'Combi boilers are just for flats'? Update: Rate my quote!

bengasman

PeteW wrote: »

..."We normally only recommend a combination boiler for flats as they are generally designed for small properties with minimal hot water demand"...

That may have been true 20 years ago, but certainly not any more today; the chap has clearly not moved with the times.
I have clients with 3 and 4 storey houses where the combi heats the whole house and supplies both bathrooms with all the hot water they need.
Only houses with 3 bathrooms likely to be used simultaneously, can not be supplied by one combi.
Might be worth bearing in mind that you are unlikely to get a lot of good rgi's to come around and for free quotes. Only the ones that are horrendously expensive or desperate for work will do that.

warehouse

Pete, regarding the water pressure, is it the whole street/area or just you? A friend of mine had ridiculously low water pressure, but mine, (10 houses away), was very good. He got the water people around and they replaced the pipes outside and leading up to the property for free. Problem solved.

bengasman

double post

PeteW

Well we've had a few more guys round to quote and they all said we wouldn't be able to have a combi because of our water pressure.

The quotes have varied hugely (from £2185 to £6800!), so here's the cheapest one. Would anybody with a bit of experience of ths mind taking a look and seeing if this looks reasonable?

Cheers:

Canucklehead

PeteW wrote: »

Well we've had a few more guys round to quote and they all said we wouldn't be able to have a combi because of our water pressure.

The quotes have varied hugely (from £2185 to £6800!), so here's the cheapest one. Would anybody with a bit of experience of ths mind taking a look and seeing if this looks reasonable?

Cheers:

Hi: according to the title this is an estimate not a quote?

Canucklehead

Pincher

Price wise, normal for London.


http://www.plumbnation.co.uk/site/worcester-greenstar-18ri-regular-boiler-natural-gas/

Check the home page, Five year warranty promotion for boilers commissioned and registered by 31st December. If your engineer is manufacturer certified, then they can offer 5 years even when the promotion ends. If so, they should be good.

Looks like he is sizing the boiler small to encourage condensation.

The magnetic filter is ugly, so you don't want it showing, and yet you want to have easy access for cleaning.

Condensate pipe run INTERNALLY to the drain is preferrable.

PeteW

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi: according to the title this is an estimate not a quote?

Yes that is true. I did originally ask him for a 'quote' rather than an estimate. That's a bit worrying really as I don't want costs spiralling out of control.

PeteW

Here's the second-cheapest quote we received. It's almost £500 more, but it does include a new hot water cylinder as he thinks our needs replacing. Also of note is that this guy recommends a system boiler rather than a regular one.

"Schedule of works

• Remove existing wall hung boiler and dispose.
• Remove existing hot water cylinder, expansion tank and dispose
• Install new boiler
• Install new hot water cylinder.
• Convert system to suit new installation
• Install Condense into outside drain
• Install central heating control pack
• Flush the system until the system is free of debris and existing corrosion this involves adding a cleaning agent to
• clean out the existing radiators and pipe work; a machine may be used to remove stubborn debris.
• Provide necessary electrical supply to proposed boiler and controls.
• Remove all rubbish from site
• Treat and commission system as per manufactures instructions as per the Bench mark initiative.
• Provide gas Safe certificate for your new instalation

Building Works
N/A

Supply and Install:

• Sentinel X100 Inhibitor 1 Ltr
• Sentinel X300 Universal Cleaner 1 Litre
• Worcester Greenstar 30CDI System Boiler Natural Gas
• Flue & Terminal 350-570mm 7716191082
• ACL Drayton Central Heating Twin Zone 86
• Gledhill EnviroFoam Indirect Stainless Vented Foam Lagged Hot Water Cylinder 1050mm x 450mm 140 Litres SE42X18IND

Lump Sum Price £ 2,635.20 Inc of vat

Optional extras

Magnetic Filter is a high efficiency, full flow magnetic filter designed to tackle all central heating systems removing virtually 100% of suspended black iron oxide supplied and fitted £ 115.18 Inc of Vat

Thermostatic radiator valves supplied and fitted £30 Inc of Vat"

Any thoughts if this looks reasonable? I would certainly prefer a fixed price quote rather than an estimate, but it is quite a bit more.

bengasman

PeteW wrote: »

1. it is an estimate, not a quote and therefore meaningless.
2. On top of that, anyone itemising draining, isolating gas and isolating electricity, seems to be desperately trying to justify the cost.

As always, choosing random people for a quote is not the best way to go about.
People that are willing to come over free of charge in the vague hopes of getting the job are either desperate for work, or convinced they are very persuasive and will be able to talk you into signing. Needless to say that neither is a good option.

Ask friends, neighbours colleagues for recommendations of local companies.

PeteW

bengasman wrote: »

As always, choosing random people for a quote is not the best way to go about.

Obviously they're not random - they are the best-rated local fitters on checkatrade.com which are based on the recommendations of dozens of people rather than one friend/colleague.