Recommendations for a new combi boiler - which make and model?

andyslowrider

Hi,

My 20 year old Worcester 240 combi boiler is nearing the end of its life and my parents have just offered to help towards the cost of a replacement.

My main question is which make and model should I go for, and why? Also helpful would be any recommendations on any makes and models to avoid, and why.

I live in a two bedroom terraced house with 1 bathroom, with shower, and 5 radiators, so I'm happy that a boiler with something in the region of 25Kw will be fine.

Despite my parents' offer of help money will still be tight. I'm looking for good value (the right mix of price, quality and performance) rather than the outright cheapest option - I'm thinking in the region of £700 +/- £100ish for the boiler.

Also, any thoughts on the cost of installation (boiler replacment and system powerflush - no radiatior replacement etc required) I'll probably be using a local installer (wiltshire area) rather than a nationwide chain and certianly wont be considering any of the energy supply companies.

Finally, do any of you have any thoughts or experiences regarding whether I should ask the installer to supply and fit the boiler, or whether I should buy it and then just find an installer to fit it and flush the system?

Many thanks.

Andy

Cardew

I suggest you read the latest WHICH report on the boilers available. If not a WHICH member copies are held in a library or you can pay £1 on-line.


It is really the Hot Water demand that determines the size of a combi boiler. A smallish house like yours will require far less than 25kW for heating.


Buying the boiler yourself will severely limit the number of plumbers that will be prepared to fit and commission your boiler.


Regulations have changed in the last 20 years since your boiler was installed and it will probably not be a straight 'one for one' replacement.

teddysmum

Cardew wrote: »

Regulations have changed in the last 20 years since your boiler was installed and it will probably not be a straight 'one for one' replacement.

Earlier this year, when our new boiler (WB) and radiators were fitted, we had to have a new gas run from meter to boiler, to meet the new regulations on pipe diameter.

Cardew

teddysmum wrote: »

Earlier this year, when our new boiler (WB) and radiators were fitted, we had to have a new gas run from meter to boiler, to meet the new regulations on pipe diameter.

There are a number of new regulations I understand - the flue is one.


Also presumably the OP's boiler will be non-condensing?? If so a condensing drain will be needed.


The point I was making is that it won't be a straightforward swop of boiler.

daveyjp

Subject to mains pressure a 30kw boiler will give a hot water flow which is easier to live with.

Get the RGI to supply and fit. If anything is wrong its then their problem.

Hedgehog99

I've been happy with my Vokera Syntesi condensing combi I had fitted about 5 or 6 years ago, along with a room thermostat I can program and move around*. I think you might have to pay more than you hoped though. Definitely agree with other posters who've said get the installer to supply and fit the boiler.

The other small detail is radiator thermostats - the installer will want to fit one to each rad as per regs, but, when I was researching mine, the advice was to leave one rad without, e.g. bathroom - don't know if that's still the case?

* check which thermostat your installer plans - the basic ones just have temp +/- so you can't program them. Mine has several programmable ons & offs each day which can be overridden by the +/-.

andyslowrider

Many thanks for all your responses.

I realise that things have changed in the last 20 years and that it probably won't be a straight swap, but was aiming to keep my post relatively simple.

You are correct that my current boiler isn't a condensing type, but thankfully I do have TRVs fitted to all radiators except the one in the bathroom, so that's one less cost to worry about.

I think you're all giving good advice when you say get the installer to supply and fit - that certainly keeps things simple in terms of redress if things go wrong.

Any more thoughts on brands to go look at or avoid? I see that Screwfix have boilers starting from around £475 (Biasi, I think). Are these any good? I've been impressed with my Worcester 240 and wonder whether it's worth paying a bit more for something like the Worcester Greenstar Junior 24. Are the Worcester's as well made now as my 20 year old model is?

Thanks again for all the input so far.

Andy

Hasbeen

"My 20 year old Worcester 240 combi boiler is nearing the end of its life"
As per your opening post and would also go with Cardew's suggestion pay the £1 if not already a which member.


And look at all their 27 top best buys which are all er Worchester

Cardew

andyslowrider wrote: »

I've been impressed with my Worcester 240 and wonder whether it's worth paying a bit more for something like the Worcester Greenstar Junior 24. Are the Worcester's as well made now as my 20 year old model is?


Andy

If you read back over hundreds of posts on MSE, quoting various sources, there is little doubt that modern condensing boilers do not have the same long life as the non-condensing models of yesteryear.


Modern boilers have complex electronics and it is generally considered that 10 years before replacement is required is a reasonable expectation.


Yet there are many reports of 30+ year old boilers still working well - mine is a mere 26 year old and a 20 year old combi in an annex.


Incidentally, why do you state that your combi is 'nearing the end of its life'.

andyslowrider

Cardew wrote: »

If you read back over hundreds of posts on MSE, quoting various sources, there is little doubt that modern condensing boilers do not have the same long life as the non-condensing models of yesteryear.


Modern boilers have complex electronics and it is generally considered that 10 years before replacement is required is a reasonable expectation.


Yet there are many reports of 30+ year old boilers still working well - mine is a mere 26 year old and a 20 year old combi in an annex.


Incidentally, why do you state that your combi is 'nearing the end of its life'.

Thanks Cardew.

Maybe 'nearing the end of its life' is overstating it a little, but the water/water heat exchanger is heavilly scaled and either needs replacing or descaling, the divertor valve (even with a new diapragm) sticks occasionally and one of the bulkhead valves has been leaking steadilly since I replaced the pressure release valve a couple of weeks ago. We're also looking to sell the house in the next year or two and think that prospective buyers may see our boiler as a bit of a liability. There's also the efficiency savings that a new boiler would give us and the fact that the Mrs wants me to re-tile the kitchen (where the boiler is currently located) before we sell the house. Put all this together and it seems that it could be a good time to replace it.

Thanks also for the other replies.