New Boiler Advice (merged)

moneysavingplumber

Zara,

get more quotes, preferrably from somebody recommended to you. The prices he's quoting you for the equipment appear pretty heavy. Even in a five bed house, you should be able to get a boiler far cheaper. Just an example, although I'm not recommending this particular boiler, the Baxi Promax 30HE (30KW) is available on PTS's 'Magic Boiler Scheme' for £525.50. The Vaillant Ecomax Pro 28 is available also at £579.00. Add the flue to this and you're talking around £650 + VAT. The Megaflo is one of the more expensive unvented Cylinders but the Range Tribune is just as good (personally I think it's better but all plumber's have their favourites, I've found Heatrae's back-up service disappointing in the past) and alot cheaper. Oso is another option. A 210 litre indirect Tribune has a list price of £878 and the Megaflo £1392.09, but the plumber will get substantial discounts on both of these 'list' prices some of which he would be sensible to pass onto you.

It's possible for you to check the size of boiler required for your house at http://www.est.org.uk/housingbuildings/calculators/boilersizing/ and then do your own research on what boiler might be most suitable. You should listen to your plumber's advice but it should be your decision what make of boiler and cylinder you have ultimately, after all you're paying for it.

There will be some substantial update work required especially if the hot water circuit is currently gravity but it's impossible to comment accurately on the overall price without seeing exactly what is involved.

Definitely get more quotes.

[Deleted User]

Interesting thread.

I am buying a house where a new combination boiler was installed after April 2005, is this against the law and is there anything I shoul do or ask before I go ahead with my purchase?

Also, my Vendot hasn't provided me with a guarantee for the boiler, so I am smelling a rat here...any advice would be appreciated.

moneysavingplumber

Van1971 wrote:

Interesting thread.

I am buying a house where a new combination boiler was installed after April 2005, is this against the law and is there anything I shoul do or ask before I go ahead with my purchase?

Also, my Vendot hasn't provided me with a guarantee for the boiler, so I am smelling a rat here...any advice would be appreciated.

Not necessarily, is it a condensing combi? If it is then all well and good. If not then if the work was in progress before April 2005 then they may have dispensation even if it was commissioned after that. The vendor will be obliged to pass on the relevant boiler literature and especially the 'Benchmark' document which is a blue card with installation and commissioning details that will effectively confirm to the manufacturer that the warranty is valid.

There are exceptions to the rule that condensing boilers must be fitted (they are not yet compulsory in Scotland), but if you are in a normal house it's almost certain that the property won't qualify for this.

zara_2

moneysavingplumber wrote:

Zara,

get more quotes, preferrably from somebody recommended to you. The prices he's quoting you for the equipment appear pretty heavy. Even in a five bed house, you should be able to get a boiler far cheaper. Just an example, although I'm not recommending this particular boiler, the Baxi Promax 30HE (30KW) is available on PTS's 'Magic Boiler Scheme' for £525.50. The Vaillant Ecomax Pro 28 is available also at £579.00. Add the flue to this and you're talking around £650 + VAT. The Megaflo is one of the more expensive unvented Cylinders but the Range Tribune is just as good (personally I think it's better but all plumber's have their favourites, I've found Heatrae's back-up service disappointing in the past) and alot cheaper. Oso is another option. A 210 litre indirect Tribune has a list price of £878 and the Megaflo £1392.09, but the plumber will get substantial discounts on both of these 'list' prices some of which he would be sensible to pass onto you.

It's possible for you to check the size of boiler required for your house at http://www.est.org.uk/housingbuildings/calculators/boilersizing/ and then do your own research on what boiler might be most suitable. You should listen to your plumber's advice but it should be your decision what make of boiler and cylinder you have ultimately, after all you're paying for it.

There will be some substantial update work required especially if the hot water circuit is currently gravity but it's impossible to comment accurately on the overall price without seeing exactly what is involved.

Definitely get more quotes.

Thank you very much for the advice moneysavingplumber - I will definitely get him to justify why the prices he has quoted for the parts themselves (boiler & megaflow) are quite as expensive as he is suggesting - and feel more confident in doing so. It is also good to know that there are cheaper options where the quality isn't necessarily compromised.

mp7125

Hi going back to my boiler I have had a number of quotes ranging from £1050 to £1150. They all seem reasonable and know what they are talking about.
The only real difference is the boiler they recommending:

Alpha CD18R Condensing Boiler

Vaillant Ecomax Pro 18E

Glow Worm 18HXI Condensing Boiler

Any views from the expert on these? By the way - what is powerflushing?

Thanks

uncle_buck_3

Info on power flushing http://www.kamco.co.uk/powerflushing.htm

moneysavingplumber

mp7125 wrote:

Hi going back to my boiler I have had a number of quotes ranging from £1050 to £1150. They all seem reasonable and know what they are talking about.
The only real difference is the boiler they recommending:

Alpha CD18R Condensing Boiler

Vaillant Ecomax Pro 18E

Glow Worm 18HXI Condensing Boiler

Any views from the expert on these? By the way - what is powerflushing?

Thanks

Personally I prefer the first two, although I'm fitting a Gloworm 30 HXi later in the week, only because the combination of the size and flueing options suit the job. Watch out for the Vaillants on the depth, they are a little deep to fit a standard wall unit over if that is your plan. Great boilers, but I'm very impressed with the newer Alphas, so quiet when they modulate. All three have stainless steel heat exchangers which is a big plus.

mp7125

moneysavingplumber wrote:

Personally I prefer the first two, although I'm fitting a Gloworm 30 HXi later in the week, only because the combination of the size and flueing options suit the job. Watch out for the Vaillants on the depth, they are a little deep to fit a standard wall unit over if that is your plan. Great boilers, but I'm very impressed with the newer Alphas, so quiet when they modulate. All three have stainless steel heat exchangers which is a big plus.

Just about to go for the Alpha and then given a very reasonable quote for a Worcester Greenstar 18RI - how good is this and any better than the Alpha?

moneysavingplumber

mp7125 wrote:

Just about to go for the Alpha and then given a very reasonable quote for a Worcester Greenstar 18RI - how good is this and any better than the Alpha?

Personally I prefer the Alpha, because I don't like aluminium heat exchangers, and I personally prefer Alpha as a company. I was chatting to my local Worcester rep at the trade counter the other day, he handed me some freebies then jokingly asked for them back when he found out I was currently fitting Alphas, then he held his hands up and said he couldn't knock me for fitting them as they were in the same class as the Worcesters, unlike several other makes we mentioned between us. Visit their websites, get the info and make your own decision.

http://www.alpha-boilers.co.uk

http://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk

eml_3

Our boiler appears to be dying and I have a horrible feeling we will need to replace it. However, i have no idea where to start with looking for a new one. Could anyone take pity on me and suggest what we might need and why? We have a 3 bedroom house with one bathroom and 7 radiators. I gather Worcester-Bosch and Vaillant are good makes and by law we have to have a condensing boiler but after that, I get lost in technical details.

Thanks in advance.