Best Budget Combi Boiler?

geoffgeoff

Apologies if this is a regular question here. I have tried to research on this and other forums, but I'm still left scratching my head.

My plumber has just told me that my bolier is on its way. He's 'patched it up' for me but the heat exchanger is banging and clattering which I understand is a sure sign it's on its last legs.

Anyway, the long and short is, I need a replacement boiler and I have a very tight budget. I know I will no doubt get replies telling me it's false economy and I should think long term but ... I simply can not raise the capital for a top end boiler.

The property is a large 2 bed flat with 7 rads and 2 bathrooms.

The models which have already been recomended to me are:
Sime Ecomfort Plus 30HE
Biasi Riva Compact 28HE

So which budget boiler would you recommend and which should I avoid?

Thanks in advance!

Pincher

So you want a 30kW combi.

Sime is SEDBUK A, £581 inc VAT
Biasi is SEDBUK B, £479.57 inc VAT

http://www.plumbnation.co.uk/site/glow-worm-betacom-30-combi-boiler-natural-gas/

Glow worm Betacom C 30 Combi Boiler
SEDBUK B £549.22 inc VAT


http://www.plumbnation.co.uk/site/glow-worm-flexicom-30cx-combi-boiler-pack--inc-boiler--flue---clock-/

Glow worm Flexicom 30CX Combi Boiler
SEDBUK A, £679.14 inc VAT, boiler only.
£749.96 inc VAT gets you the CX30 boiler, flue and clock.


So the difference is about £100 between a good brand and your budget brand. Don't forget the flue, which you will have to get any way. I like Potterton.

geoffgeoff

Pincher wrote: »

So you want a 30kW combi.

Sime is SEDBUK A, £581 inc VAT
Biasi is SEDBUK B, £479.57 inc VAT

http://www.plumbnation.co.uk/site/glow-worm-betacom-30-combi-boiler-natural-gas/

Glow worm Betacom C 30 Combi Boiler
SEDBUK B £549.22 inc VAT


http://www.plumbnation.co.uk/site/glow-worm-flexicom-30cx-combi-boiler-pack--inc-boiler--flue---clock-/

Glow worm Flexicom 30CX Combi Boiler
SEDBUK A, £679.14 inc VAT, boiler only.
£749.96 inc VAT gets you the CX30 boiler, flue and clock.


So the difference is about £100 between a good brand and your budget brand. Don't forget the flue, which you will have to get any way. I like Potterton.

Hi Pincher

Thanks for the reply. I've looked at the Potterton as they have been recommended to me before and seem to be a popular choice along with Vaillant. Having said that I really do need to keep the budget as low as possible as money is so tight so I really could do with some opinions on what the best budget combis are.

Would you therefore opt for a Glow Worm over the other 2?

Oh yeah... and I completely missed that the Biasi was a band B - am I right in thinking that all boilers must be band A now or have I misread/misunderstood something!?

Pincher

geoffgeoff wrote: »

Would you therefore opt for a Glow Worm over the other 2?

I prefer the simpler Potterton Promax range, despite it being a lesser brand than Glow worm. Can't say for other brands.

If you had the budget, the Glow worm wireless Climapro 2 RF controller is to die for though. You can set seven time periods per day, each with its own temperature! That's the problem with Glow worm, too much fancy stuff, just more things to fail.

geoffgeoff wrote: »

Oh yeah... and I completely missed that the Biasi was a band B - am I right in thinking that all boilers must be band A now or have I misread/misunderstood something!?

New domestic boilers must be condensing, but Band B is OK.

Band A was to qualify for the Boiler Scrappage scheme, which is over now.

geoffgeoff

Thanks for the advice! I have to say I am tempted to buy it on my Credit Card and go for a slightly 'bigger' brand but all I could fork out £££s and it may still develop a fault the day after the warranty runs out.

Thanks for pointing me in the direction of Plub Nation - they seem pretty reasonably priced.

I have to say though this Biasi boiler at ScrewFix is currently heading the leader board on price alone - £479.57 inc VAT. Flue kit is £29.40 and I think it has a built in clock!?

Although this Baxi 105HE Combi Boiler from PlumbNation, complete with flue and clock, at £682.64 inc VAT has caught my eye too as I'm lead to believe that parts are pretty cheap should it ever need any.

And then there's the Potterton Promax 28HE Plus pack again with flue and clock at £742.31 inc VAT

Arghhhh! Decisions decisions. I know I'll end up picking a blumin' lemon!

geoffgeoff

geoffgeoff wrote: »

Thanks for the advice! I have to say I am tempted to buy it on my Credit Card and go for a slightly 'bigger' brand but all I could fork out £££s and it may still develop a fault the day after the warranty runs out.

Thanks for pointing me in the direction of Plub Nation - they seem pretty reasonably priced.

I have to say though this Biasi boiler at ScrewFix is currently heading the leader board on price alone - £479.57 inc VAT. Flue kit is £29.40 and I think it has a built in clock!?

Although this Baxi 105HE Combi Boiler from PlumbNation, complete with flue and clock, at £682.64 inc VAT has caught my eye too as I'm lead to believe that parts are pretty cheap should it ever need any.

And then there's the Potterton Promax 28HE Plus pack again with flue and clock at £742.31 inc VAT

Arghhhh! Decisions decisions. I know I'll end up picking a blumin' lemon!

Best add this one to the list now too!
Main 30 Eco Combi Boiler/Flue/Clock
£635.00

Think this has just topped the list. Seems to have a very good reputation for a budget boiler on the forums I've being reading.

Anyone got one of these boilers? Good/Bad??

gas4you

Band B boilers have been illegal to fit since October 1st 2010.

Have a look at the cheap Ariston A rated boilers.

geoffgeoff

gas4you wrote: »

Band B boilers have been illegal to fit since October 1st 2010.

Have a look at the cheap Ariston A rated boilers.

I thought I'd read that somewhere!

How come they are still on sale?

gas4you

That is a good question and I don't know the answer, but there will always be someone who will fit a cheap boiler and not register it.

When Band A and Band B were made compulsory, there was a 6 month 'grace' period to let manufacturers get rid of stock, but I am not aware of anything like this, this time.

Pincher

gas4you wrote: »

Band B boilers have been illegal to fit since October 1st 2010.

Have a look at the cheap Ariston A rated boilers.

Sorry.

http://www.plumbnation.co.uk/blog/2010/10/band-b-boiler-installations-banned-from-1st-october-2010/

You just have to blink.

geoffgeoff

Pincher wrote: »

Sorry.

http://www.plumbnation.co.uk/blog/2010/10/band-b-boiler-installations-banned-from-1st-october-2010/

You just have to blink.

No worries, I only stumbled across it in a blog post recently on a plumbing site. I couldn't get my head around it, as so many people are still selling band b boilers, so thought I must have misread it.