New Combi Boiler Installation - Giving me a headache.

[SPOODZ]

Hi there,

Had 4 quotes not for central heating boilers, 2 guys out of the yellow pages, 2 recommended. Prices seem reasonable all round, but everyone manages to cast doubt in my mind over using them.

First problem is boiler selection, I've sat and read countless 'which boiler is best' threads and have concluded that the perfect boiler doesnt exist
Recommendations from the installers have come in the form of Baxi, Main, Glowworm, Vokera and Viessmann - the last one being out of my price range.

Installer 1 (yell)
Gloworm and Vokera quotes + a magnitec to get sludge out of the system.

Installer 2 (yell)
Baxi quote, bit dearer, includes a system flush

Installer 3 (recommendation)
Viessmann quote, happy to fit any boiler but says these are the best

Installer 4 (used for repairs previously)
Main boiler quote - same price as baxi quote minus the magnitec, drained some water out of the radiator and said the system didnt need a flush.

Boiler replacing a halstead quattro gold that is dying, and is for a '2 up 2 down' end terraced with a loft conversion, 7 radiators. 6-8kw wood burner in the livingroom.

(1) seemed good but i dont know if gloworm boilers are any good, this was an A rated 30kw condensing. Said could do a flush for another days labour, but doesnt need it.

(2) an unknown installer, bit over budget.

(3) rubbished every manufacturer other than his recommended.

(4) seemed to have his specs mixed up, quoted on a Main 30HE stating 2yr warranty, 12.5L flow rate, A rated. This doesnt match the Main web site specs, all of there boilers are 1 year only apparently.

Am I just being an annoying fussy customer? I just want to make sure a proper job is done to give the new boiler the best chance of lasting beyond its warranty period!!

Any comments/ recommendations? My old boiler is 15 years old and really sounds quite ill, so isnt going to see out another winter!

 

[namsag]

The guy offering 2 years on the main will be registered with them thus the extra year

 

[SPOODZ]

That explains that one.

Forgot to add a quick pi of the drain off radiator water:

 

[Mark Br]

(4) seemed to have his specs mixed up, quoted on a Main 30HE stating 2yr warranty, 12.5L flow rate, A rated. This doesnt match the Main web site specs, all of there boilers are 1 year only apparently.

Sounds like he is quoting the Main 30 Eco which is A rated and comes with a 2 yr warranty.

Can't really answer on the powerflush as I haven't seen the state of the system, personally I always do one as I don't want to give the manufacturer any excuse not to fix it if the boiler breaks down, same goes with installing a magnetic filter.

Edit - Just seen your pics, I'd definately flush it.

 

[petit_pablo]

That water is dirty, id flush it at least with mains water before fitting the new boiler.

 

[spareshunter]

You don’t say what part of the UK you are from? This would help. Perhaps if you divulged in this information someone near you on this site could help in your dilemma. Start with BG and work downwards. Let us know how you get on.

Think of this! What's the best car? Best bank? Best hair dryer? It goes on and on!!!!!! Manufactures of boilers ; they all have glossy marketing web sites, blurb etc; and spend huge amounts of ££££ trying to entice you the consumer (spending money person). Once you have parted with this hard earned cash you will undoubtedly be lead up the garden path if anything goes wrong.

Car manufactures have a warranty period, not a (but that’s another storey) rock solid guarantee. Boiler manufactures of course offer a ‘guarantee‘for whatever period 1-2-3-5-7-years, as they have always done (see hype and blurb). Until the best thing since ‘sliced bread’ goes belly (don’t work) then, if they can, they will blame the installer for whatever reason, the latest wheeze is magnetite.

 

[kevindgas]

personally i would eliminate the Glowworm from your list (just don't trust them after the disasterous HXi & CXi ranges)
all the manufacturers will insist on a flush (the water as already stated is filthy)

not fitted any Mains so can't give you any good or bad on them.

 

[gas4you]

Main is just a re-badged Baxi, but a lot cheaper and less warranty.

 

[bengasman]

I'm suspicious of anyone who recommends glowworm or vokera.
Dito for anyone that says your system does not need a flush.
Viessmann is a very good boiler, and if you look at value for money, you could argue they beat the rest. Not sure how their warrantee is in real life, but 5 years parts and labour is not bad.

 

[SPOODZ]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I'm in North Manchester. So scratch vokera and glowworm off the list. 3 of the installers said a flush was unnescesary.

Lookin at boiler prices against quotes, installers are all coming in around £400-£450 + boiler cost, which seems fair to me, but not if the jobs not gonna be done properly. Whats involved in a flush? I'll drain the system and do it myself before the installer comes!

What colour should the water in my system be? clear? Guy that came last night said 'yeah thats ok, we'll run the water through a bit and it'll come out clear.' I'm guessing theres a bit more to it than that?

I'm starting to think i'll have the clunks, rattles and bangs ironed out of my 15yo combi and keep it, new boilers are mostly labelled as cheaply made, poor quality breakdowns waiting to happen.

Re viessmann, quote was on a vitodens 100w with wireless timer and weather compensator. Maybe I need to save up the extra cash for a boiler with a 5 year warranty and thumbs up all round?

 

[bengasman]

Re viessmann, quote was on a vitodens 100w with wireless timer and weather compensator. Maybe I need to save up the extra cash for a boiler with a 5 year warranty and thumbs up all round?

Afaik all Viessmanns have 5 year warrantee if the installer is approved.

Don't expect a top job for £400, and don't bother with weather compensation unless you go for a really good installation.

 

[Mark Br]

£400 - £450 is really cheap in my part of the country, I don't know the rates for North Manchester but maybe the advise you are getting on the flush is indicative of the quality of the installer!!

How did you find the installers, always try to go for a recommendation if you can.

 

[5TIMES]

that sounds far to cheap to me, i live on merseyside. boiler swap supply an fit £1550 is about the average round the north west.

 

[mickyg]

I'm suspicious of anyone who recommends glowworm

why?

He hasnt even said what model yet and you've already dismissed it. If you have a good reason then fine. But the Ultracom range is as good as any mid priced boiler on the market and approved installers such as myself can offer a 5yr warranty too back it up.

 

[transam]

Personally I would go with a boiler that uses stainless steel heat exc , most of these 5 year plus warrantys are fairly new (ish ) wether they amount to anything when some boilers start failing en masse ? only time will tell , most manus ? will attempt to weasel there way out of any warranty obligation generally blame the installer , & most will un-doubtedly revolve around water quality , was not flushed , or was not flushed correctly , wrong inhibitor , not enough inhibitor ect ect

on warranty from an installer's point of view I would go with the main as it has the shortest warranty