Advice on choosing a new boiler?

[RigidRaider]

4 bed house with conventional gravity system, current balanced flue boiler is 20 years old, keeps blowing out, leaks along the seams of the heat exchanger, makes funny smells and alarming noises. We plan to redo the utility room soon so we want to take the opportunity to fit a new boiler.

Any recommendations on boiler or supplier?

I believe modern boilers have electric start? Will this require any wiring changes?

Any ideas on cost? How much more efficient will a modern boiler be than the old?

Thanks as always for your experienced advice!

 

[ChrisR]

This question is posted several times a week, it seems, RR. It's boring and we can't write a book each time. Do a Search!

 

[kevnurse]

If you have a big house with a large family you ought to consider a traditional boiler that will heat a separate large hot water tank. Combi boilers are great for some homes and most plumbers like fitting them because of the "all in one" concept. Modern boilers fit against external walls and use the exhaust pipe as a secondary heat exchanger to squeeze the last bit of heat out of the exhaust. This causes steam plumes, but the concept is very good. Prices vary, but I would buy the biggest domestic boiler you can afford from a brand name. The bigger it is the less hard work it has to do therefore the longer it will last. And yes, the old days of the pilot flame and the piezzo igniter are gone. Most boilers now use a 230V spark plug (igniter) in conjunction with a heat sensor and timer. As a consequence, every time the boiler fires up, you wear out a little more of the igniter, which is the most common failure in modern boilers. At least we're no longer wasting gas in the pilot light.....

 

[Doctor Drivel]

Check your mains water flow rate and pressure. If 25 litres/minute or above, then go for a high flowrate combi. These can be wall or floor mounted. Some can go up to 3 bathrooms. Then high pressure showers and no noisy pumps.

Wall mounted:
Glow Worm
Alpha CD 50

Floor mounted:
Viessmann 333
Potterton Powermax
Worcester Bosch 440 Highflow
Vokera
ACV HeatMaster
Ideal Istore
Gledhill Gulfstream
etc.

 

[Doctor Drivel]

If you have a big house with a large family you ought to consider a traditional boiler that will heat a separate large hot water tank.

Things have moved on...

 

[Dan Robinson]

Some can go up to 3 bathrooms

What? Not simultaneously they won't

 

[gas4you]

Stick to Vaillant, Worcestor, Veissman or Alpha.

Never consider and Ideal boiler these days and only if your budget is tight a Glow Worm

 

[Doctor Drivel]

Some can go up to 3 bathrooms

What? Not simultaneously they won't

If you have the flowrate at the mains pipe, the Gledhill Gulfstream will do three bathrooms, depending on which model you choose - a one-box solution, a combi.

 

[Doctor Drivel]

Stick to Vaillant, Worcestor, Veissman or Alpha.

Never consider and Ideal boiler these days and only if your budget is tight a Glow Worm

Underneath most Glow Worms are Vaillants - owned by Vaillant.

 

[RigidRaider]

Well that's give me some names to play with.

Yes I appreciate it's a frequent question. Thanks all the same!

 

[gas4you]

Yes they do own them, but Glow Worm build quality is crap, the diagnostics are far inferior, Glow Worm boilers are often discontined Vaillant models as in the HXi is the old Ecomax Pro, whilst Vaillant have a new Ecotec 400 series and the Glow Worm warranty is only parts and labour for 1 year, parts only second year.

But then you knew this already didn't you Drivel ? Or haven't you googled this enough yet

 

[Doctor Drivel]

Yes they do own them, but Glow Worm build quality is rubbish, the diagnostics are far inferior,

They are mainly made in Holland. They are NOT rubbish at all, being very reliable.

Glow Worm boilers are often discontined Vaillant models as in the HXi is the old Ecomax Pro, whilst Vaillant have a new Ecotec 400 series and the Glow Worm warranty is only parts and labour for 1 year, parts only second year.

But then you knew this already didn't you Drivel

Yep. And Glow Worms are cheaper too.

Valliant & Glow Worm They tend to use these heat exchangers, as do some Ravenheat models theses days.

http://www.giannoni.fr/En_pages/En_echangeurinox.html

There you go. Most boilers are kits made up from third party suppliers kit. Giannoni heat Xs, Grundfos or Wilo pumps, Honeywell gas valves, etc. The part which tends to be critical in reliability is the pcb, which tends to be made for each maker and not an off the shelf item as are most other parts.

 

[Agile]

If you have the flowrate at the mains pipe, the Gledhill Gulfsteam will do three bathrooms, depending on which model you choose - a one-box solution, a combi.

Gulf STEAM ???

Or should that be GulfstReam ???

 

[corgiman]

well that depends on whether the unit is over heating

if they are then a gulf steam would be a good name for it

 

[nickso]

well that depends on whether the unit is over heating

if they are then a gulf steam would be a good name for it

lol thats one of the classic faults with the old gulfstream nails.......aps or the stat going permanently short and turning the house into a turkish bath.