As I mention in my introduction, I am living in France.The house have an underfloor heating,Vailant 27kw. oil boiler,Underfloor pipes are plastic ,but all other pipes are still! So rust from still pipes blocked plastic underfloor pipes about 70% and last year I spend 2 months trying to power-flush the system,It was obvious the cast iron boiler and still pipes must be replaced. My knowledge in this field insignificant, After some internet search I decide to install Buderus logano plus GB 212 40kw condensing gas boiler ,and Logalux L160/2R hot water tank(under boiler). .Call the local company and receive estimate 27000 euros!!!!!! Only boiler and hot water tank installation without pipes changing.SO deride to DIY. First, boiler price with hot water tank : in France 7800 euros, in England - £5600, in Germany 4700 euros , with Logamatic RS300 control and pump. Bought in Germany,arrived fast,but with installation instructions in German.Call Buderus ,they have no in English,On internet found info :instructions in English does not exist for this boiler.Google translator never seen text like this ,and gave up. So, after careful analysis of situation I bought bottle of whiskey and after 5th glass been able to understand German instructions..Next day cut all the sill pipes up to manifolds ,In France they not soldering copper pipes, they brazing them. For what reason? Because French way of engineering excessively complicated. Copper pipes bought in local shop, all the valves ,pressure vessels, pumps,from Ebay UK.It's 3 times cheaper. Within 4 days soldering been done..For 500 euros gas company installed gas meter on my fens and from there I dug the tranche to my house(I have little tractor with backhoe),SS gas pipe and duct cost 900 euros.In France it does not matter who done the gas work,you have to pay 100 euros, and government inspector will test gas line and issue safety certificate..The gas inspector spoke English and explained I have to install special flue pipe for this boiler.In a plumbing shop they have English speaking technician and he was very helpful.500 euros cost the pipe and 1 day to fit..Electrical connection and room thermostat simple ,easy installation. On Wednesday start the boiler - working!!!!.Today my wife call Buderus France (I don't speak French),technician came check the boiler,check installation,sign maintenance contract (90 euros per year) ,We had cup of coffee and the guy mention by French law you have to buy boiler only in France. I kept my mouth shut. The bottom line. : With bottle of whiskey ,British engineering way and dedication you can do any job.

I can sympathise since we're going to get a new central heating boiler installed in a couple of weeks - cost: around 22,000 francs.

But to possibly upset you, you could have tried CalChem which did wonders for cleaning out our central heating system. Stuck radiator valves loosened so they could be opened and closed and better circulation all round. Reduces any stuff to minute particles. Not sure what hubby paid for a litre bottle, but I doubt it was more than £20 if that.

Only reason the boiler's being replaced is that it's getting more and more difficult to switch on and keep running due to its age.

Only question i can think of is what whisky did you have?

Ok, maybe its possible, but I really doubt it. That's the whole point of the EU - free and unrestricted trade in a common market, also made possible by common technical standards across all countries. a beautiful thing to behold.

Even in Switzerland, its illegal to try to prevent a parallel import from the EU (see for example BMW and the fine they got for preventing German dealerships selling to Swiss customers)

On another note, you saved 20,000 euro. that deserves a good bottle of whiskey.

i would first install an enter-key on the keyboard.

This is one of the best posts I've read - especially like the little tractor with backhoe