Which Combi?

[Doug99]

I have finally given up with my 14yr old Ferroli Combi and decided to bite the bullet and buy new. Which in itself is causing a new headache as there is a minefield of options, models and specifications out there!! So which one is the optimal solution for my home? Any advice is appreciated, so here goes:
1. A 4 bedroom detached house
2. 13 radiators
3. 2 bathrooms / 2 showers
4. 1 washing machine, 1 dishwasher - which always seem to be in use!
5. 4 adults so the showers are regularly in use simultaneously.
6. My existing combi is in an upstairs airing cupboard with a vertical flu through the roof space.

This forum is often reminding readers that 'you get what you pay for' so I am prepared to pay for quality and reliability. This home will see me through retirement so I am looking for a combi which will last.

A cost effective service plan is also required. The main manufacturers offer their own, but are they a good deal?

If I buy a machine through the internet, will I have any difficulty finding an installer willing to fit?

Cheers

Doug

 

[ollski]

None

A combi simply isn't the best option for your property by the sound of it, get someone round to do a site survey. It does depend on the amount of hot water you use, but if you are constantly running hot water your heating will never get a chance to come on.

 

[breezer]

If I buy a machine through the internet, will I have any difficulty finding an installer willing to fit?

how would we know, we are not fitting it.

but imho its not worth it, suppose it goes wrong, whos fault is that? yours? the bloke who sold it to you? the maker? the bloke who may have fitted it?

it should last yeatrs, why skimp on this?

 

[Paul Barker]

I would be delighted to fit your own machine, your problem. I only supply and fit one make that way I give my best performance and the customer gets a boiler of outstanding quality with a 25 year track record of reliability in condensing technology. I get a good discount because I buy them by the pallet load, and pass this on to the customer. If however they are foolish enough to go and buy their own boiler I'll happily give a figure to fit it, which would be more than the labour I factor in on my own job because of unfamiliarity with the product.

I would get a few quates in and go with the peoiple who suggest quality boilers. The guys who give cheap quotes usually fit crap boilers and actually make more money for their time than the honest guys offering you something sensible.

I would suggest gravity hot water unless you are rich, in which case unvented, unless you are stupid in which case combi.

 

[kjy gas services]

doug99..would be tempted in fitting a worcester highflow,bit on the pricy side and rather bulky but would easily cope with your demand of hot water

 

[mickyg]

i think people are maybe missing the point, if u was happy enough for 14yrs with a combi why not get another one? when u consider the cost implications of fitting a boiler and cylinder. personally, yeh unvented is the way, but thats a money no object solution. if u want another combi, look to the top end worcesters and vaillants, that deliver high flow rates.

 

[Doug99]

Eventually had fitted a Worcester-Bosch Greenstar 35CDI by a local WB rep. Pricey but delighted with the installation and performance. The only grief was having to run the condenser drain under bedroom floorboards as the boiler is situated in my upstairs airing cupboard which has no external wall.

So much hot water now I can't keep the kids out of the shower!

It will be interesting to see how my gas consumption compares with my old Ferolli.

 

[ChrisRoberts]

Dam was gonna say that boiler. I love WB!