Navien Combi Boilers

[Deleted member 221031]

What makes you think they are using the same cartridge.

It’s the only part they don’t make. It’s excatly the same as Baxi. Same step motor too

I’ll get a pic when I’m next in PB.

Probably a decent enough boiler. But no way it’s going to take over a big name brand. Too big for a start off.

Only PB seem to stock it. And only a few of their branches.

 

[Dan Robinson]

I think Hard-work has a slightly naive understanding of the UK boiler market.

 

[hard-work]

It’s the only part they don’t make. It’s excatly the same as Baxi. Same step motor too

You never said that. Anyone can use the same casting and use different innards.

Probably a decent enough boiler. But no way it’s going to take over a big name brand. Too big for a start off.

They said that about Vaillant. Foreign, expensive with no service or parts backup. But you and Dannyboy do not remember when only British makers sold in the UK. The only foreign maker to sell in the UK, but in a small way, was Drugasar - Dutch. Vaillant were the first to really aim at the combi market, followed by Chaffateux. Vaillant combis were quite big and unreliable as well. But they latched onto service, as washing machine manufactures did. You sell and install and they look after guarantee and after sales service. You do not need to know what is inside the white box. Installers installed them as after they walked out it was not their problem. Great for them. The UK makers did not do that overall. No idea.

 

[hard-work]

I think Hard-work has a slightly naive understanding of the UK boiler market.

It is all about image and service, sweet FA else. Why do you think WB and Vaillant have topped the list? Some of their models are way overpriced for what they are in quality. If Navien, who have the money behind them, and are the largest combi makers in the world, decide to move into the 2nd biggest boiler market in the world, they will make lots of ground and in a few short years as well. If the price is right, reliable, well made, versatile & cheap in fluing, can even be fitted outside, and with back up of parts & service, they will be up there. The customers will love the touch screen which will sell. Korea now has a reputation of quality and design.

Number one is that they have the product. The ball is in their court.

 

[Dan Robinson]

It is all about image and service, sweet FA else. Why do you think WB and Vaillant have topped the list? Some of their models are way overpriced for what they are in quality. If Navien, who have the money behind them, and are the largest combi makers in the world, decide to move into the 2nd biggest boiler market in the world, they will make lots of ground and in a few short years as well. If the price is right, reliable, well made, versatile & and cheap in fluing, can even be fitted outside, and with back up of parts & service, they will be up there. The customers will love the touch screen which will sell. Korea now has a reputation of quality and design.

Number one is that they have the product. The ball is in their court.

Yep. My point proved perfectly.

 

[bernardgreen]

It is all about image and service, sweet FA else.

There is an element of making the best profit....

Selling a lot of boilers at low profit per boiler is one option. The other is selling fewer boilers but with a higher profit per boiler.

Selling boilers to Housing Associations results in large numbers of sales which can be low profit per boiler. This requires a boiler that is landlord friendly but may not be tenant friendly.

Installing reliable but low efficiency landlord friendly boilers results in low cost to the landlord but higher running ( fuel ) costs to the tenant. Running costs are determined by the actual efficiency achieved in normal domestic operation which has little relationship to the efficiency achieved in testing for marketing purposes.

 

[hard-work]

It’s the only part they don’t make. It’s excatly the same as Baxi. Same step motor too

I’ll get a pic when I’m next in PB.

Probably a decent enough boiler. But no way it’s going to take over a big name brand. Too big for a start off.

Only PB seem to stock it. And only a few of their branches.

Changing a Navien 3-way valve. I never got which model.

 

[Deleted member 221031]

You never said that. Anyone can use the same casting and use different innards.

I’d be surprised if they use someone else’s hydro block and not the diverter cartridge designed for it! Not saying they don’t, it just wouldn’t make any sense.

They make no secret it’s a part they don’t make.

 

[Deleted member 221031]

Changing a Navien 3-way valve. I never got which model.

That’s not the UK one. The UK one looks like a Baxi bottom end

 

[hard-work]

I thought so by comparing pictures. One of the US models is 200,000 Btus. That would be welcome in the UK for sure. One good thing about Navien combis is that they modulate down to quite a low kW to most other boilers. The 40kW combi is on CH 33.5kW max and 3.9kW min. Just under 17 litre per min in DHW @35C temp rise.

 

[hard-work]

I’d be surprised if they use someone else’s hydro block and not the diverter cartridge designed for it! Not saying they don’t, it just wouldn’t make any sense.

They make no secret it’s a part they don’t make.

The Koreans being Koreans, may see a weak spot and replace that. A hydro block is just a brass casting, probably not even made by Baxi. I'll take it they use the same innards. I worked with Korean Hyundai HVAC engineers. They were very particular on reporting back any poor quality components, made by them or bought in, to have them replaced or any problems solved. Longevity and reliability was high up in their minds.

 

[hard-work]

The UK model. The 3-way valve is bottom left. Cartridge is easy to replace.

 

[hard-work]

Navien factory. Impressive.

 

[Deleted member 221031]

The UK model. The 3-way valve is bottom left. Cartridge is easy to replace.

It needs to be if it’s made by the same company who makes Baxi’s

 

[muggles]

The UK model. The 3-way valve is bottom left. Cartridge is easy to replace.

Personally I prefer a boiler where the 3 way valve never ever needs changing, because it doesn't have one, but each to their own...