New Combi Boiler Choice

[dunder101]

Hi all,

It looks like the time has come for our nearly 15 year old Vaillant Ecotec Plus 937 to be retired. It was installed when we moved in eight years ago and has needed several costly repairs in the time we've been here. The latest issue (posted here already), its age plus the fact that it's nearly summer means this feels like the right time to change.

I've currently looking at the Ideal Logic² Plus 35kW (around £2550 with a 10 year warranty) and the Alpha E-Tec NX 33kW (around £2100 with an 11 year warranty). I know neither are premium brands like Vaillant but our experience with our current Vaillant has been poor and costly.

I'd appreciate views and experience of these two options, not only the boiler itself and how it performs, but also reliability and after sales service from Ideal / Alpha.

We are end of terrace with 10 radiators over three floors (second floor is loft conversion). We have 4 bedrooms.and 2 bathrooms - one with a bath and shower over, the second with just a shower. We'd have our existing Google Nest thermostat connected.

I am attracted to the Alpha as it seems superior to the Ideal in most respects, other than being (perhaps) a less well known brand. But I don't particularly care about this ... or looks, as the boiler will be in a cupboard. I just want something that works well and reliably, has a long warranty and is fixed without fuss if it goes wrong. I would have it serviced annually and change the water regularly as well - no problem with that sort of maintenance.

Thanks in advance for any advice and experiences.

 

[spile]

We’ve had a bad experience with Vaillant too but it seems their bad patch was 8-12 years ago. Nevertheless my next combi will be different. Installers around here rate Baxi.

 

[dunder101]

*Bump*

Any thoughts anyone? I'm feeling like I should take a punt on the Alpha ...

 

[helplessowner]

As a homeowner (not plumber/gas technician) I'd be inclined to get quotes from a couple of local gas technicians - preferably ones who do both installation and servicing - and ask them what they recommend. All gas technicians have their favourite brands, but (my opinion) the most important factor is how well it is installed, and installation is probably carried out better by somebody who is familiar with that particular brand.
(Actually - useful question to ask any installer/technician is "what make of boiler do you have in your home?")

 

[Stuckinarut]

I like Ideal Logics but don’t have that much experience with them. Never dealt with Alpha, but they’re supposed to be excellent boilers. As above, better engaging with your installer, as some can offer longer warranties.

 

[muggles]

*Bump*

Any thoughts anyone? I'm feeling like I should take a punt on the Alpha ...

The Alpha is decent, I'd have a Vokera Pinnacle if it was my house

 

[Elsa TLC]

Ideal boilers are pretty bullet proof. If fitted correctly.
I very rarely get problems with my installs.

Powerflushing on install
and regular full strip down service every year.

Touching on a post above. Not all service engineers are good installers. Not all installers are good service engineers.

 

[Odds]

Our Worcester Combi hasn't missed a beat since installation in 2017.
Top notch.

 

[Razor900]

Most modern boilers are much of a muchness to be honest.

It's the quality of install that makes the biggest difference.

Things like water quality are key.

 

[dilalio]

The Alpha is decent, I'd have a Vokera Pinnacle if it was my house

+1 Andrew.

Just fitted my first one.
Really impressed with it

Best thing was once it was connected to LNE, it just started up and ran.
No enable codes or buttons to look up and enter... Just away it went so I could monitor it while clearing up and getting ready to commission.

To the OP... Bad systems kill boilers so get that up to scratch... This is where a good installer will cover that in their costs and not just sling another box on the wall... So easy to blame the brand, but they're pretty much the same when it comes to connecting to a dodgy system and will all suffer.

 

[ericmark]

I want to be able to phone someone if the boiler goes wrong, and for them to fix it, so even if I don't like the boiler he sells, it is often prudent to fit a boiler which can be fixed fast. Last thing you want is to be told I will have to order a part, it will be here next week.

I note @dilalio comments, and you say:-

We are end of terrace with 10 radiators over three floors (second floor is loft conversion). We have 4 bedrooms. and 2 bathrooms - one with a bath and shower over, the second with just a shower. We'd have our existing Google Nest thermostat connected.

I can't see how Nest would be suitable, as it does not link the TRV heads, not saying you want all heads linked, but my house, 14 radiators over three floors with a 20 kW oil fired boiler which has been sufficient for our requirements, with a detached house, so 35 kW does seem OTT.

I would assume the extra is required to run two showers at the same time? For me with a non modulating boiler or condensing boiler, slightly different, but the condensing boiler needs to modulate to quite a low output to keep home warm without any hysteresis, specially in Autumn and Spring when under light use.

I am an electrician not a heating engineer, but I have realised over the years, a good installation is worth its weight in gold. And can't see how one can have a good installation with Nest, maybe I am being too critical here, but I was also miss sold Nest Gen 3, and latter had to add Drayton Wiser to get heating reasonable.

 

[dilalio]

Vokera pinnacle has great hot water performance and wide turndown ratio for heating.

 

[Elsa TLC]

Our Worcester Combi hasn't missed a beat since installation in 2017.
Top notch.

Notch is a jack of all trades

 

[amfisted]

The very first gas combi boiler we ever had fitted was a Worcester Heatslave, back in 1988. Brilliant boiler that lasted without issues until we moved again in 1996. We then inherited an Ocean FF, which was described by a gas engineer as "the Lada of boilers", and after nine years of that poor old boiler struggling to keep up with the heating and showering demands of two adults and two teenage children in a vast four bedroom Victorian semi, we swapped it for a Worcester Greenstar in 2005. After nine years of trouble-free heat and hot water from the Greenstar we moved again, in 2014. This time we were in a bungalow, running a Glow Worm on an open/vented system, again no problems except a slightly gungy feeder tank in the loft. We moved on from there in 2022 and inherited a ten year old Worcester on another open vented system. We decided to change that for a combi, mainly because not only were all the tanks etc in the loft ( including the hot water cylinder) but they were supported by a rather rickety-looking wooden framework that took up an awful lot of roof space. This time we considered both Worcester and Ideal, but mostly for reasons of cost we opted for an Ideal Logic Combi c30 and it's been flawless so far.

 

[vulcancontinental]

I work for Vokèra as a technical trainer so am partisan however since it and the slightly lower modulating Synergy boiler were launched about a year ago we have people asking to come and see them.

Till September warranties are extended as part of a promotion, 12 years on the Pinnacle and 10 on the Synergy (usually 10 or 7 years).