Hi, I've just received some quotes for installing a new boiler in my home, and not only do they vary massively on price, but also the equipment being suggested. I would appreciate your comments/thoughts.
My house has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms and is occupied by both myself, my wife and three sons aged 15, 13 and 9. Two of the bathrooms are used simultaneously each morning, but our current 11 year old boiler (Saunier Duval Thelia Twin 28e) can only cope with supplying water/pressure to one shower at a time and any attempt to use a 2nd shower simultaneously, or turning on any other taps results in reduced pressure.
It is vital that the new system meets the following criteria:
- More efficient and reliable
- Cheaper to run
- MUST PROVIDE ENOUGH WATER/PRESSURE FOR TWO SHOWERS SIMULTANEOUSLY
The first quote was provided by a well know, large UK organisation, who also measured the flow rate as 20l/min at 1 bar. They said the mains pressure was extremely good (can't remember if they provided me with a figure, but 7 bar seems to spring to mind!):
Boiler: Worcester Greenstar Highflow 440 CDi High Efficiency £2081.72
Horizontal flue terminal: £188.56
Combi for Combi Boiler Replacement Installation £614.69
Connect Boiler Electrics & Test £158.62
£961.87
Install mini pressure expansion vessel £69.38
Flue plume displacement kit £105.07
Flue plume displacement 1 mtr extension x 2 £64.08
Flue plume displacement 93' elbow £45.00
Condensate waste to external soil pipe £28.21
Install black plastic pipe (32mm x 3mtrs) x 2 £66.08
External condensate connection £52.16
Install copper pipe (15mm x 3mtrs) x 2 £89.60
Install copper pipe (22mm x 3mtr) x 2 £107.66
Install copper gas pipe work (22mm x 3mtr) £53.83
Insulate heating system pipe x 4 £25.84
Insulate heating system pipe x 4 £22.20
Other building work £147.39
Install boiler auto by pass £245.10
Waste collection and disposal £41.12
£1,162.72
Install Magnaclean Professional 22mm magnetic filter £218.55
System water treatment and powerflush £505.18
£723.73
Total price inc. VAT £4,930.04
The second quote is from a local company. This company didn't measure the flow rate or pressure, but did turn taps on around the house and made an assumption of what the measurements were!
Worcester Bosch 37cdi boiler
Standard Flue
Programmable room stat
powerflush system
X100 inhibitor
Total price inc. VAT: £2,895
When I called this local company back to inform of the measured flow rate, they suggested that maybe the Worcester Bosch 42cdi would probably be better as this can handle a continuous flow rate of 17l/min.
The third quote is from a local plumber who discussed the installation of an unvented cylinder (megaflow) and system boiler. This was partly as a result of him fitting this type of system for a friend of mine who lives in the same area. He didn't take any measurements, but assumed we would be getting the same as my friend. I haven't yet received any prices from him.
One concern I have about the 440 high flow boiler is that it has an internal water storage and that once this is depleted the boiler will not be able to continue to supply the same flow/pressure to two showers operating simultaneously as it only has a 29.2kW output, compared to the continuous 42kW output of the 42cdi.
A few questions spring to mind:
- Would we benefit from a Megaflow system with 20l/min flow rate or is this just too expensive an alternative for any small benefit it might give over a larger boiler?
- Which system would be best suitable to drive two showers simultaneously.
My house has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms and is occupied by both myself, my wife and three sons aged 15, 13 and 9. Two of the bathrooms are used simultaneously each morning, but our current 11 year old boiler (Saunier Duval Thelia Twin 28e) can only cope with supplying water/pressure to one shower at a time and any attempt to use a 2nd shower simultaneously, or turning on any other taps results in reduced pressure.
It is vital that the new system meets the following criteria:
- More efficient and reliable
- Cheaper to run
- MUST PROVIDE ENOUGH WATER/PRESSURE FOR TWO SHOWERS SIMULTANEOUSLY
The first quote was provided by a well know, large UK organisation, who also measured the flow rate as 20l/min at 1 bar. They said the mains pressure was extremely good (can't remember if they provided me with a figure, but 7 bar seems to spring to mind!):
Boiler: Worcester Greenstar Highflow 440 CDi High Efficiency £2081.72
Horizontal flue terminal: £188.56
Combi for Combi Boiler Replacement Installation £614.69
Connect Boiler Electrics & Test £158.62
£961.87
Install mini pressure expansion vessel £69.38
Flue plume displacement kit £105.07
Flue plume displacement 1 mtr extension x 2 £64.08
Flue plume displacement 93' elbow £45.00
Condensate waste to external soil pipe £28.21
Install black plastic pipe (32mm x 3mtrs) x 2 £66.08
External condensate connection £52.16
Install copper pipe (15mm x 3mtrs) x 2 £89.60
Install copper pipe (22mm x 3mtr) x 2 £107.66
Install copper gas pipe work (22mm x 3mtr) £53.83
Insulate heating system pipe x 4 £25.84
Insulate heating system pipe x 4 £22.20
Other building work £147.39
Install boiler auto by pass £245.10
Waste collection and disposal £41.12
£1,162.72
Install Magnaclean Professional 22mm magnetic filter £218.55
System water treatment and powerflush £505.18
£723.73
Total price inc. VAT £4,930.04
The second quote is from a local company. This company didn't measure the flow rate or pressure, but did turn taps on around the house and made an assumption of what the measurements were!
Worcester Bosch 37cdi boiler
Standard Flue
Programmable room stat
powerflush system
X100 inhibitor
Total price inc. VAT: £2,895
When I called this local company back to inform of the measured flow rate, they suggested that maybe the Worcester Bosch 42cdi would probably be better as this can handle a continuous flow rate of 17l/min.
The third quote is from a local plumber who discussed the installation of an unvented cylinder (megaflow) and system boiler. This was partly as a result of him fitting this type of system for a friend of mine who lives in the same area. He didn't take any measurements, but assumed we would be getting the same as my friend. I haven't yet received any prices from him.
One concern I have about the 440 high flow boiler is that it has an internal water storage and that once this is depleted the boiler will not be able to continue to supply the same flow/pressure to two showers operating simultaneously as it only has a 29.2kW output, compared to the continuous 42kW output of the 42cdi.
A few questions spring to mind:
- Would we benefit from a Megaflow system with 20l/min flow rate or is this just too expensive an alternative for any small benefit it might give over a larger boiler?
- Which system would be best suitable to drive two showers simultaneously.
