode, which I believe the Danesmoor are their only range that have them.

Any alternatives we should consider?

 

[armalites]

We've got a Worcester Greenstar Camray oil boiler, been in for years and had no issues at all.

 

[Kayos]

Last Danesmoor I fitted was an external model, fitted correctly oil boilers are much of a muchness, just make sure the burner is set up correctly

 

[julianf]

We had a greenstar. I felt it had more "custom" parts than was really necessary, but other than that it was ok. Only had it as a temporary thing at a rented place that only had rubbish night storage heaters (I got a external greenstar, and stuck it in the yard, with a few "Freecycle" radiators inside - you do what you can when you're damn cold!)

Current boiler is a grant vortex. I don't think it's got any special "you have to go to grant" fittings on it, apart from the flue, which they all rip you off for somthing chronic.

Loads of current model oil condensing boilers on eBay for way less than new. Oil boilers are simple and last for year and years so I can see no issue with buying a current model for £1000 less because someone has had it a few years but now got a grant on a heat pump...

Pretty much all of them have riello burners anyway, and that's the only bit that's going to go wrong.

 

[julianf]

Looking at a replacement regular oil boiler as the jacket on the current one is more pinholes than jacket.

Anybody any experience with these Worcester Danesmoor Greenstar boilers? Are they reliable?
We want something with a stainless exchanger which won't corrode, which I believe the Danesmoor are their only range that have them.

Any alternatives we should consider?

Re stainless.

All current boilers are condensing. They will all have stainless secondary condensers.

I don't think any of them will have a stainless primary condenser. I'm not sure that stainless is good at those temps anyway? (I know the jacket is cooled but the baffles are not)

I'm pretty sure our greenstar had a non stainless primary. Almost certain in fact. But the secondary was, as they all are, stainless. The distillate is slightly acidic and a non stainless secondary (the condensing bit) would die in no time.

 

[julianf]

...besides, if there is no O2 in the coolant circuit, then it won't rust anyway. And you need it free of oxygen or your radiators will just all die also.

 

[pedrobedro]

I'll nip down and ask on Monday, the factory is only 3/4 mile down the road from here. I used to work there painting boilers and panels when it was called Delglo.

 

[MetalMonkey]

...besides, if there is no O2 in the coolant circuit, then it won't rust anyway. And you need it free of oxygen or your radiators will just all die also.

Unfortunately that is part of the issue - there is o2 which is why the jacket rusts out, hence the attraction of stainless.
Long story, but basically underfloor heating before barrier pipe was a thing - so it permeates oxygen. On the other hand, no radiators to rust.

 

[Kayos]

Re stainless.

All current boilers are condensing. They will all have stainless secondary condensers.

I don't think any of them will have a stainless primary condenser. I'm not sure that stainless is good at those temps anyway? (I know the jacket is cooled but the baffles are not)

I'm pretty sure our greenstar had a non stainless primary. Almost certain in fact. But the secondary was, as they all are, stainless. The distillate is slightly acidic and a non stainless secondary (the condensing bit) would die in no time.

Some are aloominum, they are rubbish

 

[MetalMonkey]

I'll nip down and ask on Monday, the factory is only 3/4 mile down the road from here. I used to work there painting boilers and panels when it was called Delglo.

That's very kind of you - would be awesome!
They don't seem to list it on their website unless I'm being blind - but I think most of their range is aluminium apart from the Danesmoor - but no indication as to what bits are actually stainless, although I suppose it would make sense if it was just the secondary.

 

[julianf]

Some are aloominum, they are rubbish

What, the secondary? On oil?
Im fairly sure the distillate is very very weak sulphuric acid. I can't think alluminium would last any real time with that at all!

 

[Kayos]

What, the secondary? On oil?
Im fairly sure the distillate is very very weak sulphuric acid. I can't think alluminium would last any real time with that at all!

Yep on both, its high silicone aloominum so it lasts a while then turns to mush that blocks the trap, before it fails completely

 

[JimmyS]

We've got a Grant Oil boiler. Its been ok. They are supposed to condense but like a lot of boilers in uk they only condense for about 15 minutes when they start up as the return water temp becomes too high for the flue gas to condense after a bit. Stainless HX supposedly, weve been here 5 years now and it was here when me moved in. Oil condensing boiler condensate is more acidic than natural gas due to the sulfur content of the fuel. If I was buying another one personally Id get a Viessmann but they are expensive. I'm re-insulating and installing Underfloor heating here as recon I will have to fit a heat pump eventually.

 

[waddycall]

I’ve serviced and repaired loads of oil boilers up until the start of this year when I changed jobs. I’ve never come across an oil boiler with a stainless steel heat exchanger except for the secondary which can be stainless or aluminium on some as stated above. I’d be looking at any measures you can take to prevent the corrosion i.e. air separator and making annual checks of inhibitor concentration etc.
Edit - when I say heat exchanger I mean the primary heating one not the hot water one in a combi!

 

[Bornfree]

The jacket normally pin holes around the return pipe connection. I've repaired several in the past.

 

[julianf]

Unfortunately that is part of the issue - there is o2 which is why the jacket rusts out, hence the attraction of stainless.
Long story, but basically underfloor heating before barrier pipe was a thing - so it permeates oxygen. On the other hand, no radiators to rust.

I have in mind that we paid a couple of hundred quid for our grant vortex 15/26 (or maybe it's 15/25 I can't remember).

It's the current unit. Same as you can buy new for £1200 or somthing.

Anyway, at a few hundred quid, whilst it's bother noone wants, if it lasts 7 years Vs the 40 or so it should, then just swap in another.

If you know it's going to happen, you can install it with fittings in sensible places to allow a change and then it will only be a mornings job.