Boiler Advice - Halstead or Vaillant?

psy

I'm currently having a new boiler and central heating sysyem installed (8 radiators,2 heated towel rails, bathroom, shower room with power shower).

The plumber has quoted me a Halstead Platinum Combination boiler to run the system. However, he turned up today and installed a Vaillant turbomax plus 824e.

Should I accept the Vaillant or insist on the Halstead?

I understand the flow rate of the Halstead is significantly higher than the Vaillant (15 compared to 9). Where would this be noticeable - when using the power shower?

Any advice gratefully received, but please be quick as I want the wife to speak to the plumber tomorrow!

Thanks

RedOnRed

Don't know about either of those, but if we're talking combi - a plumber recommended the Baxi Combi Instant 105e which has a hot water flow rate of 12.7 L per min.

I might be wrong, but the main advantage I can see for having a combi is for space saving ie, no cylinder and loft tanks. In my case, i'd have to either have that stuff removed or leave it disconnected, so personally I wouldn't bother.

Bozzy20

Would you mind saying how much he quoted you for this job and how did you find this plumber? I need similar work done for my house.

Thanks.

Clive

psy

Clive - We're paying £3600 for the boiler and central heating system installation (I made an error with the radiators, it's 7 not 8 , plus 2 heated towel rails).

I've had cheaper quotes (£2900 and £3500) and one more expensive quote (£4100), but we are having lots of building work done and we have opted for the plumber supplied by our builder.

The plumber has been fine other than the boiler issue, and fairly accomodating to our needs.

Hope this helps.

Plumpud_3

Phone a local plumbers merchant yourself and ask about the two boilers - difference in price and performance etc. They are usually quite helpful, particularly if they think you may be buying from them. Local plumbers merchants are generally more helpful than the 'chains'. Chances are your plumber will be buying from them anyway.

You are lucky to get a plumber to do the work. They are a law unto themselves. Despite running a building firm ourselves, we still struggle to get plumbers to come and do any work we need. Other trades aren't like that.

When we renovated a house, we couldn't get a plumber for love nor money. Ended up doing all of the plumbing and central heating ourselves and paying a plumber a £150 for 1 hours work to commission the boiler (for CORGI purposes).

Jamescarver

No Expert, but if you are worried that the installed boiler has a lower flow rating than the the one you were promised (i.e. 9 compared to 15 lit/min) why not just check with the power shower mfrs and see what the recommend flow rate is for their pump?

Personally, i'd get him to install what was originally quoted/asked for, unless he's got a very good reason for the swap...

Bozzy20

Thanks psy. info appreciated.

KK

We recently had a Vaillant combi boiler installed and am delighted with it so far. The plumber said that our heating bills woud be significantly lower and I can't believe how much more efficient the new radiators are - amazing. The timer clock on the boiler malfunctioned last week and Vaillant came and replaced it for a new one within a couple of days - no problem. Basically because the hot water is on demand and not stored in a tank, you are only paying for the water heated at the time it's required. My previous boiler was about 30 years old (I guestimate, judging by when the rest of the house was last done up before we bought it) and yes we have had to get rid of the old boiler and the airing cupboard is now redundant, but we have just reused the space. I don't know whether our bills are cheaper yet as we only have the meter read once a year.

alienlaffinboyo

decent offer in plumb center .... combi boiler, 7 rads ,valves and 100m of pipe .... 750 quid

boiler make is ideal ,they hav been round for years.

MarkyMarkD

We recently had a Vaillant combi boiler installed and am delighted with it so far.  The plumber said that our heating bills woud be significantly lower and I can't believe how much more efficient the new radiators are - amazing.  The timer clock on the boiler malfunctioned last week and Vaillant came and replaced it for a new one within a couple of days - no problem.  Basically because the hot water is on demand and not stored in a tank, you are only paying for the water heated at the time it's required.  My previous boiler was about 30 years old (I guestimate, judging by when the rest of the house was last done up before we bought it) and yes we have had to get rid of the old boiler and the airing cupboard is now redundant, but we have just reused the space.  I don't know whether our bills are cheaper yet as we only have the meter read once a year.

So why don't you just read the meter yourself? It's not very hard.

KK

Marky Mark - of course I could read the meter myself, but I'm not particularly desperate to know whether the bills are cheaper or not, plus I've not yet had the boiler for a year so couldn't do an accurate comparison yet. My point was that I am pleased with the boiler and that it is supposed to be more efficient.