EvoHome with a Vaillant boiler?

[slicendice]

I'm in the market for a new boiler and after a great deal of research it looked like I'd got it down to one of two models - one is Vaillant and the other Baxi.

I also need the ability to independently control different temps in different rooms, so had identified Honeywell EvoHome as the best option for me.

The thing is, I recently read that Vaillant boilers don't officially support OpenTherm, so I'm wondering if the EvoHome would even work with the Vaillant boiler I was looking at (ecoTec Pro 30). I emailed Honeywell and asked that very question and their response included the following:

• As it is not possible to give detailed and specific installation/design advice via telephone or email since all heating systems are individual we would recommend that a survey of the property is carried out to ensure that the correct components are selected, that the property is suitable for wireless communication and that the individual requirements of the occupant can be taken into account.
  
• evohome is suitable for most wet heating systems including S-Plan, Y-Plan and Under Floor Heating, it will work with both Combination and System Boilers, Oil and Gas
  
• evohome is suitable for basic boilers and also boilers with OpenTherm control with the addition of the OpenTherm module R8810A101

So a bit woolly and by no means definitive.

I did read it's possible to buy a module that provides OpenTherm functionality to Vaillant boilers, but that it's not officially offered for UK Vaillant boilers so wiring one in could invalidate the warranty.

Can anyone definitively confirm whether evoHome would work with a Vaillant ecoTec Pro 30 or not? (And by "work" I mean as in fully work...not with reduced functionality or via some codge)

 

[muggles]

Evohome will work with Vaillant, but to get the maximum benefit you'd be much better off getting a boiler with OpenTherm. Have a look at Intergas - they play very nicely with EvoHome via OpenTherm and are an excellent boiler too.

 

[slicendice]

Evohome will work with Vaillant, but to get the maximum benefit you'd be much better off getting a boiler with OpenTherm. Have a look at Intergas - they play very nicely with EvoHome via OpenTherm and are an excellent boiler too.

Thanks for the info...that's pretty much the conclusion I'd come to, that it would work to some degree but potentially not fully. And when investing this much cash in a new heating system, I want to make sure everything's as compatible as possible.

I've heard other people recommend Intergas but a couple of things make me unsure: firstly, there seem to be limited long term reviews (that I could find) and secondly, the closest Intergas-approved installers seem to have very limited online presence, which makes it hard to ascertain much about them.

 

[muggles]

I know installers who have Intergas boilers approaching their 20th birthday on their books. Long term reliability is proving to be excellent.

What's your nearest town? Might be able to recommend an installer...

 

[slicendice]

I know installers who have Intergas boilers approaching their 20th birthday on their books. Long term reliability is proving to be excellent.

What's your nearest town? Might be able to recommend an installer...

Thanks muggles...I'm in Sale in South Manchester

 

[muggles]

Call Mike at Ainsdale Gas http://ainsdalegas.co.uk/ he says he's happy to travel out to you, and he'll do an excellent job

 

[slicendice]

Call Mike at Ainsdale Gas http://ainsdalegas.co.uk/ he says he's happy to travel out to you, and he'll do an excellent job

Just when I thought I'd narrowed it down to a choice of one...!

Thanks for the recommendation. Can I ask, is that recommendation based simply on the fact that he's geographically the closest Intergas-approved supplier/fitter? Or that he's the closest one you'd actually recommend? Only reason I ask is that I usually prefer to go local, esp for things like this, as it's way easier to get a visit sorted from someone round the corner than someone an hour's drive away (if there are any issues, teething problems, etc)

 

[muggles]

I know Mike well and he's an excellent installer, very technically knowledgeable and does a great job. There are a couple of others who are closer to you, but I don't know what their work is like

 

[dilalio]

Only reason I ask is that I usually prefer to go local, esp for things like this, as it's way easier to get a visit sorted from someone round the corner than someone an hour's drive away

Of course that makes sense but, when you want to be very specific about what you want as a system and how you expect it to perform, you usually have to expand your catchment area to locate the expertise... Same with anything that requires specialisation.

 

[slicendice]

Of course that makes sense but, when you want to be very specific about what you want as a system and how you expect it to perform, you usually have to expand your catchment area to locate the expertise... Same with anything that requires specialisation.

Good point, well made

 

[slicendice]

I know Mike well and he's an excellent installer, very technically knowledgeable and does a great job. There are a couple of others who are closer to you, but I don't know what their work is like

Thanks for the recommendation...Mike's been really helpful with all my (many!) questions and helped decide on an Intergas boiler. He's going to be fitting it the week after next so I'm looking forward to having a boiler that actually works properly!

 

[muggles]

That's good to hear, I'm certain you'll get an excellent job