Recommend a boiler for 1930's 3 bed semi please

unclebulgaria

Personally I'd steer clear of Glowworm, they are cheap to buy but expensive to fix when they fail. Vaillant are a good boiler but IMO their after sales leaves a bit to be desired. Worcester are the dogs bits IMO, sometimes a little awkward to work on but good aftersales. Remeha have their new Avanta models out now, simpler to operate and I think 5 years warranty and a good aftersales. Potterton Gold are a very good budget boiler and good aftersales.
There are lots of different opinions on any boiler that is mentioned but a good place to start is to ask around friends and family for their experiences.
As already stated make sure your water pressure/flow are tested at standing pressure and when operating a tap elsewhere in the property. If you have a flow rate of 18 ltrs per min you will probably get 14 ish from your hot water tap but most combi's of average size can cope with between 11 and 13 ltrs per min depending on manufacturer, size and pipe restrictions.
Price wise, how long is a piece of string?
Come back with at least 3 quotes and give everyone a chance to take a look?

charlotte99

Just had a condensing boiler (vaillant) installed in my 3 bed semi....only been in 4 weeks but so far no issues with pressure at any time of day, it's much quieter and it's made a huge difference to the shower which now beats down on my head at a rate of knots !. I've also got a free cupboard which has given me additional storage upstairs and a bit more room in the loft. Cost including boiler and labour as £2000, I live near London. The mains water has never been off in all the years I've been here so don't see that as a risk and I've always had a yearly maintenance agreement in place for any boiler I've had. Just make sure you use a Gas Safe engineer and ensure they complete any documentation that comes with boiler which should include their Gas Safe number.

macman

Any boiler is only as good as the installer. I too rate WB, but my mother has had trouble with hers (4 years old), and all the issues seemingly relate to install issues.

Weary_soul

unclebulgaria wrote: »

As already stated make sure your water pressure/flow are tested at standing pressure and when operating a tap elsewhere in the property. If you have a flow rate of 18 ltrs per min you will probably get 14 ish from your hot water tap but most combi's of average size can cope with between 11 and 13 ltrs per min depending on manufacturer, size and pipe restrictions.
Price wise, how long is a piece of string?
Come back with at least 3 quotes and give everyone a chance to take a look?

Stupid question, but I'm totally new to all this and need to a combi to replace my mothers old multi point gas water heater, and I have to idea how you go about checking what the water pressure is. How do I go about this exactly?

macman

Both the flow rate and the pressure should be checked by the RGI's you ask to quote.
But you can easily check the flow rate yourself simply by using a bucket and a watch.

Weary_soul

Now here we go. What does RGI stand for? *is ignorant*

But you can easily check the flow rate yourself simply by using a bucket and a watch.

What, so you time how long it takes to fill the bucket or something? If so doesn't that depend on the size?

alleycat`

You want a flow rate at something like 18 litres per minute for a combi (based on uncle bulgarias reply).

The size of the bucket is only relevant in terms of the time and size of the volume of water you have put into it.

If the bucket is 9 litres and it is filled in 30 seconds it is a flow rate of 18 litres per minute.

You don't need a massive bucket to work out how fast the flow rate is :-)

Edit: RGI is Registered Gas Installer (look for the gas safe logo and their associated member number).

Weary_soul

Thanks for that.

So I've asked for a quote from various building firms to turn an upstairs bedroom into a bathroom, and so (and I do realise it sound like a stupid question) but do such firms have a registered gas fitter under there wing, or are you expected to source that separately?

They all seem so confident and yet they haven't mentioned that much of that side of things.

I'm so new to this you see. Rented all my life and now I've inherited my Mums rough old house. It has loads that needs doing to it (so much so I was going to sell it at first) but considering rents are rising and the world seems to be going to hell in a hand basket I thought I'd have a brave stab at keeping it.

macman

Larger builders who offer plumbing services may do, if not they sub-contract to RGI's.

unclebulgaria

Sorry only just got in from fleecing my customers! I'm joking!!!

RGI is registered Gas Installer as said already above.
Find a vessel that you know the volume of and time how long it takes to fill when the tap is fully open, then do the same with a large'ish tap fully open as well as the one you're using and you should get some idea. Or buy a flow cup, about £40 if I remember correctly maybe less at B&Q, and test it like a pro. lol
Giving a price on an installation from here is too hit and miss. Lots of info regarding you're quotes and the very capable bunch of RGI's on here will give you their best advice and then have a disagreement about it lol. It makes good reading.
Seriously though, as much info as possible and we will do our best to help out with advice and whether you're being ripped off or you have a good deal, and its all free ta boot!