Which Condensing Combi (8 bed house)

[andyxxx]

We are about to have 2 new condensing combis fitted and I would like to know which you guys think are the best manufacturer at the moment and likely to last the longest. I am told W.Bosch and Baxi are good - any comments.
I am not sure if it is a fair question - is one manufacturer generally good accross it's whole range? Both the houses are fairly large (7 bedroom)

Regards

Andy

 

[bobbo85]

You cant really go wrong with worcester,vaillant,glowworm and potterton.Its difficult because there all merging like people slag off saunier duval but there made exactley like gloworm and vaillant except £100 -200 cheaper

 

[gas4you]

Although Vaillant own Glow Worm and saunier duval, apart from some common parts the boilers are nothing like each other in electronics, diagnostics and reliability.

I certainly would never fit a glow worm which in effect only has a 1 year full warranty.

As for Potterton, I think there is more chance of winning the lottery than getting a reliable boiler from them and a reliable back up tech service.

Just my personal opinion and past experiences.

Your money, your choice. Main thing is to get a reliable installer who fits whatever you buy properly.

 

[andyxxx]

gas 4 you
I see you do not like glow worm or Potterton - but which are your prefference?

As far as fitting- always difficult to know. The plumber i have used (happily)for many years has retired. Getting a plumber in Sheffield to price fairly for a job is difficult - and even then, how would I know if he is 'any good'? All I can know for certain is that he is CORGI reg (which I guess is completely different from being good and reliable)

Anyway fingers crossed - meeting a plumber this afternoon for a quote.

 

[gas4you]

I would go for Vaillant, then WB, but try to get an installer through word of mouth.

Since the training I done at Ravenheat last Friday, I was so impressed by their quality and commitment that I am now hoping to specify these.

 

[cowboyplumber]

I'm based in West Yorks. Have previously done boiler exchanges in Sheffield can provide references from these jobs and I'm there next Wednesday if you want a quote...
PS I tend to spec Viessmann - as an approved installer I get 5 years warranty on them..

 

[bengasman]

vaillant and w-b have been the top names for many years. have heard different stories on vaillant quality since they added s-d to their stable. w-b still hands down winner on after sales service, vaillant notoriously bad on this.

 

[JohnD]

how many baths, showers, basins and sinks are you hoping to supply at any one time from your combi?

hint: correct answer is "one"

 

[htgeng]

how many baths, showers, basins and sinks are you hoping to supply at any one time from your combi?

hint: correct answer is "one"

A lot of people know this, yet still don't care. I spec-ed a house last night in Cambridge. One bathroom, but lots of little feet running around who will grow up to be bath and shower hogs. A combi wouldn't really be suitable for the house, but thats what the man wants.

The customer is *always* right?

 

[JohnD]

... Both the houses are fairly large (7 bedroom)...

 

[Gasguru]

Stick a combi in but when you sell the house expect the surveyor and new buyer to knock a sizable lump off the price to put a decent hot water/heating system in.

Tight wads. 8 beds...that's a lot of people p**sed off when it breaks down and there's no immersion backup.

 

[manortim]

unless we're talking about 2 ex council house's knocked into 1 8 bed, why go for a combi in the first place? cheap skate?

if you wanna go for a combi, maybe a atag q range? but i'd not want a combi in a property that has more than 2 bath/shower rooms. but thats me, the customer is usually right

 

[namsag]

Yet again i will say this people should not be able to tell you how good a manufacturers back up service is ,if they can it means they are breaking down under g`tee regularly

 

[ChrisR]

Consider 2 cheap combis side by side. More hot water, more reliability.
IF your mains is up to supplying them.

 

[andyxxx]

Thanks for the response. Perhaps I should have given a bit more info – but had pretty much decided to put combis in anyway (though I am now wavering)
• These houses have student tenants – 8 in each house (without including any ‘guests’ they may have ‘stopped over' ) so will have plenty of activity, though largely via the showers.
• These houses already have ‘traditional’ systems with cylinders/headers that of course would be removed if we go down the combi route.
• There are 1 bathroom and 2 showerooms in each house – though only 1 bath and 1 shower will be fed by the combi (and of course all the sinks) the other 2 showers being electric.
• I am not proposing to change to combis to be a ‘cheap skate’ as there is already a system in place it would be cheaper to just replace the boiler.
• 2 combis not an option.

It seems the general consensus here is to keep the present system – which would mean just replacing the boilers. This surprises me – we have several combis in use and get very little trouble from them (though all our systems are on the b/gas 3star plan)

The main problem I see – nobody has mentioned. – When water is drawn via a combi – the water is of course given priority over heating – which then takes a few minutes to switch back to heating – this can mean that the house cools considerably over the course of the morning bathing/toilet session which could easily be an hour with this amount of people.

Now I am really unsure which route to go down.

I had pretty much decided to go for the w/b 37 greenstar cdi combi.
If I stick with a traditional boiler, is w/b still one of the top manufacturers?

Thanks

Andy