looking for recommendations for installer of avanta my area

[thetrvone]

Hello all,
I have been looking at this forum for a quite sometime researching for a replacement boiler for my aging Baxi back boiler.
Sadly I can't use their new replacement back boiler as they do not recommended the use of softened water, which we now have. So assuming that Broag have no issues with soft water (I am awaiting a definitive answer from them to this) I am leaning towards an Avanta open vent system, could anybody point me in the direction of a fitter used to this particular boiler near me in the Orpington/Bromley area. I do not need this installed until the summer, as the current system is working fine, but it is 30 years old, so I am constantly touching wood.
Thank you.

 

[D_Hailsham]

Try Elliotts Heating in Beckenham.

Is all your water softened, including the drinking water?

 

[thetrvone]

Thanks for the speedy response D_Hailsham

Is all your water softened, including the drinking water?

All of the water is softened with the exception of the the kitchen sink which has a triflow tape with a dual stage water filtering system for purified water (this is fed directly from the mains). The cold tap is also direct from the mains and untreated in anyway.

The really helpful tech guys at remeha have come back since my first post with a yes, but.. so I am still in discussions with them about PH values etc.
Regards

 

[thetrvone]

I find that I am in need of an alternative Remeha installer to that already suggested in the Bromley/Orpington area, can anyone help?

 

[mehran]

What? did you catch him going through your missus knicker drawer or something

 

[matt1e]

What? did you catch him going through your missus knicker drawer or something

yes do pray tell

 

[thetrvone]

yes do pray tell

sadly nothing so amusing. It's simply a lack of responses to emails and a no show for a site visit. I am starting to loose confidence I think I need to look elsewhere.

 

[Boilerman2]

You should always get Three Quotes any installer will fit a Remeha Avanta if that is what you ask for, most installers once they have fitted one are mostly very imprerssed with the boiler and go on to fit more

P.S. as a rule it is preferred to fill a heating system with un-conditioned water, but as the Avanta has a stainless steel heat exchanger i don't see a problem, but check with Broag Ltd before going ahead

 

[thetrvone]

Thanks Boilerman2

P.S. as a rule it is preferred to fill a heating system with un-conditioned water, but as the Avanta has a stainless steel heat exchanger i don't see a problem, but check with Broag Ltd before going ahead

I have discussed this with Remeha, I have had the water PH value checked softened and unsoftened exactly the same at 7.4 pH calcium levels using a flame photometer are 0.5 mmol/l prior to softening and 0.15 mmol/l after, both are within the Remeha water quality regulations. I will use Sentinel X100 anyway and Magna clean filter too.

As for the quotes, I have the BG one, but they don't fit Avanti's. I would prefer to find somebody that fits these on a regular basis, as I am sure it will pay dividends in the long run.

 

[tamz]

As Boilerman says anyone who fits boilers for a living can fit this. If they are unfamiliar with them they will just have to read the instructions regarding hanging it and commissioning it but that is only because they are not familiar. That don't mean they won't leave it fitted perfectly.
I have never seen one of these boilers and doubt if i ever will, but i have fitted probably 5, 000 + boilers. Do you think i wouldn't be able to follow a book or know what i was doing? The system is as important as a boiler.

 

[Agile]

If you badly wanted to use a back boiler then the unsoftened supply does not have to be permanented connected. Nor does the actual input have to be by the boiler.

For example for a simple unfussy method I would use a hosepipe connection from before the softener to anywhere convenient on the heating system which could be an outdoor connecting point.

You presumably already have an unsoftened pipe under the sink.

Tony

 

[thetrvone]

tamz

Do you think i wouldn't be able to follow a book or know what i was doing?

I was in no way suggesting the above. I was making the point that as with all equipment they have their quirks and peculiarities which one gets to know the more one sees and uses them. Why would I want a garage to put a new engine into say a BMW who has never worked on one? Yes he or she can read the service manual, so could I, but somebody who has worked on them and preferably been trained to do so would know that regardless of what the manual says, this, or that needs to happen. It would seem that some boiler manufactures agree as they offer longer guarantees if the boiler is fitted by somebody that has been on one of their training courses. Yes the system is as important.

Agile

For example for a simple unfussy method I would use a hosepipe connection from before the softener to anywhere convenient on the heating system which could be an outdoor connecting point.

I am a bit lost here. I have an open vented system which I assumed required a header tank. I like the simple idea of connecting the hose from the unsoftened supply to the heating system; yes I could do this all on the outside as there is a system drain off handy.

I would prefer the simpler idea that the boiler manufacturers got their acts together and tested the boilers with softened water, there must be areas in the country that have naturally soft water, probably softer than my treated water. The crazy thing is, as I understand it, Baxi are part of the same group as Remeha, Baxi boiler can't be used with softened water it would invalidate the guarantee. Remeha you can so long as it meets their water regulations, hence why I have had the tests done.

My search for an alternative installer continues

Thanks for everbodys input.

 

[D_Hailsham]

I find that I am in need of an alternative Remeha installer to that already suggested in the Bromley/Orpington area, can anyone help?

Remeha don't have a list of approved installers, but they will tell you which merchants in your area stock their boilers. You can then ask the merchants for the names of installers who have put in Remeha boilers.

 

[Agile]

Its easier for a manufacturer to just say that a boiler should not be subjected to unsoftened water.

Its not the softness they are frightened of, its the residual salt in the softened water.

There is no need to connect a heating system to softened water so its not a relevant point in any normal situation which is properly planned.

You have a misguided idea of manufacturer's training courses. They only last a short day and are mostly about sales promotion and a little information which is delivered but is in the book anyway.

Fitting a boiler is very similar whatever make is used.

In theory a manufacturer could refuse to support someone who attended their training day if they were a total nupty.

Very unfortunately, they are primarily a SALES opportunity to promote their boilers. There is never any assessment so anyone attending could sleep through the whole day and still be added to their list of approved installers!!!

Tony

 

[thetrvone]

Agile

Its not the softness they are frightened of, its the residual salt in the softened water.

Why?
the salt is not used to soften the water but regenerate the zeolite when the sodium ions have been replaced by calcium and magnesium ones and softening no longer takes place, the salt brine is flushed down the drain, isn't it?