which boiler do you reccommend?

ellie-mai

Hi

Newbie here, but have lurked for ages on the shopping forum!
We've just taken on a major renovation project and have the option of any type of boiler on the market - but have no idea of which one!

Quotes from plumbers have ranged from £4k to £7.5k for labour plus parts for a new central heating system. Some say combi boiler, others storage combi, or the traditional system but with a new fancy all singing and dancing storage tank!

It's a four bed house, downstairs cloakroom, 2 ensuites with showers and a small family bathroom with a bath. We have two young kiddies so will rarely use more than one bath/shower at a time but need the system to work for us for many years as this will be our home for a long time.

The boiler can be placed in the garage, utility or upstairs storage area close to the eaves for ventilation. We are able to have wall mounted or floor standing ..... but have got totally lost in which to choose.

Anyone in the know out there willing to point us in the right direction to an efficient, cost effective, long lasting boiler please??

Thanks in advance
Elaine

sassybooboos

at my old property i bought my worcester boiler from plumbcentre i did get it cheaper cause my darling uncle bought it using his discount cost £900 including 7 radiators. got it fitted for £2000.

be careful some of these so call gas fitters try to fob you off with a boiler that really can't cope with amount of radiators you need.

worcester boilers are very reliable thats why i chose that one, but very expensive if they go wrong so a insurance plan would be good idea.

oh i would suggest getting it fitted downstairs as ive just moved and the boiler is up stairs and the noise drives me mad when trying to get to sleep as i have been told all boilers get noisy after a while.

Canucklehead

Good morning: For information on the installation and specification of gas central heating systems visit the Energy Saving Trust website... http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/uploads/documents/housingbuildings/ce30.pdf

I can't comment on which set-up would be most suitable for your property over the internet but can recommend Vaillant boilers (the only product my OH installs now). It is unfortunate that the CORGIs who have been through your door haven't been able to give you the advice you require.

HTH

Canucklehead

jcorbygas

We would always advise that if you have the space - dont have a combination boiler as if your boiler breaks down then normally you have the facility to have hot water using cylinder and immersion heater or Megaflo system, whereas if you have a combination boiler - you have no heating or hot water - my husband tries to put people off them, but to no avail, and that is why 5 years down the line he is replacing ones he fitted - he did not choose the boiler - the customer did!

liitleblackcat

Fully agree with jcorby. And while you're replacing the hot water cylinder, get one with a two heat exchangers so you can install solar hot water heating at a later date. Gas prices will never go down in the long run.

Jetjockey

I have just installed Solar hot water equipment and installed a "Heatrae Sadia" Megaflo tank to take the hot water. Best thing I ever did. I have tied it into my combi system using a "Combisol" valve made by Grant heating systems.

Point of the story is:- don't fit a Combi. The extra flexibility and performance (flow rate for baths and showers) given by a hot water storage tank is priceless. First chance I get, the Combi is history!!!!!! The insulation on these new mains pressurised storage tanks is first class - very energy efficient.

Regards, Jetjockey.

eponymous

Combis are a pain in the butt. There's no sign of them saving any money - certainly over the past six years when the old "inefficient" boiler was replaced and within 5 years, the thing has gone practically kaput. Avoid Glowworm, but check out Which? November 2007 for a full report on boilers.