New Boiler recs please

[BoxerfanUK]

Good evening all,

New to this forum, but here's hoping someone can help.

My CH Boiler has packed up today.

Don't know what's wrong with it as yet, but am thinking that due to it's age I may as well prepare for the worst and seek some advice on a new boiler. I'm trying to get an idea of what's best and at what price before I call in a plumber as I'm loathe to get ripped off!

The current boiler is almost 18 years old and is an Ideal Turbo 2 model 18 Gas condensing boiler.

I have a few questions;

1) I want to replace with a new condensing open vented (not combi) boiler, so what do you recommend in terms of price, energy efficiency and reliability?

2) I'm a bit confused about what size boiler I need!! I've read that too large a boiler is just as bad as too smaller one! The current boiler is output rated at 18-19 KW (61-65 btu) but i did one of those online calculators (energy saving trust) and it recommends a size for my house of around 11.5 KW so am now wondering if this is correct so does anyone know of any other online calculators I could try.

3) Names of any recommended suppliers?

House is a pretty standard 4 bed detached on two floors.

Hope someone can help.

Cheers

Martin

 

[Doctor Drivel]

Get a high flow combi. The Ethos 54kW is excellent.

 

[Agile]

Please ignore the last posting! He is NOT CORGI registered and is in fact retired with an agenda of rubbishing genuine installers. He used to work on the design of burners for industrial boilers but has never been able to do hands on installation work.

The 11.5 kW sounds correct for the heat loss but you need to add 2 kW for water heating, and then size to the next highest. A 15 kW Worcester 15 Ri for example!

I do take exception to your comment about expecting to be ripped off! There are a few cowboys but the vast majority of those in this industry are genuine helpful people who never rip anyone off! Ignore the under 30s and you are unlikely to go wrong. Just ask in advance about the charging policy.

Tony

 

[BoxerfanUK]

Agile,

I apologize I didn't mean to insinuate that ALL plumbers rip you off but admit that what I wrote could read in that way. My last experience with a plumber where he replaced a small electrical part in the zone valve, he was here for 20 minutes and charged me £135.00 for the privilige! I later found out that the part cost about £3.00. I appreciate there are call out fees and I am paying for his expertise and time too, but just thought that 135 for 20 minutes was excessive!

Anyway, thanks for your advice, so is there a particular Worcester model I should look out for? I've also looked at Vaillant eco tec 418 model, what are they like? Or are they all much of a muchness!

I also see that on some models it gives a Kw 'range' e.g, Vaillant ecoTEC plus 418 - 5.0 - 18.3kW! Does this mean that this particular model operates within those two Kw figures? Or are their individual specific output models within the 418 range?

So, Assuming I buy a boiler for, say, £750.00, how much should I expect to pay someone to come out and fit/commission it, and how long roughly should this take?

Sorry for so many questions.

Martin

 

[gasandoilman]

Worecester 15Ri as agile said is hard to beat very close is the vaillant not so keen on potterton
But the worecester oil boilers are cr@p

But that is just my opinion

As for finding an installer ask a friend and go for recommendation

 

[BoxerfanUK]

Thanks gasandilman, but what if I don't have any friends or recs?

 

[robertito]

Boxerfan...the points you are raising are exactly the ones I was thinking of raising myself, I'm looking at the Viessmann (Vitodens) compact, and need to choose between 18 and 24 kW. I'm inclined towards the lower rating, as there should be less of a tendency to short-cycle. Also, if there was severe weather and I really needed more heat, I could use some supplementary gas or electric heating. If the gas or electricity were unavailable, the boiler wouldn't work anyway !
Any comments from anyone about the Vitodens 100 Compact would be welcome....

 

[gas4you]

I would look at the Ecotec Plus 418, Glow Worm HXi18 or the Worcester as mentioned.

Don't know abot the Worcester, but the other 2 can be range rated during commissioning to only run at what is needed.

Why are you not considering a system boiler though?

Most of this has been covered in the FAQs though.

 

[BoxerfanUK]

Why are you not considering a system boiler though?

Most of this has been covered in the FAQs though.

Dave,

Can't see it in the FAQ! I thought I couldn't have a sealed system unless I also had one of those 'megaflow' cylinders and all that!

Not that clued up on it i'm afraid

 

[htgeng]

Boxerfan...the points you are raising are exactly the ones I was thinking of raising myself, I'm looking at the Viessmann (Vitodens) compact, and need to choose between 18 and 24 kW. I'm inclined towards the lower rating, as there should be less of a tendency to short-cycle. Also, if there was severe weather and I really needed more heat, I could use some supplementary gas or electric heating. If the gas or electricity were unavailable, the boiler wouldn't work anyway !
Any comments from anyone about the Vitodens 100 Compact would be welcome....

Its good if you need a compact box, but it doesn't have the pump/prv built in. A reliable alternative would be an Atag E 22. That has a wide modulation range anyway, down to around 4kw. Slightly larger case though, but it does make servicing a lot easier.