Hello experts.
In Sept. 2012, we had our first central heating gas boiler installed, with three radiators. It is an EcoTec Plus 824. Since it was still September when we first used it, the domestic hot water temperature seemed OK, and actually, in the winter that followed (and the next), I have no memory of it having been unsatisfactory. I think that, if the bath water had not been warm enough, my wife would have complained (I always use the electric shower). However, at 83, I find it very difficult to remember exactly how I/we did find the DHW temperature at first. When the engineer installed the boiler and radiators, he said that, because not much would be demanded of the boiler (there being only three rads), he had “reduced its capacity”. I had no idea what he did, of course, but accepted that he knew what he was doing and that everything would be alright (of course, it may have been, since the engineer was Vaillant trained and since he was GasSafe registered). Initially, I had asked this man to install an ET Plus 838, but he made it very clear that this would not be necessary. His words about the 824, which he persuaded me to accept, were “It will murder the job”. So, I gave in and accepted his advice about the 824 having plenty of power for our needs.
During the winter that has just gone, however, my wife has complained constantly about the domestic hot water, and I also found that, during really cold spells, it was only just warm. I raised the setting to its maximum (60° C.), but it made hardly any difference — the water was simply nowhere near what one might expect, for general use.
Afterwards (whatever the reason for this may have been), I found it difficult to contact this tradesman (perhaps, on the few occasions when I rang him, he was always busy and could not use his mobile phone), so today, I asked someone to look at the boiler, with a view to correcting the poor DHW supply. This man has serviced the boiler since its installation, but he is not the one that installed it — he is a different firm. Again, this man has a reputable company and is fully trained.
He told me that the only way to make the DHW hotter would be to restrict the flow of water to the boiler. (Whether this will affect the central heating in any way, I don’t know, but I trust the man.) So today, following this restriction being applied, the DHW was noticably warmer, with just a bit of a sting in it. (Bear in mind that the weather is becoming warmer now, and that this will make a difference.) However, the water is nowhere near to being so hot that one might be tempted to cool it a bit, by adding cold water. Now, after this long preamble, here is where my questions arise.
When I phoned this last firm, and described the problem we were having, the member of staff on the phone said that the EcoTec Plus 824 ought to be able to supply DHW “not only to your house (a smallish semi) but also to your neighbour.” Yet, a man from the same firm — the one that actually adjusted the water flow to the boiler, gave no such indication. He said that he did not think that the current boiler was up to the job, and said that an EcoTec Plus 832 or 838 would serve us better.
Now, I don’t know what to think, seeing that two men from the same firm have said different things about our boiler. If I were to ask another firm to come and see if they can make the DHW warmer, they may well say that there is nothing more to be done (and they would charge me for looking at it). Yet, if I accept what the second man said (the engineer that visited, and did the job), it would involve spending well over a thousand pounds on a more powerful boiler, when, for aught I know, this may not be necessary at all. The trouble is, if you don’t know, you don’t know. There is another saying: When doctors disagree, who is one to believe?
If anyone can respond in a meaningful and helpful way, I should be very grateful. Thanks in anticipation!
A.W.
PS: I'm sorry to have been so long-winded, but I had to give all of the background to the problem.
In Sept. 2012, we had our first central heating gas boiler installed, with three radiators. It is an EcoTec Plus 824. Since it was still September when we first used it, the domestic hot water temperature seemed OK, and actually, in the winter that followed (and the next), I have no memory of it having been unsatisfactory. I think that, if the bath water had not been warm enough, my wife would have complained (I always use the electric shower). However, at 83, I find it very difficult to remember exactly how I/we did find the DHW temperature at first. When the engineer installed the boiler and radiators, he said that, because not much would be demanded of the boiler (there being only three rads), he had “reduced its capacity”. I had no idea what he did, of course, but accepted that he knew what he was doing and that everything would be alright (of course, it may have been, since the engineer was Vaillant trained and since he was GasSafe registered). Initially, I had asked this man to install an ET Plus 838, but he made it very clear that this would not be necessary. His words about the 824, which he persuaded me to accept, were “It will murder the job”. So, I gave in and accepted his advice about the 824 having plenty of power for our needs.
During the winter that has just gone, however, my wife has complained constantly about the domestic hot water, and I also found that, during really cold spells, it was only just warm. I raised the setting to its maximum (60° C.), but it made hardly any difference — the water was simply nowhere near what one might expect, for general use.
Afterwards (whatever the reason for this may have been), I found it difficult to contact this tradesman (perhaps, on the few occasions when I rang him, he was always busy and could not use his mobile phone), so today, I asked someone to look at the boiler, with a view to correcting the poor DHW supply. This man has serviced the boiler since its installation, but he is not the one that installed it — he is a different firm. Again, this man has a reputable company and is fully trained.
He told me that the only way to make the DHW hotter would be to restrict the flow of water to the boiler. (Whether this will affect the central heating in any way, I don’t know, but I trust the man.) So today, following this restriction being applied, the DHW was noticably warmer, with just a bit of a sting in it. (Bear in mind that the weather is becoming warmer now, and that this will make a difference.) However, the water is nowhere near to being so hot that one might be tempted to cool it a bit, by adding cold water. Now, after this long preamble, here is where my questions arise.
When I phoned this last firm, and described the problem we were having, the member of staff on the phone said that the EcoTec Plus 824 ought to be able to supply DHW “not only to your house (a smallish semi) but also to your neighbour.” Yet, a man from the same firm — the one that actually adjusted the water flow to the boiler, gave no such indication. He said that he did not think that the current boiler was up to the job, and said that an EcoTec Plus 832 or 838 would serve us better.
Now, I don’t know what to think, seeing that two men from the same firm have said different things about our boiler. If I were to ask another firm to come and see if they can make the DHW warmer, they may well say that there is nothing more to be done (and they would charge me for looking at it). Yet, if I accept what the second man said (the engineer that visited, and did the job), it would involve spending well over a thousand pounds on a more powerful boiler, when, for aught I know, this may not be necessary at all. The trouble is, if you don’t know, you don’t know. There is another saying: When doctors disagree, who is one to believe?
If anyone can respond in a meaningful and helpful way, I should be very grateful. Thanks in anticipation!
A.W.
PS: I'm sorry to have been so long-winded, but I had to give all of the background to the problem.
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how many bathrooms do you have ? it might help if you give us the temp of your hot water ? 
