Any registered Gas fitters here?

I need to replace a 20 year old Baxi Solo boiler with a heat only boiler on an open vented system.

Anyone here fitting or maintaining these on a regular basis and can suggest what are the better boilers to buy currently?

Thanks

 

Give Lambeth a shout, I think he might be your man, but if he turns up in those minging sandals remind him of the H&S rules.

 

I'd go with a Vailant if I were you.

Got a Daikin ASHP me self, saves me 1K a year compared to Oil.


(There's no Gas in the Posh area's!)

 

Don't go for a vaillant boiler. They are endless grief, and are having massive problems with there boilers. I used to fit them on a regular basis but they are a nightmare a year down the line. There new pcb boards in the new boilers don't work properly and the last 3 fitted all came with the same fault out of the box. Vaillant are still trying to fix these ones. They suffer from blocked heat exchangers because of the small bore they use for efficiently just can't cope with the dirt in a system even after a power flush and a dirt catcher/cleaner on the return to the boiler. I'd recommend worcester bosch personally, speaking to other plumbers I know they have had 2 call backs to faulty boilers in as many years. As appouse to me with 8+ in as many months on the vaillants.

Hope this helps.

 

Don't diss the sockdals.

My gas ticket's just run out I'll say right now. I wasn't aware of the pcb issues. Vaillants have been pretty good in the past. And they're nice to work on. Whereas I loathe working on WB.

Are you looking to replace it with another OV boiler? Straight swap?

Do you know if it's on an s-plan or a y-plan?

Are you replacing the cylinder?

 

Thanks for the replies guys.

Yep another OV heat only boiler, straight swap.

S plan

Cylinder and programmer to stay the same as they were both replaced 2 years ago as were the zone valves

Thanks

 

I am going to follow this thread with interest, not just for the sockdals debate but because we have to burn oil (no gas out here) it’s like mad max out there with all the tankers rushing around trying to keep everyone’s tanks topped up plus it’s costing me more money than my First Group shares.

 

Hence why I fecked Oil off for an ASHP.

Not for everyone I know especially if your gaff aint well insulated etc.

It is great though not having an Oil tank and not being able to run out of fuel etc

The ICE Rink round the back in Winter will not be to everyones taste though!

 

I hear you, Kent.

The two I'd consider would be Intergas and Broag Remeha. Both Dutch companies.

I fitted more European-type systems so this isn't my specialist area.
If it were my house I'd go with the Intergas cos they're dead simple, efficient and solidly made.

It sounds like you know more than most but I'll say it anyway. The new high efficiency (condensing) boilers need their flues siting a bit more sensitively than the older ones and you'll have an extra pipe (the condense pipe) coming off the machine which releases a wee bit of water off the boiler. They can freeze in winter so they need some thought as to routing. Ideally it'll run internally to a drain but they can be run outside for a short way too. Those are the two main considerations in terms of siting.

 

What news, Kent? Any progress?

I forgot to say: a long and decent warranty is always nice but not everything. Heat only boilers are pretty simple, rugged affairs.

 

Hi Lambeth,

Had 2 guys in for quotes,and awaiting them, and 2 more in on Tues and Weds evenings this coming week, then I can have a decent idea of what everyone is proposing and prices.

Both guys have already stated 18kw is big enough, thats covering 13 varying sized rads, half have TRVs, room stat, cylinder stat and programmer separate for heat and water modes, and zone valves on both heating and water, the cylinder, programmer and zone valves all about 2 years old, so all good, house has loft and wall insulation and double glazing, and that oversizing the boiler has no gain. A little knowledge is dangerous....but what I read appears to support their views.

One says powerflush, one says run a cleaner after drain down and commission, then add inhibitor.

Both have recommended Magnaclean sludge trap unit.

One guy said although not imperative to replace the existing Grundfos pump to one of the self modulating types as it will save money, personally not sure how a hundred quids worth of pump can save that much dosh, currently a superselectric 15-60. My opinion is if it aint broke........

So thats where I am right now...will see what the next 2 bring then take the plunge.

Thanks

 

Got three of those Inverter pumps in our Gaff, quite snazzy in action!

 

Sounds like you're right on it, shipmate! I have fitted a couple of modulating pumps and I'm not entirely convinced they're always the answer.

 

Aren't they doing away with the old style pumps and only making the alpha pumps now? New laws etc.