New Boiler Advice - Vaillant or Potterton?

ibb7

I need a replacement boiler, but I have no idea on what I should be looking for.

The engineer has recommended 2 boilers:

Vaillant Ecotec 618
Potterton Promax 18

From what I have read Vaillant are a better manufacturer. But Does anyone else have any advice on which one to go for?

Thanks.

muskoka

I've had a Valliant boiler fitted in July this year. I really screwed up (my fault entirely), :embarassehad to call Valliant out & they came straight out & sorted my problem at no charge! I have to say I was very impressed, both with Valliant & the guys on here who helped & advised me with my err, screw up!

OH, and Valliant are giving free 5 yr warranty on some? of their new boilers fitted up to Dec I've since found out. Check out their website - details on there - I believe

My gas engineer charged me £180 for the 5 yr warranty - I've since found out Valliant only charged him £118 - I'm now battling to get the difference back from him...but thats another story

ibb7

Thanks for your input.

gas4you

Avoid the Promax

Big_Hairy_Spider

Valiant. We had ours fitted back in 2005, and have only ever needed the annual service. Two of my family have had similar fitted. Between us we've had to call out an engineer twice, both for the same problem. The spindles on the thermostat dials are very flimsly and break easily. In both cases the engineer did not charge us even though we had no additional cover. The only drawback with these condensing boilers is that the external condensing pipe freezes up very easily so it will either need lagging or boxed in.

cbrpaul

Big_Hairy_Spider wrote: »

. The only drawback with these condensing boilers is that the external condensing pipe freezes up very easily so it will either need lagging or boxed in.

not if the job has been done properly !!!

I had a Worcester boiler installed 2 months ago, the standard condensate pipe connection on the boiler is 22mm ,

however , my engineer ran the 22mm for 6" from the boiler then into an adaptor taking the condensate pipe upto 40mm then another 6" internally, then out through an external wall , down 12" straight into the drain !!

He said if that freezes he will give me all my boiler install costs back :rotfl:

ps he also told me that he drilled the 45mm hole throught he wall at a slight downward angle , so no condensate would sit in the horizontal pipe

I must say i he was oneof the highest quotes i had for the job , but it seemsi got what i paid for !! he even came back 4 weeks later to check the " Magna clean " filter !!

ormus

Big_Hairy_Spider wrote: »

Valiant. We had ours fitted back in 2005, and have only ever needed the annual service. Two of my family have had similar fitted. Between us we've had to call out an engineer twice, both for the same problem. The spindles on the thermostat dials are very flimsly and break easily. In both cases the engineer did not charge us even though we had no additional cover. The only drawback with these condensing boilers is that the external condensing pipe freezes up very easily so it will either need lagging or boxed in.

ive had my vaillant for some 5yrs now.
the condensate pipe is 22mm external into a hopper/drainpipe.
west facing gable end. no insulation either.

no trouble whatsoever.

grizzly1911

Valliant.

Yes poorly installed condesation pipes will freeze and trip your boiler.

Make sure there is maximum possible fall on the pipe, with the least possible exposed. A short shallow fall, anywhere outside can give problems - the lower it is the longer it will take to become apparent thats all.

ormus

i would certainly insulate the pipe if it was on a north facing wall and i lived in inverness.

VestanPance

I agree with others suggesting the Valliant.

I had one installed 18 months ago and it's been fine so far. It's also seems to be extremely economical as my bills have been low since it was installed even through the horrific winter last year.

SShar

grizzly1911 wrote: »

Valliant.

Yes poorly installed condesation pipes will freeze and trip your boiler.

Make sure there is maximum possible fall on the pipe, with the least possible exposed. A short shallow fall, anywhere outside can give problems - the lower it is the longer it will take to become apparent thats all.

Hi Ibb7,

I agree with grizzly on both accounts