cheap and reliable combi

[mery]

hiya,
my 5 year old ferroli condensing boiler finally packed in after many problems, i need to buy a new one. i don't have much money and was thinking to get B&Q one, some as cheap as £399. but are they good quality and reliable. what do you think, any ideas, many thanks
i forgot to say its end terrace house with 3 bedrooms and 2 adults & 2 kids. thanks

 

[mickyg]

baxi group have probably the best budget boilers imo
anything with a baxi, potterton or main badge willl be reasonable value.
If you can stretch a few more bob, then a glowworm ultracom or vaillant ecotec pro would be a decent investment. avoid anything from the diy stores, ariston, ravenheap, heatline, ferroli, halstead, sime,

 

[combispecialist]

if ure gonna go cheap again u will be in same position as ure ferroli at the minute,best to spend that little bit more and get a more reliable boiler,a good vaillant ure looking at possibly 15 years or more out of it

 

[corgiman]

no such thing as a cheap and reliable combi imho

 

[PEDANTICVINDICTIVEMAN]

No such thing as a reliable boiler anymore period.

 

[DP]

Mery, replace a Condensing Ferroli for a customer in Anniesland las week. Fitted a Gloworm boiler.

Potterton Gold looks good.

As has been said, no such thing as a reliable combie nowadays. Gone are the days when a combi could last 25 years Sine 18, VCW, Vokera Flowmatic forerunner the Turbo being some exaomples.

Any boiler is good but must be fitted to a clean system and install done by the book or you are wasteing your time and money regardless of boiler build and quality

 

[Agile]

If you can still find a Biasi M96-24 ( or -28 or -32 ) still left they are one of the most reliable boilers on the market and very reasonably priced and on sale at B&Q.

They have now bought out a new design called an M180 or Activia. It has completely new components and is so new that we have not had enough experience to know if they are going to be reliable. But they have a longer warrantee which is an advantage.

You dont say whats wrong with your boiler but if its just sludge then that has to be completely removed before any new boiler is fitted otherwise the new boiler will suffer the same fate as your Ferolli.

Tony

 

[mery]

hi, inside combi i was told are 2 tanks and one of them has a hole, combi was somehow fixed in january but pressure was up and down all time. also water was dripping occasionaly and few times combi made a noise like was gonna explode.and lastly last week it didnt ignite, and there was no hot water and heating any more. i didnt bother calling engineer as i thought no worth to pay just for a call out.

If you can still find a Biasi M96-24 ( or -28 or -32 ) still left they are one of the most reliable boilers on the market and very reasonably priced and on sale at B&Q.

They have now bought out a new design called an M180 or Activia. It has completely new components and is so new that we have not had enough experience to know if they are going to be reliable. But they have a longer warrantee which is an advantage.

You dont say whats wrong with your boiler but if its just sludge then that has to be completely removed before any new boiler is fitted otherwise the new boiler will suffer the same fate as your Ferolli.

Tony

 

[DeltaT]

Some B&Qs still have the Heatline Vizo 24 in stock. A great wee boiler for the money, we fitted loads of them for Landlords & they've been first class. However as said; the systems were as clean as a nuns knickers & they were commissioned correctly.

All top notch componants in them & dead easy to repair, if needed.

http://www.heatline.co.uk/boilers/products/vizo

 

[hammerswinger]

Another vote for the Baxi / Potterton range, decent enough boilers & reliable as anything else out there these days.

The Baxi Platinum / Duotec is the same boiler just the warranty differs, 5 years & 2 years respectively.

The Potterton Gold / Promax are the same insides as the Baxi's just a different case & different warranties, 2 years & 1 year.

Check out some of the boiler deals on eBay.
(spotted a Promax 28HE for £550 !)


Cheers.

 

[transam]

B&Q still have some of the stainless steel heat exc , boiler's still in stock , & they were fairly reliable , they have recently moved over to an ally secondary heat exc , on there B rated boiler's , not good in my opinion !

It should also be noted that although the boiler's ( I have used ) are reliable the actual company , biasi U.K , are in my veiw a lousey company to deal with !!!!

 

[DP]

OP which Ferroli do you have. Was not aware Ferrolis have tanks and such like containers fitted within.

Might not be much wrong with the boiler.

 

[mery]

hiya,
the combi is ferroli maxima 35 c,pre mix condensing combination bolier.what a name!!
now it doesn't ignite and doesn't give any fault on screen! but it's not giving hot water or heat radiators! i don't know what to do.

OP which Ferroli do you have. Was not aware Ferrolis have tanks and such like containers fitted within.

Might not be much wrong with the boiler.

 

[DP]

The fact that boiler is not working at all is a good start. Fault is there and can be found.

Check boiler is not switched off on the wall plate
Check boiler pressure.
Check ON/ OFF button. Green light on switch should be on

Would be OTT to replace boiler when there might not be much wrong with it.

By the way, I am looking at the boiler manual and see no tank in it let alone two tanks.

 

[mery]

hi, thanks for the advice.i was steering away from it but i'll brave it and try your suggestions. i'll let you know. regards.

The fact that boiler is not working at all is a good start. Fault is there and can be found.

Check boiler is not switched off on the wall plate
Check boiler pressure.
Check ON/ OFF button. Green light on switch should be on

Would be OTT to replace boiler when there might not be much wrong with it.

By the way, I am looking at the boiler manual and see no tank in it let alone two tanks.