Advice on buying a new boiler please.....

Dally53

I'm looking to change my boiler as it is roughly 20-30 years old. I'm told it will need to be changed to a combi boiler, I've got a quote for a Worcester Greenstar 28i Junior. The quote includes:

• Pipe Upgrade
• Supply and fit wireless room thermostat and programmer
• Fit new TR V's and lock shields to existing radiators
• Fit condensate to main drain
• Convert existing heating system
• Power flush system throughly with Sentinel x400
• Earth bond boiler
• Add Inhibitor Sentinel x100
• Six year manufacture warranty on boiler and one year labour warranty on all works carried out

Quote is £2,365.80 + VAT.

Is this a reasonable quote for the work that needs doing, if not can anyone recommend what price we should be looking at?!

Thank you.......

Cardew

Why will it need to be changed to a combi?

Dally53

Thats what we've been told, apparently more economical for our house.

GlynD

You may not want a combi. You may be disappointed by the slow rate of hot water from it for a start. It would be infinitely cheaper, maybe by as much as 50% to stick to the non-combi option. I went through this too. I need to warn you as well that if your gas feed pipes are the wrong bore (from the meter) the gas board will have to fit the newer, larger bore of pipe which means the floorboards may have to come up. Sticking to the type you have may prove to be the best option but if you want a combi and you're happy with the flow promised then consider it. Combi boilers are good and efficient.

macman

Dally53 wrote: »

Thats what we've been told, apparently more economical for our house.

That is complete cobblers-which company said this?
It might be more suited to your lifestyle to have a combi, if you want hot water on demand and don't need to run 2 baths/showers at once, but it's not going to make much difference to the running costs. Otherwise it is much more likely that the installer sees more profit in fitting a combi in your particular property, or gets a better commission on combi's.
And why does the combi quote not apparently include the removal of the redundant hot water tank?
Get a couple of quotes from independent GSR RGI's, tell them your requirements, take their advice, but make your own decision about combi or conventional.

GlynD

Macman is talking sense Dally. He's been more blunt in saying what I was really rabbiting on about. Why does your fitter think you need a combi boiler? They're twice the price.

GlynD

Here's the details for the boiler you've been quoted for http://www.bhl.co.uk/product/WORCS_GREENSTAR_JUNIOR_28I_COND_COMBI_NG

And here's the details for the regular boiler http://www.bhl.co.uk/product/WORCS_GREENSTAR_24RI_HE_RSF_BOILER_NG

First thing you'll notice is that the regular boiler is around £60 cheaper. That's fair enough because it doesn't have the combi facility but think about all the extra costs involved in fitting the combi boiler and you'll reduce your fitting costs by around 50%. The output of both boilers is the same. What you lose by not having a combi is the luxury of not having to wait five minutes for your hot tank to heat so you can have a shower.

Dally53

Thank you for all your advice!!

We had no clue about any of what you've said, we have been told by a relative who works for a housing association that it is a legal requirement to have a combi boiler installed when you change from an old one - is this incorrect then?

More confused than ever now, pardon my ignorance but what are GSI RGI's?

Looks like we have some more ringing around to do....Thanks again

macman

Are you confusing combi boilers with condensing boilers? A condensing boiler is now a standard requirement for domestic installs, but a condensing boiler can be either a combi or a conventional one. You have been quoted for a condensing combi, but you still have the option of a condensing conventional boiler (which will allow you to retain your hot water tank).
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birkee

I don't think they are allowed by regulations to fit anything other than a condensing boiler now, and for that reason they are the only choice available.

Combi or conventional are an individual choice.
Have heard of people having to fit heaters in airing cupboards having gone the combi route, as they miss the airing cupboard facility, but a combi does give more water pressure for showers, as opposed to conventional boiler supplied showers, if cold water header tanks are low.

Good idea to talk to friends or neighbours who have both types to garner their experiences.

Pincher

A combi is good for one kitchen and one bathroom.

It simply cannot heat water quickly enough to keep two shower going simultaneoulsy in winter.

If you are happy for people to wait their turn, then you can have ten bathrooms all supplied from the one combi, but only one person is allowed to turn the hot water tap on at a time.