Please advise. Vaillant combi boiler.

Legacy_user

Hi,

I have a Vaillant combi boiler fitted in 1996 (three bed semi one bathroom 6 single large rad’s and two small single rad’s) It is in an upstairs cupboard on the gable-end with a vertical flue. Very old but we've never, ever had any problems until last year 2014, no heating or hot water so we opted for the 'One off repair' by a gas company and they replaced 'Fan Control P.C.B.'

However although we have no problems with the hot water, most recently the heating just comes on and off as it pleases sometimes nothing for five hours or so, then it just comes on. Does anyone know why? How much to fix?

1) We have to top it up with the water tap every two weeks to between number 1 and 2 (always on the green section)and we don’t let it onto the red section on the gage.

2) I think I can prompt it to come on by running the hot water tap downstairs for about 4 min’s until boiling hot, this seems to make it come on however it could be my imagination.

3) When the heating is on but someone uses the upstairs shower it goes off and probably won’t come on for about four hours- just when it pleases.Even when it comes on it knocks off without the use of the shower etc.

If I get a new boiler should I choose ' VAILLANT ECOTEC EXCLUSIVE 838 COMBINATION BOILER 10002669', or another. Combi's have had a bad name in the past for larger properties however I have been informed that they can be ok with 2 bathrooms/showers at the same time. I hope to add a loft conversion with an on suite in the near future-3years time. Vaillant boasts that their newer versions will suit 4 bed 2 bath home and if fitted by a vaillant fitter it has seven years parts cover.

British gas offer £400 of a new boiler until Feb 2015 but only covers it for two years, I think!

Who should I get to supply and fit or just supply then find a fitter?

Thank you in advance.

Plumber90

Even with £400 off a new boiler from BG you will find it cheaper else where from a local one man company.

If you are planning on having another en-suite fitted soon do not go for another combi, 2 bathrooms is the limit if you go for a big enough combi, and even then an unvented cylinder is better, but if you get another bathroom it won't stand a chance.

Also if you supply your own boiler the person who fits it will give you no warranty, so if they have to come back out to sort something out, or you haven't orderd the correct parts and they have to make an additional visit expect to be charged.

Terry98

We had a Ecotec 837 installed by a local company a few months ago and it came with a ten year guarantee...... provided we get a service once a year.

We had four different quotes and BG was by far the most expensive.

Seronera

The symptoms need diagnosis at the machine for me to make any sense of it. The organisation that did the one off repair should have given a years guarantee......so worth having a chat with them and seeing if you can get a discount on a second visit, as to be honest it does not sound connected to the first fault.

BG are expensive but will do a perfectly good job. I'd pop into your local plumber merchants and ask the staff there for the names of two or three reputable local installers. They tend to know who the decent people are. Then get quotes.

The choice of boiler is less important than the quality of the install, so if you went with Worcester Bosch, Vaillant, Viessmann, Glow Worm, Baxi, Ideal, you are unlikely to go wrong as all have mainly good products with good guarantees and decent warranty back up. Also make sure controls are up to date and that a magnetic filter is included and that the system is properly cleaned and corrosion inhibited.

Having said all that a decent boiler technician should be able to sort yours out, though its not possible for me to predict a cost. Parts are excessively expensive I regret to say.

littlerock

I had a vaillant. it died years ago and we had it replaced by a potterton performa combi which
has been fine but is now showing its age and use (we work from home and so our boilers get a lot of use.). CH engineer, known him years top bloke, is recommending a Worcester combi in their new range. he says more economical to run due to design so costs saves money
we have no probs with combis and live in a large house

Seronera

littlerock wrote: »

I had a vaillant. it died years ago and we had it replaced by a potterton performa combi which
has been fine but is now showing its age and use (we work from home and so our boilers get a lot of use.). CH engineer, known him years top bloke, is recommending a Worcester combi in their new range. he says more economical to run due to design so costs saves money
we have no probs with combis and live in a large house

I am sure he will see you right. I know I moan about them a bit , but there is nothing really wrong with a Worcester Bosch combi, provided its properly installed