New Install - Combi Boiler Recommendations

[Rosstitute]

Hello

Im currently looking at getting central heating installed in my maisonette flat. At the moment we have storage heaters with E7 energy tariff, however we got gas mains put into the gardens last year and ive subsequently arranged for SGN to put in a meter for me.

I am working with a local Central Heating company who have provided me with a few recommendations ranging in price.

Vaillant Plus 831 5 year warranty
Worcester CDi 29 Kw 5 year warranty
Baxi Duo Tec 28 Kw 5 year warranty
Potterton Titanium 28 Kw 7 year warranty
Vokera Vision 30 Kw 5 year warranty

Having trawled through google for feedback on these devices, all I seem to find is reviews with individuals saying what bad experiences they have had with these various boilers - there isn't one that stands out as being a "reliable" model/brand. As this is my first property purchase I have no experience with central heating to fall back on, my only source is my Dad who had a Baxi system for 20 years and said it was great.

Therefore Im really looking for any opinion from the vast experience on this forum in terms of which of these models would prove to be a reliable purchase

Many thanks

 

[paulthegas]

Vaillant all day long. Go to their website and enter your postcode and they will put you in touch with a registered installer, and he will be able to offer a 7 year warranty.

 

[dreadnoughtheating]

And after your hard-working local installer has put blood sweat and effort into installing it, registering it for you, for that most precious 'peace of mind' 7 year warranty, Vaillant and their 'service arm', will write to you explaining that they are able to look after you best....

(but, they don't send the same bloke year after year, or take any interest in the rest of the system, just your money - its not just one boiler company, they are all at it...)

Hard bitten? moi?

DH

 

[paulthegas]

Of course they're all at it, it's the world we live in now I'm afraid. How many quotes do you get accepted where you offer a boiler install with zero warranty, compared to the other guys who offer 7 years?

Vaillant are the best of a bad bunch, on the warranty register you can request that they don't contact the customer to offer a service plan etc. they are the best for the 'local installer' and reward you for fitting their products.

Sure they are expensive, but are quality products and proven over the years to be very reliable.

 

[transam]

Go with the vaillant or WB if you like plenty of plastic & rubber in your boiler?

go with one of the others.

probaly the Vokera imho

7 year warranty probably amounts to a bag of beans any way

 

[AngelesPlumbing]

Vokera all the way

 

[paulthegas]

Oh dear...

 

[transam]

Oh dear...

Oh dear ?? Vokera are one of the best boilers on the market , employ decent people as well , u can actually get through to there tech line

unlike vaillant ???

 

[Rosstitute]

Thanks for the feedback thus far - it certainly seems to be something that divides opinion.

 

[muggles]

Intergas Combi Compact HRE 36/30

The "which combi" question is asked on here once or twice a week, and yes opinion is certainly divided. If it was my own house, I'd fit an Intergas. Vaillant are expensive and made from plastic, as are Worcester Bosch but they have a bonus feature of being difficult to work on. If you're going for Baxi spend a bit more money and get the Platinum with a 10 year warranty (incidentally the DuoTec should have a 7 year warranty), be aware that both are well built with brass and copper but the sound insulation is poor so they are a bit loud. I have no experience of the Vokera

Hope that helps!

 

[boilerdoktor]

worcester Bosch all day long, quality product imo

 

[Dan Robinson]

 

[St0rmer66]

The Baxi DuoTec and Potterton Titanium are the exact same boiler with different outer cases so just go for the cheaper one. I've got one in my house and I put one in for my Gran too! As mentioned, not the smallest or the quietest but have a completely brass water section and are a doddle to work on with a nice long warranty. I guess you could call them the "brute force" approach. Worth mentioning, they also do a 33kw version (as opposed to the 28kw) which might be more comparable to the other options in terms of output and it isn't much more expensive.

 

[Rosstitute]

The Baxi DuoTec and Potterton Titanium are the exact same boiler with different outer cases so just go for the cheaper one. I've got one in my house and I put one in for my Gran too! As mentioned, not the smallest or the quietest but have a completely brass water section and are a doddle to work on with a nice long warranty. I guess you could call them the "brute force" approach. Worth mentioning, they also do a 33kw version (as opposed to the 28kw) which might be more comparable to the other options in terms of output and it isn't much more expensive.

The combi would be situated in a cupboard upstairs anyway so noise level isn't too much of a concern for myself to be totally honest. Reliability is my main purchasing criteria, I don't mind spending a little bit more to get a reliable product from a company that provide good support if something should go wrong.

I was under the impression that most of the warranty's offered are fulfilled by the installer - am I correct in saying that? Id rather see the guy Im working with get repeat business out of any purchase.

 

[Tibbot]

I was under the impression that most of the warranty's offered are fulfilled by the installer - am I correct in saying that? Id rather see the guy Im working with get repeat business out of any purchase.

No, if you wish to read, there are 3 other threads running, highlighting that is not the case.