Hi guys, some advice on a new boiler would be handy please.
Our heating system is around 30 years old so, as we’re doing a very long overdue update of the bathroom, we decided to change the old boiler at the same time so we can put a shower cubicle where the airing cupboard is & have a decent shower run off the combi rather than electric.
We’ve got 2 estimates, firstly from the plumber who has just fitted a new boiler for a neighbour – he recommended the same boiler - Vaillant 831 Eco Tec plus which has a flow rate of 12.5.
The second was from our usual plumber. He prefers & fits Baxi & recommended the Baxi Duo Tec 28 HE, flow rate11.5. He said alternatives were Potterton Gold 28 HE, or Baxi Platinum 28 HE and that all these boilers were the same, the only difference being that they came with different lengths of warranty. He said he would fit a Vaillant if we wanted it but he wasn’t familiar with them.
Another neighbour has just had a boiler fitted by British Gas (own brand) with a flow rate of 13.5.
All our houses (semi’s) are similar in size/shape with one bathroom, but our house is slightly bigger as it has a long extension (with 2 radiators) over the garage. As the neighbours have both had bigger boilers fitted we’re concerned that the recommended Baxi might not give us a good enough flow rate, particularly for a good shower pressure and bath, but neither do we want a boiler that is too big. The next one up in the Baxi range jumps from 11.5 to 13.5.
The first plumber said a new boiler would be fine with just a power flush on the old pipes. The second said it was advisable to put new piping & radiators in, partly because the system was old and also new radiators would be more efficient (most of ours don’t have any fins), but he said he would do a power flush instead if we didn’t want the upheaval of floors & carpets being lifted.
We’re in a quandary as to what to do, it’s a lot of money so want to make the right decision. A Which? Report on the Baxi Duo Tec 28 HE said – “This combination boiler is efficient, user-friendly and a great choice for flats and smaller houses.” I don’t think a semi with 4 bedrooms would fall into that category! It also mentioned the flow rate as only 11, not 11.5 as in the brochure.
Would putting a new boiler on old pipework be false economy, e.g. does having a power flush put the new boiler at risk, even if thoroughly done? How long does copper piping actually last? We don’t want to have to change that at a later date as we’re approaching retirement age now & would rather get any upheaval and expense out of the way now.
What size of boiler would be best? Is it better to go slightly too big rather than risk it being too small? How would this affect running costs?
How do the Vaillant and Baxi compare for efficiency, also for after sales service and parts availability etc in your experience?
Sorry for so many questions but you guys seem to have loads of experience and I don’t want to have to get another estimate if I can avoid it as it takes a lot of a plumber’s time to come out, check the place over & prepare an estimate and I’ve already had two.
Thanks!
Our heating system is around 30 years old so, as we’re doing a very long overdue update of the bathroom, we decided to change the old boiler at the same time so we can put a shower cubicle where the airing cupboard is & have a decent shower run off the combi rather than electric.
We’ve got 2 estimates, firstly from the plumber who has just fitted a new boiler for a neighbour – he recommended the same boiler - Vaillant 831 Eco Tec plus which has a flow rate of 12.5.
The second was from our usual plumber. He prefers & fits Baxi & recommended the Baxi Duo Tec 28 HE, flow rate11.5. He said alternatives were Potterton Gold 28 HE, or Baxi Platinum 28 HE and that all these boilers were the same, the only difference being that they came with different lengths of warranty. He said he would fit a Vaillant if we wanted it but he wasn’t familiar with them.
Another neighbour has just had a boiler fitted by British Gas (own brand) with a flow rate of 13.5.
All our houses (semi’s) are similar in size/shape with one bathroom, but our house is slightly bigger as it has a long extension (with 2 radiators) over the garage. As the neighbours have both had bigger boilers fitted we’re concerned that the recommended Baxi might not give us a good enough flow rate, particularly for a good shower pressure and bath, but neither do we want a boiler that is too big. The next one up in the Baxi range jumps from 11.5 to 13.5.
The first plumber said a new boiler would be fine with just a power flush on the old pipes. The second said it was advisable to put new piping & radiators in, partly because the system was old and also new radiators would be more efficient (most of ours don’t have any fins), but he said he would do a power flush instead if we didn’t want the upheaval of floors & carpets being lifted.
We’re in a quandary as to what to do, it’s a lot of money so want to make the right decision. A Which? Report on the Baxi Duo Tec 28 HE said – “This combination boiler is efficient, user-friendly and a great choice for flats and smaller houses.” I don’t think a semi with 4 bedrooms would fall into that category! It also mentioned the flow rate as only 11, not 11.5 as in the brochure.
Would putting a new boiler on old pipework be false economy, e.g. does having a power flush put the new boiler at risk, even if thoroughly done? How long does copper piping actually last? We don’t want to have to change that at a later date as we’re approaching retirement age now & would rather get any upheaval and expense out of the way now.
What size of boiler would be best? Is it better to go slightly too big rather than risk it being too small? How would this affect running costs?
How do the Vaillant and Baxi compare for efficiency, also for after sales service and parts availability etc in your experience?
Sorry for so many questions but you guys seem to have loads of experience and I don’t want to have to get another estimate if I can avoid it as it takes a lot of a plumber’s time to come out, check the place over & prepare an estimate and I’ve already had two.
Thanks!
