Megaflo or Santon?

[s1oww]

Are there any major differences between these 2 boilers?
Are you mainly paying extra for the megaflo name?
Its the Santon 150 and the Megaflo 145 i'm looking at.

http://www.inspiredheating.co.uk/acatalog/Santon_Premier_Plus_Unvented_Direct_Cylinders.html

http://www.inspiredheating.co.uk/acatalog/Heatrae_Megaflo_Direct_Unvented_Hot_Water_Cylinder.html

 

[Gasguru]

The Megaflo contains a pocket of air (trapped in the top of the cylinder) to absorb the extra volume of water and the cylinder heats up. This has to be regenerated from time to time - in some areas perhaps every 6 months. Personally I would forget Megaflo, they have always been overpriced for an undeserved reputation...they are also now owned by Baxi so the quality can only go downhill.

The Santon has an extra vessel to contain expanded water. It contains presurised air which is checked (ideally every year) and re-inflated if necessary.

Cylinders with external expansion vessels are shorter and often the vessel can be placed beside the cylinder if height clearance is tight.

Although (in theory) you must be qualified to service and maintain unvented cylinders it is easier to re-inflate/check the expansion vessel than to re-instate the air buble (which can sometimes prove troublesome).

 

[Agile]

Like Geoff, I also prefer the Santon with the external expansion vessel.

Its a bit cheaper and the guarantee is a little shorter but overall I think it represents better value.

Tony

 

[gas4you]

As someone pointed out to me on here recently, Santon now come with a 25 year warranty, to which I was very suprised.

They both come out of the same factory about a mile down the road from me.

 

[sturharv]

Personally I would forget Megaflo, they have always been overpriced for an undeserved reputation...they are also now owned by Baxi so the quality can only go downhill.

It is worth noting that Santon are also owned by Baxi! I do agree though, go for the Santon.

 

[Gasguru]

I reserve the right to change my mind now I know Baxi have taken over Santon. but external vessel better than the bubble top.

However AFAIK all these warranties are conditional on the cylinder being installer correctly by a G3 installer AND serviced annually by a G3 installer. I suspect less than 1 in 1000 cyclinders will have the book stamped up every year so the warranties are worthless.

 

[gas4you]

The 25 year warranty is ONLY for the stainless steel cylinder and I doubt this will rust through so they are onto a winner.

It is only really warranting the welds etc.