New boiler help!

siross

Hi all,

I've recently moved into my first home after scrimping and saving for 5years for the deposit! I couldn't be happier with it


I've now lived there since August and am comfortable with my budget enough tolook at using some spare savings I have for a couple of small improvements,mainly the bathroom and the boiler.


I've got a family friend to help with the bathroom installation and getting atrade discount on the suite so that's sorted.

I'm just completely clueless on the boiler situation.

I've had a heating engineer round (recommended by family friend plumber) andhe has quoted me £1600 for a full installation, clean of system and 5 year warranty(2 years with manufacturer, further 3 years with company installing.)

The boiler he has quoted for is the Baxi Main Eco 25kw. After a brief bit ofresearch, it doesn’t exactly come up glowing (pardon the pun) and even thoughit is cheap it might not necessarily be value for money!

From what I’ve read online there are 2 budget boilers which comerecommended:

· Worcester Greenstar Junior 28 (aluminium heat exchange)

· Vaillant Ecotec Pro 28 (stainless steel heatexchange)

We are in a 3 bedroom semi with 1 bathroom and 7 radiators in total. Theshower will be run straight from the boiler so water pressure is very important!

In basic terms, I want a boiler which is reliable and canhandle our needs easily.

Thanks,

Simon

Gorie

Hi Simon

I am no heating engineer or expert so take this with a pinch of salt but I had to have a boiler installed in a previous house (replacing a Worcester Bosch) and I spent ages researching and hunting. I eventually selected a valiant. They have a strong reputation with professionals and an equally strong reputation by word of mouth, reviews and anecdote.

My Valiant operated perfectly for four years until I moved out (and I imagine it is still going strong). I have an Alpha at present and again it works OK but still requires an engineer every two years.

I would get quotes from as many installers as you can and ask colleagues and friends for additional recommendations. Valiant may cost more upfront but having recently showered with a kettle of boiling water and a cold tap to mix money up front will give you piece of mind and potentially save on later repairs.

Best wishes and good luck.

PS you could also look at the post on here 'Which Combi' https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4295385

siross

Thanks for the reply .

Vaillant do seem to be the best recommended the only bad things I can find I assume are from heating engineers who don't fit them.

I've got another engineer coming tonight to quote and I've posted on ratedpeople and boilerguide

daveyjp

Having suffered a Baxi Main boiler in a holiday cottage earlier this year don't go anywhere near it. Hot water flow from the shower was no better than a dripping tap.

A 25/28kw boiler may not be powerful enough for the volume of hot water you need for a shower - check the detail of the boiler, it will give maximum hot water flow.

A minimum of 12 litres per minute is a good benchmark, but this needs to be checked against your mains water pressure.

You may find the next power level up (circa 30kw) doesn't cost much more than a 28kw version.

southcoastrgi

my recommendation the new exclusive has a 5 yrs warrentee, IMO you will be very lucky for the installation co to give you another 3 yrs after the manifacturers warrentee has ended, the older the boiler the more likely it is to go wrong.

siross

Another update guys,

Another heating engineer came round to have a look and quote. He went into much more detail in looking around and assessing things. The crux of the matter is that my water pressure is too low to properly run a combination boiler. It is currently running at 8 litres per minute which isn't good enough.

He advised me to ring United Utilities which I did and they are coming out next week to see what's wrong.

He gave me some quotes to mull over (assuming I get the pressure sorted obviously) and they are:

£2800 for a Vaillant Ecotec Pro 28 with wireless digital thermostat, magnetic filter, thermostatic valves for radiators upstairs and full install/system flush and a 5 year warranty.

£2400 for a Alpha Intec 28 and all of the above plus 7 year warranty.

The Alpha Intec seems like an excellent choice with a better flow rate than the Vaillant, cheaper and a longer warranty!

oldskoo1

Is your current boiler broken down then?

WB is a good choice and usually reliable. You won't get your money back on gas savings for a very long time if you are switching to be more efficient.

I thought £1600 was cheap, baxi aren't great and around 2k is pretty normal for a new wb install, power flush etc

siross

No boiler isn't broken down I'm switching because our hot water pressure upstairs is apalling and I want a powerful shower. currently its not existent.

I've looked into electric showers and the cost and output isn't worth it. The other option is a power shower/pump but that will cost a fair bit and empty the hot water tank quickly!

southcoastrgi

& unless you can get around 20 ltrs/min then a combi isn't gonna work either

siross

20l/m? Wow, I was told 15/16 is sufficient.

I've since rang the original boiler man who came recommended and he hasquoted an extra £250 for the Vaillant and £200 for the Alpha if that's what Iwant.


He has put a big proviso on though. He claims that the 24kw Baxi Main is idealand will run our home perfectly, where as the 28kw boilers are too big and I’llend up paying more. I’m no expert but I was under the impression that a 28kwboiler will work easier to get to the same point a 24kw boiler would or is thatnot right? I’ve no idea why he’s really pushing the Baxi but it sounds likethere’s an ulterior motive for some reason!

I’m properly lost with this! I haven’t got a clue where togo next!

keystone

siross wrote: »

No boiler isn't broken down I'm switching because our hot water pressure upstairs is apalling and I want a powerful shower. currently its not existent.

I've looked into electric showers and the cost and output isn't worth it. The other option is a power shower/pump but that will cost a fair bit and empty the hot water tank quickly!

So you have a functioning boiler but poor shower performance. You are being advised to change over to a mains pressure solution to increase your shower performance but the mains pressure is too low to accommodate a combi. So irerspective of spending £ Nk on a new boiler you might not actually achieve very much.

Time to step back and remove the trees out of your view of the wood.

Pump the shower! It will cost a great deal less than replacing the boiler and as you are doing the bathroom anyway theres no major disruption. Unless you plan to stand under the shower for hours then you won't empty the cylinder unless you have grandiose plans for one of those rainhead things which use a prodigious amount of water. Just make sure your CWST is sized appropriately.

Cheers