"New" boiler

KittenChops_

I've been quoted £1900 for installation of a Vaillant ecotec+ 831.

Any thoughts? The current boiler is 15+ years old, out of action, and will cost £150+ to repair, with no guarantee that the boiler will work after this as there may also be something wrong with the flue.

After a quick google it looks like the Vaillant model is almost 10 years old, though still goes for about £1000 and had good reviews at the time. Makes me wonder if he got the model number wrong.

I'm pretty clueless about boilers and a bit worried about parting with this much cash. Any advice gratefully received.

Furts

Post again with the exact model number of your current boiler and the exact model number of the replacement boiler. Somebody may then be able to guide you.

If you are receiving a 10 year old boiler this seems very risky to me. Would you expect a 10 year old car to be capable of offering years of reliable service? Or would you be asking why the car is being sold, what faults exist, and what does the seller know about the car which makes them want to sell it?

You say a 10 year old boiler costs £1000. I have not checked this out, but I know my new boiler cost less than that and came with a 10 year guarantee. Hence your price does not sound like a bargain to me.

tacpot12

The 831 Plus model might be 10 years old, but the one you are buying was probably manufactured in the last 2 years and has been sat on the shelf at the plumbers merchant since then. As the middle model in the line up, it might be the slow moving model as those on a tight budget buy the smallest model, those with sense buy the biggest (you need a bigger combi boiler than manufacturers recommend to get good flow rates on hot water at the taps, in my opinion)

The 831 Plus is fine for a small house or flat. I bought one in 2014 for one of my rental properties and it has been very reliable so far.

Get the installer to confirm in writing the model number and the guarantee period. £1000 is an ok price for 831 plus. They are good boilers and with or without a 10 year warranty, I wouldn't expect them to fail in the first 10 years if the heating system is properly flushed through first. This is important. You need a thorough flush AND a magnetic filter fitted. Both will add to the cost of the installation, but if you skimp on this aspect, ANY boiler you fit is going to breakdown sooner.

Remember your Vaillant boiler will last 20 years, so even if you pay £2000 for the boiler and its installation, its only £8/month. I started saving for the next one when I replaced the current one. At 15 years old, your boiler will be close to the end of its life, and you won't want the unreliability.

C_Mababejive

Imagine that,a modern boiler only lasting 15 years. My boiler is now around 35 years old and still going. Its heat input is a paltry 10Kw and yet it heats the house and provides all the hot water we need. My most recent gas bill for April was £20 which includes cooking by gas.

KittenChops_

Thanks for the responses, folks. Apologies for not providing much information; I guess I was wondering whether boilers have moved on so much that a 10 year old model would be obsolete (or just really inefficient), as I don't know much about them at all.

C_M in 2006-8 my total energy bill was under £10 a month! That was thanks to living in a top floor flat with storage heaters,

I will post the model number when I have it.

KittenChops_

So, one of the parts isn't available, but he can replace the others and clean that one out for £90, so fingers crossed that will do the trick! The old boiler is a glow worm compact 80e. My home insurance will cover that, so if it doesn't work then at least I won't have lost out financially.

The replacement would indeed be a ecotec+ 831, and £1900 would include a flush and a mag filter. I think it is probably a reasonable deal, but having done some sums based on our usage last winter and the relative efficiency ratings of the 2 boilers, even if I factor in an extra £100 for repairs every year, it'd still take almost 15 years to pay itself off.

southcoastrgi

First of all I would be asking your installer why he is spec a boiler that is no longer made ?
All boilers (not just Vailliant) made from Sept '16 have to be ERP models the 831 isn't so is old stock & therefore cheaper to buy because the merchants want to get rid of them, it's not illegal to buy or fit them you just can't make them anymore.

Personally I'd either recommend Intergas or Baxi

http://www.intergasheating.co.uk
http://www.baxi.co.uk/combi.htm