Need a New Combi-Boiler - Thoughts please....

cloud_dog

Ok, currently have a Bosch Worcester 400 Highflow, which is starting to need regular callouts to fix.

We have a three bed detached property, with groundfloor extension, and have had the BW for 12 years.

The BW replacement would be the 440CDi (approx 97k btu and 29.2Kw heating output). Price appears fairly fixed at £1521 + installation.

Have looked at

* Vaillant Ecotec Plus 630 (approx 102k btu and 30Kw output). Price approx £930 + installation

* VIESSMANN Vitodens 200 (approx ??? btu and 30Kw output). Price about £1000 + installation

So, would very much appreciate any views on pluses or minuses on the above plus could an installer person give me a guide price for replacing my BW 400 with one of the above.

Many thnaks cloud_dog

Canucklehead

cloud_dog wrote: »

Ok, currently have a Bosch Worcester 400 Highflow, which is starting to need regular callouts to fix.

We have a three bed detached property, with groundfloor extension, and have had the BW for 12 years.

The BW replacement would be the 440CDi (approx 97k btu and 29.2Kw heating output). Price appears fairly fixed at £1521 + installation.

Have looked at

* Vaillant Ecotec Plus 630 (approx 102k btu and 30Kw output). Price approx £930 + installation

* VIESSMANN Vitodens 200 (approx ??? btu and 30Kw output). Price about £1000 + installation

So, would very much appreciate any views on pluses or minuses on the above plus could an installer person give me a guide price for replacing my BW 400 with one of the above.

Many thnaks cloud_dog

Good afternoon: As the WB Highflow is a storage combi wouldn't you be looking at replacing it with another storage combi: if that is the case, you should be looking at the Vaillant 937 or the Viessmann 333 F as well as the WB 440 not the Vaillant 600 series (system boiler) or the Viessmann 200 series (available as a combi or system boiler). Cost of installation is dependent on many factors including your location in the UK and the standard of the specification. Material costs for a 'Best Practice' installation will be substantially more than the price of the boiler alone. Both Vaillant and Viessmann produce excellent products (the OH only installs the 2 'V's ) An RGI, after conducting a site survey, would be best placed to advise you.

HTH

Canucklehead

cloud_dog

Thanks for the prompt response.

I understand my current WB Highflow 400 has a storage tank, and take on board your comments regarding a like-for-like replacement but...............

What, or rather, is it such a huge advantage to have the stored hot water? Obviously water will come through hot more quickly but, is it really that much of an advantage over the cost of keeping the water hot, for example.

I have to be honest and am ever so slightly concerned with the total cost. For info, we live in Gloucestershire.

Whilst I have been very happy with the BW it has always been difficult getting engineers to service / repair it. Words like "won't go near BW" etc leaves me with going direct to BW for services / fixes.

Thanks cloud_dog

MX5huggy

Whilst I have been very happy with the BW it has always been difficult getting engineers to service / repair it. Words like "won't go near BW" etc leaves me with going direct to BW for services / fixes.

I find this surprising WB (it's Worcester Bosch not BW) are probably the most common brand (or aleast up there).

If you have enough mains water pressure then I think a combi is the way to go, in a standard house where only one bathroom/shower will be in use at a time. If the boiler is a close enough to the taps that you want the water at.

But the cost of changing from a stored to combi system might put you off.

The advantage of a HW tank is that you can heat it with electricty when the boiler breaks down.

Never found the wait for HW that bad, the first use when it has gone stone cold ie overnight takes a little while but after 1st run I dont think its is any slower than tank water. Some better combis come with small tanks that have preheated water, but I would not bother.

Canucklehead

cloud_dog wrote: »

Thanks for the prompt response.

I understand my current WB Highflow 400 has a storage tank, and take on board your comments regarding a like-for-like replacement but...............

What, or rather, is it such a huge advantage to have the stored hot water? Obviously water will come through hot more quickly but, is it really that much of an advantage over the cost of keeping the water hot, for example.

I have to be honest and am ever so slightly concerned with the total cost. For info, we live in Gloucestershire.

Whilst I have been very happy with the BW it has always been difficult getting engineers to service / repair it. Words like "won't go near BW" etc leaves me with going direct to BW for services / fixes.

Thanks cloud_dog

Hi...can't see from here;) but I'll assume that a HW cylinder with immersion heater as well as the cold water storage cistern and F&E tanks were all removed when the Highflow was installed...these would have to been reinstated if you went with an open vented and the switch back could also impact on your shower set-up. If you have more than one bathroom/shower room a combi would struggle to supply satisfactory simultaneous drawoffs of DHW. If you have good mains pressure with >1 bathroom, an unvented cylinder is one way to go but would not be cheap. The Vaillant 800 series and Viessmann 200 series are excellent if you choose the combi route.

HTH

Canucklehead

cloud_dog

ok, ummm, just to clarify, our house is of the newer type, i.e. 12 years old, has never had ye olde' style emersion heater only the big WB upstairs in the airing cupboard.

Actually its well placed, or the house is well designed from the heating / HW perspective, i.e. its next to the bathroom, only a couple of metres from the en-suite, and the kitchen is directly beneath it.

Anyway......... ok, based on replacing like-for-like which would you choose???

Many thanks cloud_dog