New/relocated boiler and radiators

Rosa_Damascena

I think £4K is around the right price. It's what I paid for very similar work last year (Valiant 24W, one very large radiator, 2 large ones and one small). Get back to option 1 to check whether VAT is included because that might account for the difference in price (my plumber wasn't VAT registered). 

southcoastrgi

Nothing wrong with Intergas or Baxi (sorry DG but I wouldn't fit WB), with regard to No1 I would prefer either a HRE combi compact (7 years) or the Eco RF (10 years), Baxi vary as well with regard to warentee, 400 = 5 yrs, 600= 7 yrs, 800 = 10 yrs

NoisyGiraffe

Doozergirl said:

NoisyGiraffe said:

TELLIT01 said:

I would discount number 3 as I can't stand trades who try to force their ideas on you.  Suggestions are fine, but the final decision has to be yours. 

Yes, I thought the same! It seemed like he had an idea of the easiest way for him to do the job and was dead set on doing it that way despite me clearly saying a number of times I didn't want that. Best example is him wanting the boiler in the loft instead of in an outbuilding where I want it. I don't even have a loft ladder, let alone a boarded out walkway to where the boiler would be, and I'm definitely not going to that effort to have the boiler put somewhere I don't want it when I can just stick it outside where I'll have easy access to it if needed! We must have gone around in this particular circle at least 3 times while he was here, I was getting so mad!

The boiler won't run as efficiently if the outbuilding is unheated.  I do understand people wanting what they want, but sometimes the people that do it every day do have a more informed opinion!   I'm not saying it's the case because I'm not a gas engineer.  I seem to learn different things from different people but the gas engineer I trust the most always draws me pictures on the walls and I've learned more from him in a couple of years than I have from anyone else.  

I'd have a Worcester Bosch all day long because I've got 10 years experience of only using them in our projects and never having an issue, I'd keep the boiler in a warm place (that might mean heating your outbuilding with a small rad) and I would have a new, more efficient and clean, pipe run as it also makes a difference.  

I see your point about the engineer being more knowledgeable than me, and I'm definitely one for listening to the experts! If he had explained it as you have done then I would have appreciated it and taken it on board, but unfortunately he didn't give this, or any other genuine consideration as the reasoning, just that it was easier for him.

Thanks for raising the point about heating the outhouse, I'll definitely keep this in mind and look at options for this.

NoisyGiraffe

southcoastrgi said:

Nothing wrong with Intergas or Baxi (sorry DG but I wouldn't fit WB), with regard to No1 I would prefer either a HRE combi compact (7 years) or the Eco RF (10 years), Baxi vary as well with regard to warentee, 400 = 5 yrs, 600= 7 yrs, 800 = 10 yrs

Thanks for this, I'll have a look into those. Is there anything in particular that you prefer about the HRE or Eco over the Rapid/Rapid Plus, other than the length of warranty?

bris

Boilers run just fine in outhouses so don't let that put you off. I have serviced two for years in outbuildings, just make sure they lag the pipes.
I would go with the Baxi 830, Worcester aren't what they used to be. My first choice would be the Intergas, best boiler on the market just now (my opinion) due to the very few parts that can go wrong but I would baulk at that price. He is using the neighbour thing I wouldn't rip you off game here. 

Another thing to consider is the Warranty, Baxi are doing 10 years just now on the 830 so it's really a no brainer for the price quoted.

southcoastrgi

NoisyGiraffe said:

southcoastrgi said:

Nothing wrong with Intergas or Baxi (sorry DG but I wouldn't fit WB), with regard to No1 I would prefer either a HRE combi compact (7 years) or the Eco RF (10 years), Baxi vary as well with regard to warentee, 400 = 5 yrs, 600= 7 yrs, 800 = 10 yrs

Thanks for this, I'll have a look into those. Is there anything in particular that you prefer about the HRE or Eco over the Rapid/Rapid Plus, other than the length of warranty?

The Rapid is the basic model & doesn't really come in two flavours, the only difference between the rapid & rapid plus is the length of warentee, the HRE is the middle ground, the eco has built in connectivity so if you use a Honeywell wireless stat it will connect to the boiler without additional wiring or having to fit the receiver, please also look into a thing called Boiler Plus as if you are having a combi fitted you need to comply with this & it's not an option, the only way any of the boilers listed will comply is a outside sensor (not something I'd recommend on the Baxi which is called Ifos) or a compatible programmable room stat 

NoisyGiraffe

southcoastrgi said:

NoisyGiraffe said:

southcoastrgi said:

Nothing wrong with Intergas or Baxi (sorry DG but I wouldn't fit WB), with regard to No1 I would prefer either a HRE combi compact (7 years) or the Eco RF (10 years), Baxi vary as well with regard to warentee, 400 = 5 yrs, 600= 7 yrs, 800 = 10 yrs

Thanks for this, I'll have a look into those. Is there anything in particular that you prefer about the HRE or Eco over the Rapid/Rapid Plus, other than the length of warranty?

The Rapid is the basic model & doesn't really come in two flavours, the only difference between the rapid & rapid plus is the length of warentee, the HRE is the middle ground, the eco has built in connectivity so if you use a Honeywell wireless stat it will connect to the boiler without additional wiring or having to fit the receiver, please also look into a thing called Boiler Plus as if you are having a combi fitted you need to comply with this & it's not an option, the only way any of the boilers listed will comply is a outside sensor (not something I'd recommend on the Baxi which is called Ifos) or a compatible programmable room stat 

That's really helpful, thanks!

Owain_Moneysaver

NoisyGiraffe said:

Can I ask about your suggestion to ask for a require with a different boiler? The Intergas and the Baxi models seem to be fairly similar in price when I've had a look around to compare them, in fact the Baxi ones quoted by the others sometimes come up as more expensive. So I figured that meant the cost difference in the quotes is coming from the labour rather than the boiler?

Those may be the list prices of the boilers. Installers registered with the manufacturers don't pay list prices, and get incentives if they shift enough boilers. 
It's also a politer way of asking for a discount on a quote. 

NoisyGiraffe

Just to update in case it helps anyone else in my position in future. 

We got another couple of quotes based on recommendations from our builder friends.
Person 5 - £4,200 - Baxi- personal recommendation by builder friend
Person 6 - £4,850 - Baxi - personal recommendation by builder friend 
Person 7 - £4,285 - very well known firm here, would only fit a Worcester Bosch 

We ended up going with person 5 as we were happy with the price and felt comfortable when we met him to discuss the job, and he came with the personal recommendation. The work got done this week and we're really pleased with it, and just glad that the whole process is over with honestly haha, just in time for the weather about to turn here too.

Thanks everyone for the advice and help!