New boiler - recommendations gratefully received.

amyface · 8 March 2007 at 8:39PM

Good day all and thanks for reading

. Any advice, help gratefully received. I've read through the many boiler posts and have got a wealth of information but would welcome some specific advice relevant to my circumstances.

I am having a two story extension which adds 4 new radiators to the 3 bedroom house. I have been advised that my 15KW Potterton combi boiler is insufficient and from my perspective I dont doubt it is insufficient (from a plumber friend, British Gas when asked informally during my recent inspection and also the experience from 3 neighbouring properties who've had extensions, who had the same boiler - new estate so all the same! and who had this said and boiler changed by three different plumbers). Anyway, i digress.

My extension is currently out for tender with 4 builders and as part of the specification I have asked them to quote the total cost for replacing and installing a new boiler - my knowledge was and is such that rather than be specific i left the make of boiler down to them to choose. Based on advice from all the above and in discussions with the various builders I outlined that the 15KW was insufficient and i think (again from my discussions) each of them will plump for their plumbers to fit at least a 30KW.

I've had a look around at boilers and the selection bamboozles me a tad. So I just wondered whether any boiler literate people would specifically recommend any boilers that meets these requirements.

I am cost conscious but am also keen not to necessarily buy the cheapest for the sake of a few hundred pounds, to get a much better and reliable piece of kit. Armed with recommendations, prices from the internet, the quotes etc, then in the future I will be able to decide the appropriate way forward cost & hassle wise, but at this stage I am seeking as much information re specific boilers from the good folk of MSE and any other assistance / comments / information you would think that would be of use, for where I am currently at.

:beer: in advance of your help.

ormus · 8 March 2007 at 8:59PM

vaillant ecomax range, 28kw or 35 kw. about 900 quid.

bosch worcester greenstar 30cdi. about 700 quid.

both makes are very good boilers.

ps.
baxi platinum range have a 5 yr warranty. again about 900 quid.

amyface · 8 March 2007 at 10:09PM

Thanks a lot ormus; much appreciated.

Canucklehead · 8 March 2007 at 11:01PM

Hi
I would think ,as you will be having a 4 bed house , that you will have at least one bathroom and a shower room. maybe even a cloakroom as well.
If that is the case then you should consider the use of a stored water combi to give you a high flow rate.
Another way is to have a heat only boiler and an unvented cylinder to give you mains pressure stored water.
Either one is subject to the incoming water mains pressure.
Ask your builder and plumber about these and see what they say.
The NHBC recommend that for a house with more than 1 bathroom a combi should not be used.
I hesitate to recommend any boiler as there will always be someone with a bad news story about any boiler.(no such thing as zero defect) but the Vaillant ,Worcester brands seem to get good press.(as said)
Good luck.

Corgi Guy.

amyface · 9 March 2007 at 1:47PM

Thanks a lot canucklehead - I still know I have a lot of knowledge to grasp on boilers but 24 hours ago I knew nothing! Mind you a little bit of 'knowledge' can be dangerous.

I'm even doubting i have a combi boiler now - we've got this Gledhill Boilermate upstairs and to be honest I'm not sure whether the Potterton Suprema is actually a combi boiler or not (i 'think' it is); I'll invest some time finding and reading the manual this weekend.

A friend of mine has mentioned that it is a combi but you cant get 'straight combis' anymore but need to get condenser combis now. I do feel a little bit lost at times! When the time comes then I will ask the plumbers but i hate not being knowledgable and can nearly always pick things pretty quickly.

FYI - the house is 3 bedroom, one bathroom and one shower.

Fleeting_Glimpse · 9 March 2007 at 3:08PM

'Which' the consumers people tested combi's a few weeks ago.

The valliant came out top if I remember right....the only one with a true 'A rating'. All the others said they were A rated but came out as B rated when tested.

If you only have one bathroom then a combi will be fine.

One piece of advice is to make sure you have an electric shower fitted somewhere, if the boiler breaks down then you'll have no hot water for a couple of days.

Canucklehead · 9 March 2007 at 4:02PM

Hi

Ok forget all that then !!

I read it as a 3 bed and then an extension which I thought would give a 4th.

You should be all right in that case.You don't have a combi.!
I would have thought a boiler with about 18kw would do. If you get someone to calculate using the whole house method then it would be spot on.

Have a look here for more information....http://www.est.org.uk/uploads/documents/housingbuildings/CE51%20Final.pdf

Corgi Guy.

New boiler - recommendations gratefully received.

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