Installers and their preferred boiler

[rhinosaw]

Installers seem to have their preferred choice when it comes to fitting boilers.
Some prefer fitting WB some Vaillant, etc.
when questioned they will fit other brands ie Vaillant preferred will fit a WB.
Is it better to stick with the boiler that the installer prefers simply because all his experience is based on that particular make or should any installer be able to install any make without any problems?
Thanks

 

[dilalio]

It's better to choose your installer wisely and perhaps ask them what boiler they have in their own home.

Any decent engineer will have fitted a number of different products (whatever field they're in) and when confronted with something new it is in our nature to assess it and compare with competing products. This is how experience is gained and opinions made.

Other installers may be more "business" minded and will lean towards products that earn them the biggest rewards and perks.

So... Choose your "installer" wisely, not your boiler

 

[rhinosaw]

Thanks for that, just that decent looking small co came round and is obviously pushing Vaillant which I don't want because of their lousy customer service and if you call them out under warranty u still have to give your credit card up front in case it's not a boiler problem.

 

[Gasguru]

All manufacturers have kickbacks/incentives but installers often stick with one particular make due to familiarity with it and the install process.
Installing another make/model for the first time can involve considerable manual reading/agro; getting to know all the intricacies and mistakes in the manuals etc.....and that has to be paid for.
For example there have been several boiler models where the straightforward job of coring the flue hole has become a shambles due to the manufacturer incorrectly printing the wall template.

 

[rhinosaw]

That makes sense, suppose better to have someone who knows the boiler inside out.
Than possibly only fitting his second one
Thanks

 

[muggles]

As above, different installers have different reasons for promoting what they fit. I promote Intergas because I believe they're the best on the market. Someone else might think something else is better (although I'd challenge them to explain why).

Equally, some installers will push a brand because their approved installer status for that brand relies on them fitting X number of boilers a year. Worcester & Baxi both have this model - it's not about the quality of installation or even the product knowledge, it's purely about how many boilers an installer manages to sell to an unsuspecting public in a year.

Some installers will fit whatever their customer asks for of course, but I find they tend to have very little interest in the technical workings of the products they fit.

 

[martyndc88]

Thanks for that, just that decent looking small co came round and is obviously pushing Vaillant which I don't want because of their lousy customer service and if you call them out under warranty u still have to give your credit card up front in case it's not a boiler problem.

If great customer service you want the you've got to choose WB

 

[rhinosaw]

Yes, I know that WB get a lot of flack on here and realise that prob not the best boiler but at least they will come and sort it if it does break down.
Having said that I know a couple of people with a WB, never had any trouble.

 

[martyndc88]

WB get so much flack because people love to hate them because they're so dominant in the market. Not many on here have got a good word to say about many manufacturers.
Personal opinion, For performance and customer service you won't go far wrong.

 

[vulcancontinental]

One model in one brands range may be excellent, other models may be bettered by a particular model in another manufacturers line up. Choose what the boiler will be expected to do and start from there and what your property can provide (cold main, house size, bathrooms etc.)

Beware of zealots, they do not have a balanced view, beware of those who don’t have any opinion at all just want the job, they don’t have you’re interests at heart.

 

[Keithmac]

Our WB is coming up 10 trouble free years now, no complaints.

We have an independent heating engineer who services it once a year and doesn't have a bad word to say about it (he didn't fit it by the way).

 

[dilalio]

Made of cheese

 

[dilalio]

Our WB is coming up 10 trouble free years now, no complaints.

We have an independent heating engineer who services it once a year and doesn't have a bad word to say about it (he didn't fit it by the way).

And?

 

[Keithmac]

And?

It's not as bad as some people make out..

 

[vulcancontinental]

I think Diallo was making reference to the size of your sample base.