2nd fix Central Heating

typeractive

Hi everyone

I’m after some advice – as always! I’m looking to get quotes for the second fix stages of my central heating system. I’ve had the 1st fix copper piping in for some time now (almost a year). It has been tested, with no leaks found. I’ve just had the domestic pipework hooked up to a temporary mains water in (as this will need to be changed when the boiler gets installed). So far so good for everything. To say I’ve been a bit cautious about continuing with the 1st fix guy is one thing – we had a bit of a disagreement the other day. It’s a difficult position as he’s a friend of the family, but with the costs of such work I need to shop around for the best value and make sure I’m getting good stuff.

Here's a list of the radiators the pipework is initially setup for:



I was going to stick one in the garage also - just near the boiler and cold water feed, as the cold water froze last year, so I though taking the chill off might help prevent it

The rads were originally going to be henrads. All valves will be needed.

The boiler was going to be a Remeha Avanta HE 39C, with the flue kit, room thermostat and the wireless remote control (it's going to be stored in the garage so I don't want to turn it on and off in the cold in the garage) Out of curiosity do boilers have ethernet points these days?.

So I’m wondering how much this should all cost to buy and labour. What should I be looking to pay price wise for labour and how long do we think it would take someone to setup and sign off? Are there alternative brands that are well recommended though better for price? These rads come with a 10 year guarantee which I quite like. Would anyone recommend anything else? Ive read about these magna clean gadgets – they worthwhile? I like gizmos and gadgets.

Thanks everyone!

gas4you

Forget about the 10 year warranty on any make of rads. It is not worth the paper it is written on.

If you get any problems the company will get a water sample and always blame the water quality or the installer for their failed product. Grrrrrr!

Forget the rad in the garage, instead make sure you have a frost stat linked in parallel with a pipe stat.

Have you really got the flow and pressure to make the most out of this 39C? you will need around 18 l/min to get your monies worth.

As for costs, it is really hard to estimate without seeing your property, but a good installer would probably charge between £1000 and £1500 labour only.

As you like gizmos and gadgets look at fitting weather compensation along with the Broag open therm room stat/programmer.

typeractive

gas4you wrote: »

Forget about the 10 year warranty on any make of rads. It is not worth the paper it is written on.

If you get any problems the company will get a water sample and always blame the water quality or the installer for their failed product. Grrrrrr!

Just like anything else in the world I guess then?

Forget the rad in the garage, instead make sure you have a frost stat linked in parallel with a pipe stat.

Right, now I think this was mentioend at some point. Is this where the boiler connects to the pipe and when the temp drops it helps defrost it? The pipe that froze was the blue alkathene (sp?) so the frsot thing wouldn't work back to that. Hence why I thought a little rad just next to it, when it gets cold, have it ticking over?

Have you really got the flow and pressure to make the most out of this 39C? you will need around 18 l/min to get your monies worth.

Right - well I don't know. One thing I can tell you is, that the old lead piping has gone, and I have the previously mentioned brand new alkathene pipe in. It's MUCH better than what it was previously, and not far from the mains supply in the back lane - perhaps 3m? The boiler will be placed directly above it in the garage. Does that at all help? I'm open to suggestion of other boilers etc too.

As for costs, it is really hard to estimate without seeing your property, but a good installer would probably charge between £1000 and £1500 labour only.

Thank you. That does actually help a little bit. I know it can vary, but anything as a guide is nice. I'm going to get a few quotes.

As you like gizmos and gadgets look at fitting weather compensation along with the Broag open therm room stat/programmer.

Right - I'm going to have to google these. Is the magnaclean thing still a good idea? It's all entirely brand new copper piping throughout the whole house (cost me the earth last summer!)

Thanks!:beer:

gas4you

You need to actually test/measure the flow and pressure first, or get one of those quoting to do it. They should have a flow meter/weir gauge on their van.

A magnaclean or similar is always a good investment as is some form of scale inhibitor on the boiler cold supply if you live in a hard water area.

Have a list of questions for those quoting to answer. I always tell my prospective customers to prepare a list of any questions before I arrive.

typeractive

Thanks gas4u.

Can I ask your general opinion on the boiler (Rememha Avanta 39c) and the radiators (henrads). Another good source recommended stelrad softline and veissman. I've heard of the veissmans before, though I wouldn't know the specific model to be looking at.

I wish the good people on here that always reply and help me with good advice lived in the North East. I'm going to make a post on the mybuilder site and see what information I can get.

Still open to suggestions on brands of rads etc / where to buy.

Oh - and what pressure do I need my water and gas supplies to be making to be sufficient? Any ideas?

Thanks!
:j

gas4you

Nothing wrong with the 39c. I have fitted loads of Avantas, but not that one and they have been no more trouble than any others.

I know nothing about Henrads as I always use Stelrad Compacts.

typeractive

gas4you wrote: »

Nothing wrong with the 39c. I have fitted loads of Avantas, but not that one and they have been no more trouble than any others.

I know nothing about Henrads as I always use Stelrad Compacts.

Thanks gas4you.

I'm at the start of getting quotes. One guy has stated over £2300 labour only without looking at the job yet.

Do you know which viessman boiler would be the equivalent of the Remeha?

:j

Canucklehead

typeractive wrote: »

Thanks gas4you.

I'm at the start of getting quotes. One guy has stated over £2300 labour only without looking at the job yet.

Do you know which viessman boiler would be the equivalent of the Remeha?

:j

.


Hi. Viessmann Vitodens 100 W 35 kW combi

Canucklehead

typeractive

Hey canuckle!

Thanks

Perhaps yourself an gas4you could shed some light on what I should do if the water / gas supply is not strong enough for the Remeha / Veissman as we discussed earlier in this thread. What would happen then?

My en-suite bathroom is literally the furthest point away from the boiler location, so I'm expecting I'll have to run the tap / shower for a while before I get any heat! :eek:

Keep the advice and tips coming people. This is a big investment for me and I want to get it right for the best price - gulp!

heating-eng

I would get a Worcester Bosch or vaillant if it was my house.
£1500 should be plenty for labour cost.

typeractive

Hi all,

Little update - I'm in the middle of getting quotes from lots of different heating engineers. Hearing lots of different advice / tips etc.

One guy recommends Worcester only. Awaiting quote from him yet. He was quite blas! about the whole thing really. Got the impression he won't get in touch with a quote or stick in a silly offer just in case he got lucky for the work.

Another guy likes my idea of the Remeha or the Viessman, and seem genuinely interested in the work and somewhat excited. Talking about magna cleans, a lime cleaner thing (for around £30), and even the weather compensation. I think he recommended honeywell thermostats?

Another guy for the Viessman, who suggested Purmo radiators, which I've never heard of? Also some other info, which I can't fully remember as I've heard so much different stuff in such a short space of time! I'll have to await the quotes to see what comes in.

Got another guy coming in the morning to quote, so we shall see.

:j