Buying a new boiler - Couple of questions.

Bestthingsinlifearefree

Hi,

Just a couple of questions re boilers: Our 20 year old Baxi boiler conked out pre-christmas. The heat exchanger was leaking and water was dripping out the bottom of the boiler (plus the cylinder seems to have a small leak). British Gas drained the system.

Since then I have had 4 quotes / companies round (including British Gas).

We have decided to go for a Combi boiler (to clear space in the airing cupboard & because the cylinder needs replacing any way).

There are 2 independents we are happy with and the whole job has come in just over £3000 (inclu new boiler / flue/ pipe work/ magna clean filter / power flush etc). Both independants have good reviews on trust a trader sites.

The only questions I have is one has recommeneded a Vaillant Eco Tec + 831 which has good reviews "best buy" recommendation on the Which website (so we are happy with that).

The other strongly recommended a Viessmann Vitodens 100W, which seems less well known and is not reviewed on Which.....but could still be a good boiler.

1) Does any one have a view on either boiler, particuarly Viessman and if it is less popular or well known in the Uk. Will it be harder to fix or is there a reason why it is less well known?

2) We are caught between putting the Combi either in the kitchen (where the exisiting boiler is) or in the airing cupboard where the cylinder currently is (the airing cupboard is inside the 3rd bedroom). Any thoughts of combi boiler being in the kitchen versus airing cupboad?

3) Is there any "danger" in having a combi boiler in a cupboard within a 3rd bedroom (e.g fumes or anything else)

Both engineers (after survey) seemes happy to install it in either the
airing cupboard or the kitchen.

Any thoughts / advice much appreciated.

unclebulgaria

Horses for courses as far as any manufacturer goes. I dont like Biasi, Ravenheat, Ferroli but someone else might.
Viessmann are pretty new on the UK market and I've fitted about a dozen, I haven't had any comebacks yet and you may get a 5 year warranty. Only thing is I think the hydraulic unit is plastic rather than brass as in many others though I cant be sure of this. Vaillant are a good boiler but I've had some problems in the past with their techline sounding like they cba.
Which can be a bit misleading sometimes and I dont know if they have feedback over a long period of time rather than weeks.
Best thing you could do, in my opinion, is ask around friends and family and see what experiences they have?
Make sure your prospective engineers have checked your water pressure/flow at standing and working. Wrong pressures will ruin your experience of your new boiler and probably cause you problems.
And whilst we're on the subject make sure they have done their math with regard to your gas supply to the boiler. Miles of 22mm aint good enough as it may need upgrading to 28mm.

Canucklehead

Bestthingsinlifearefree wrote: »

Hi,

Just a couple of questions re boilers: Our 20 year old Baxi boiler conked out pre-christmas. The heat exchanger was leaking and water was dripping out the bottom of the boiler (plus the cylinder seems to have a small leak). British Gas drained the system.

Since then I have had 4 quotes / companies round (including British Gas).

We have decided to go for a Combi boiler (to clear space in the airing cupboard & because the cylinder needs replacing any way).

There are 2 independents we are happy with and the whole job has come in just over £3000 (inclu new boiler / flue/ pipe work/ magna clean filter / power flush etc). Both independants have good reviews on trust a trader sites.

The only questions I have is one has recommeneded a Vaillant Eco Tec + 831 which has good reviews "best buy" recommendation on the Which website (so we are happy with that).

The other strongly recommended a Viessmann Vitodens 100W, which seems less well known and is not reviewed on Which.....but could still be a good boiler.

1) Does any one have a view on either boiler, particuarly Viessman and if it is less popular or well known in the Uk. Will it be harder to fix or is there a reason why it is less well known?

2) We are caught between putting the Combi either in the kitchen (where the exisiting boiler is) or in the airing cupboard where the cylinder currently is (the airing cupboard is inside the 3rd bedroom). Any thoughts of combi boiler being in the kitchen versus airing cupboad?

3) Is there any "danger" in having a combi boiler in a cupboard within a 3rd bedroom (e.g fumes or anything else)

Both engineers (after survey) seemes happy to install it in either the
airing cupboard or the kitchen.

Any thoughts / advice much appreciated.

Hi:
1. my OH has been fitting Viessmann products for 4+ years (long history in Germany). He also installs Vaillant. Both companies produce excellent products. I assume the RGIs have training/experience with the aforementioned.

2. Most clients prefer kitchen installation.

3. Not dangerous but whoever sleeps in the bedroom might be disturbed by variable noise from boiler operation.

Btw... I don't put much stock in Which's boiler reviews.:D

HTH

Canucklehead

Canucklehead

Canucklehead

unclebulgaria wrote: »

Viessmann are pretty new on the UK market and I've fitted about a dozen, I haven't had any comebacks yet and you may get a 5 year warranty. Only thing is I think the hydraulic unit is plastic rather than brass as in many others though I cant be sure of this.

Hi: interesting... you've installed a dozen Viessmanns and can't be sure about the hydroblock? Btw... 5 year warranty is standard on the 100 series, 3 years on the 200 series (5 years if the installer has been Viessmann trained).

Canucklehead

[Deleted User]

Bosch also very good.

Would not put combi in a bedroom as the noise would drive you nuts. Kitchen best.

In out last house the combi was in the loft, equally annoying noise. Especially when they leak....

unclebulgaria

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi: interesting... you've installed a dozen Viessmanns and can't be sure about the hydroblock? Btw... 5 year warranty is standard on the 100 series, 3 years on the 200 series (5 years if the installer has been Viessmann trained).

Canucklehead

It maybe 5 years now on the 100 but it wasn't unless you had attended the training courses that Viessmann setup and were listed on their installer program, which by the way were just basic info on their range and not a detailed training course as it only lasted one day.
I fitted more Vitodens 100 WB1B conventional boilers than the 100 combi range of which I only fitted two (all the conventional fitted in terrace houses with poor water supply and landlords not wanting to upgrade gas pipes, and its been nearly two years since I fitted one. They WERE getting complaints about their plastic hydraulic block after one of the other major manufacturers started dropping big hints they were liable to cracking and were inferior to a brass blocks. They were made in one piece plastic to facilitate a quick change in the event of a problem and the whole block could be taken out.
Would you like the addresses?

And everyone can pull info from the net! Smart !!!!!

p.s. I should have said "Only thing is I think the hydraulic unit is STILL plastic rather than brass as in many others though I cant be sure of this"

Canucklehead

Hi: when folks ask for advice about a product or service on MSE, I try to provide relevant and up-to-date information in areas in which I have experience.

Btw..that would be 'Smart Alice'.;)

O.P. Good advice also available from GSR and the HHIC. The OP on
this thread was recently cowboyed.

Knowledge is power.

Canucklehead

unclebulgaria

I'll remember to tip my cap next time! Pardon me.

Bestthingsinlifearefree

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback. I phoned the engineer today and asked him for his views on having the combi in a cupboard in the bedroom from a noise perspective.

He said that the Vaillant (which we have decided to get) is sound proofed and the noise level would not disturb. i.e it is designed to be able to go into a bedroom if need be.

Does that sound right?

Also I have checked the gas safety register and he is on there so that is reassuring.

Any more thoughts on the potential noise issue of a Vaillant boiler if in a cupboard inside a bedroom?


Best

Cardew

unclebulgaria wrote: »

I'll remember to tip my cap next time! Pardon me.

That would be an excellent idea and I am sure he will offer you further good advice in the future - if you read his posts!

unclebulgaria

Cardew wrote: »

That would be an excellent idea and I am sure he will offer you further good advice in the future - if you read his posts!

Her posts!