I'm considering a IBC HC or DC boiler for my house (similar boilers, one is the combi model).
They both use a cast aluminum heat exchanger with copper water coils in embedded. So flue gases touch the aluminium and water only touches copper. The combi model has dedicated copper passage ways in the HX so there are no solenoids or water to water HX.
I'm not too concerned about the copper and water, but was wondering about the life expectancy of aluminum heat exchangers when exposed to the acidic condensate?
IBC has a pretty decent warranty. And people seem to speak highly of them.
Realistically I would love to step up to the IBC SL firetube or Lochinvar firetube, but it means spending significantly more money.
The only reason I'm considering the HC/DC boiler with it's aluminum is that I can't seem to find any negative reviews or horror stories. There are some general discussions and schools of thought that aluminum has no place in a boiler HX though, but that is generalizing. Has IBC done something to their aluminum to make it robust?
Realistically, I would hope to get a 15-20 year life out of a properly maintained boiler regardless of the HX technology.
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