Help New Boiler

[Rod2808]

Hi, 17 year old boiler is becoming very temperamental.
I'd like a new one and opted for one of the online retailers - BOXT/boiler central/heatable as the plumbers I've spoken to locally are busy or not available for weeks.

After some sensible advice about a combi boiler for a two bed/one bath/6 radiator terraced house. Its in a kitchen cupboard so doesn't matter what it looks like, needs to be less than 300mm deep. Good if it was compatible with Hive thermostat.

Looking at Alpha E-Tec 28kw - £1600, 10 year warranty. Seems good value, some comments about expensive parts. Steel heat exchanger which I've read is better.
Worcester Greenstar CDI Compact - £2000 12 year warranty. Not really clear whats better about this than Greenstar 2000 or Greenstar i but chap who quoted said they were terrible and CDI was ok.
Ideal Logic+ 30 £1825.

Any help or suggestion very welcome. Just after a reliable boiler at a sensible price. Thanks.

 

[transam]

Afaik boxt are part owned by Worcester Bosch ?

afaik alpha use service agents for warranty work ? Not directly employed service fellas ?

 

[muggles]

Of those I'd choose the Alpha. The WB & Ideal will both be very inefficient on your heating system as their modulation is poor

 

[Razor900]

If you're changing the boiler I know it's an extra expense but there are more efficient thermostats around than the HIve

 

[Rod2808]

Thanks for your replies. Pleased to have someone say the Alpha is alright. I had a look at their warranty it doesn't look much different to Worcester's so hopefully won't cause huge problems if I have to use it.
Razor do you know how much difference it makes to have a more efficient thermostat, would a Nest be better? I quite like I can turn it off from my phone if I've forgotten and I'll be away for a while.

 

[sxturbo]

Thanks for your replies. Pleased to have someone say the Alpha is alright. I had a look at their warranty it doesn't look much different to Worcester's so hopefully won't cause huge problems if I have to use it.
Razor do you know how much difference it makes to have a more efficient thermostat, would a Nest be better? I quite like I can turn it off from my phone if I've forgotten and I'll be away for a while.

Pretty much all smart stats do that.

 

[muggles]

Thanks for your replies. Pleased to have someone say the Alpha is alright. I had a look at their warranty it doesn't look much different to Worcester's so hopefully won't cause huge problems if I have to use it.
Razor do you know how much difference it makes to have a more efficient thermostat, would a Nest be better? I quite like I can turn it off from my phone if I've forgotten and I'll be away for a while.

Hive is just a basic on-off thermostat, it has very little intelligence. It's a switch with an Internet connection. Nest (or Honeywell T6) use OpenTherm with compatible boilers like the Alpha to provide two way communication between boiler and thermostat, varying the flow temperature and power output of the boiler to match the heating requirements of the home.

Remember that any boiler is only a good as its installation. If it's launched on the wall in a day without the system being properly cleaned and radiators balanced, boiler set to match the system etc etc, it won't be efficient or last as long.

 

[ianmcd]

afaik alpha use service agents for warranty work ? Not directly employed service fellas ?

you better tell the direct employed engineers that

 

[transam]

you better tell the direct employed engineers that

oh thought they used serv agents

been a while since we were involved with Alpha

 

[ianmcd]

oh thought they used serv agents

been a while since we were involved with Alpha

good mate of mine has been with them for many years, I know quite a few direct engineers with them, good company to work for , they treat their staff well

 

[ianmcd]

@transam not sure if you know, I see you like your bikes, Alpha used to sponser Klaffi Honda at the Isle of man TT, cant remember the numbers but if you fitted so many boilers you got taken to the Island for the TT, best manu freebie ever , you might recognise a little known lad in the Alpha pic

 

[boolie]

I've had a Baxi Main Eco Elite 30 for about 6 years now when I bought it they only had 2 years warranty. Nothing wrong in the first two years.

1. New electrodes year 3
2. Got a new pump in year 4
3. New diverter valve year 4
4. Got a new fan in year 5
5. Had had a couple of gasket changes (normal service thing)
6. Couple of burner installation plates changed (serviceable part)

So excluding the serviceable parts I've spent about £300 on it. The boiler was £600. I've never had any downtime.. the faults were identified and fixed either during service or in one day. To be honest I think it's really good value for money.. if I'd bought a vaillant or Worcester.. would be paying nearly 2k for the same power output

The current version of the same boiler is even better - now it comes with a stainless steel heat exchanger and they've made a compact version which should fit in a cupboard, the price is pretty much the same and it now has a 5 year warranty.

I'm a big fan of Baxi - parts are cheap and readily available + they're British. Although I genuinely believe all boilers are pretty decent so long as you keep them maintained.

 

[ianmcd]

I'm a big fan of Baxi - parts are cheap and readily available + they're British.

Really ? they are Dutch owned not British owned

 

[boolie]

Really ? they are Dutch owned not British owned

Oh looks like their ownership model is now quite complicated - seems like they merged with another company? Anyway their HQ are in the UK and they are a big employer - TBH over the last 10 years their boilers have got better and their rep has much improved IMO

 

[Gasguru]

So easy to fool the public...no boilers are British...those that claim to be are assembling parts from overseas. Baxi actually import and rebadge some of their Dutch boilers for the UK lineup.
It's a lot of luck with boilers...Baxi have produced some of the worst boilers in history...some of their current range is ok but there's still some models you should avoid at all costs.