What boiler???

paddypaws101

Ok, with ref to my previous thread I have decided to replace my 15 year old combi boiler with a new condensing version. I had decided on a vaillant 824 ecotec plus as I have always found the brand reliable and it is Which rated. HOWEVER, have just spoken to plumber and he says although he always used to recomend vaillant, he is now using a brand called Main. He says it is band B, cheaper to buy and much easier/cheaper to fix if things go wrong.
I am so confused! Someone please shed light on this for me!

ormus

almost every plumber i know recommends worcester/bosch or vaillant.
some will only fit those two makes.

TomsMom

Ours was between a Worcester Bosch and a Vaillant too. We went for the Vaillant in the end (pretty sure it was the model you mention). The only reason we didn't go for the WB was the only service engineer round here is one of the biggest cowboys around (we know that from previous experience of him), don't know how he's managed to get Gas Safe registered .

Chap who came to fix ours wanted us to get some cheapy from Staks for a couple of hundred quid, it rang alarm bells for us, but he did say the Vaillant was a lovely boiler. He wasn't around when we needed the timer fixing at a later date and the new GSR chap said he prefers WB as they have a two year warranty and the Vaillant only has one year. Other than that he says they're as good as each other.

EliteHeat

paddypaws101 wrote: »

Ok, with ref to my previous thread I have decided to replace my 15 year old combi boiler with a new condensing version. I had decided on a vaillant 824 ecotec plus as I have always found the brand reliable and it is Which rated. HOWEVER, have just spoken to plumber and he says although he always used to recomend vaillant, he is now using a brand called Main. He says it is band B, cheaper to buy and much easier/cheaper to fix if things go wrong.
I am so confused! Someone please shed light on this for me!

Main is the contract leg of Baxi / Potterton. Their 'B' rated 24 kW combi is actually the Baxi 80e and the Potterton Performa.

The boiler itself is OK, older technology but works perfectly well. I have fitted many of them for jobs where cost is the major consideration.

In my experience there are no major problems with the boiler and have only had a few failing PCBs and the odd broken condensate trap.

Main also make 'A' rated boilers which cost a few quid more, but are also decent mid-range machines.

Personally, I would go for the Vaillant if money is not a problem. But don't be put off by the fact that you have never heard of Main! I would expect the price difference to be about £400 - so quite a big difference.

paddypaws101

Thanks so much for your advice! Plumber deals with a lot of land lord properties so, as you say, money is an issue. But this boiler is for my own house so I think I will stick with vaillant!

bockster

FWIW, my ecotec plus 837 has been faultless since new (16m) very pleased. not that i would expect it to go wrong in that time:rolleyes: