Worcester Bosch Guarantee

[bolst3r]

it's likely I need a new boiler, I'm leaning towards a WB which a someone I trust (Gas Safe, unvented certified, etc.) can fit. Reading their literature if I fit one of their filters the standard guarantee increases from five to ten years, however... and it's a big HOWEVER their site also stipulates I have to use one of their accredited installers found from their site. I need a bunch of other work doing (new water softener, megaflop replaced) and I want the person I know and trust to do everything but if he installs the boiler I will miss out on the extended guarantee.

I'm between a rock and a hard place. He has said I could install a Baxi but I was keen to move away from Potterton as my last one was poor (apparently) and WB are meant to be much much better (reliable, better feature and service)

Thoughts?

 

[muggles]

Pretty much any boiler is only as good as the person who fits it. Why do you specifically want a WB? Yes they're better than Baxi, but so are many other manufacturers

 

[bolst3r]

Pretty much any boiler is only as good as the person who fits it. Why do you specifically want a WB? Yes they're better than Baxi, but so are many other manufacturers

That's a very good question, my current (outgoing) is a Potterton and i've seen lots saying they are/were terrible machines, so i'm naturally lumping Baxi in with that. My brother who is in the same position said he was going for a WB as they review well and his guy recommended them, so I saw no reason to not follow.

My plumber seems a good guy, he has worked with quite a few local people, and recently fitted a boiler for my neighbour, all of whom speak very highly of him (I know this should be taken with a pinch of salt). What I liked about him, was the fact he spoke about about what was possible, how it worked, and looks to repair serviceable items, rather than just junking them. He's also quite happy to supply and fit but equally happy if I have a personal preference and want to buy the items direct.

From a personal POV, I want something with a decent warranty (10 years+) as I don't want to be forced to take out secondary insurance in five years time. My guy suggested a filter, flush and treatment at the same time as boiler install, so as long as he follows the manufacturers installation guidelines, and completes the relevant paperwork I'm hoping I can find a boiler/manufacturer whereby the full warranty period is valid.

Reading online quite a lot of manufacturers only give the full guarantee if using one of their recommended installers, which is where i'm having a problem.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, I'm looking to replace a Potterton Promax 30 SL. I will be adding an expansion vessel, with direct hard water feed as my guy suggested, he said this offered more flexibility than a system boiler

 

[ianmcd]

Tell your friend to go on the WB so called course, it is simply a day course FOC and watch sales stuff and then he will be an accredited installer, there are better boilers , but WB after sales service is excellent

 

[bolst3r]

Tell your friend to go on the WB so called course, it is simply a day course FOC and watch sales stuff and then he will be an accredited installer, there are better boilers , but WB after sales service is excellent

ah, he's not my friend, just a chap who has worked at friends places and they've spoken highly of him. After meeting him and talking about my job I feel it would be good to use him. i'm not going to be able to tell him to go an do a course unfortunately.

If I don't go WB, what other boilers do ppl recommend that have a long guarantee, are reliable and don't require a 'approved' installers to fit?

 

[ianmcd]

For extended warranties nearly all have different conditions, use their controls, fixing jig, filters approved installers, ask the lad what he recommends, I use a specific manu because I know if any problems, I have one point of contact and it is sorted rather than go through call centres, we all have our preferred manus, so if you want to keep everything right ask the lad who he recommends and use him to service it every year

 

[OvertonPlumber]

Any gassafe guy can get 10 years on the WB with the filter. It's the approved guys get the 12 year deal.

 

[johnny2007]

Try boxt.
They're approved installers of WB and they've done a very good job at my house.
They left everything sparkling clean and they explained everything they were doing.
Their price was also cheaper than 2 of WB independent accredited installers.

 

[bolst3r]

Try boxt.
They're approved installers of WB and they've done a very good job at my house.
They left everything sparkling clean and they explained everything they were doing.
Their price was also cheaper than 2 of WB independent accredited installers.

Thanks, it's not necessarily an approved WB installer that i'm lacking or looking for. I've used Baxi approved guys before, and other approved ppl, and to be quite honest they were poor. This guy i've been speaking to recently is pretty open about things so i'm keen to go with him. I'm now trying to figure our alternative to WB if they are likely to get funny about me using an approved installer.

I have a new Megaflow to put in, water softener, couple of rads etc. I want someone to do it all. I know an approved WB installer will but I want to go a different route.

 

[bolst3r]

For extended warranties nearly all have different conditions, use their controls, fixing jig, filters approved installers, ask the lad what he recommends, I use a specific manu because I know if any problems, I have one point of contact and it is sorted rather than go through call centres, we all have our preferred manus, so if you want to keep everything right ask the lad who he recommends and use him to service it every year

that's a very good point and makes sense. When I mentioned WB to him he laughed and said his hands will end up getting cut to shreds. He said on the plumbing forum he's on ppl post daily pictures of their hands saying "guess what I was working on today"

I totally get where you're coming from, once you know a service and how a company operates you wont really want to deviate from that as chasing can eat up valuable time and leave everyone quite stressed.

 

[bolst3r]

Any gassafe guy can get 10 years on the WB with the filter. It's the approved guys get the 12 year deal.

really? I'm confused then!

This is what their site says, which leads me to think they are forcing me to use ppl on their register, probably so they can charge a fee, and offer a benefit/incentive to installers. A simple money making scheme:

Greenstar Ri (27kW and 30kW)
† Up to a 10 year guarantee when installed by a Worcester Accredited Installer. Terms and conditions apply.

*The guarantee on Greenstar gas boilers starts from 5 years. However, we offer an exclusive 10 year guarantee to customers who choose a local Worcester Bosch Accredited Installer to install their boiler along with a Worcester Bosch Greenstar system filter.

 

[bolst3r]

For extended warranties nearly all have different conditions, use their controls, fixing jig, filters approved installers, ask the lad what he recommends, I use a specific manu because I know if any problems, I have one point of contact and it is sorted rather than go through call centres, we all have our preferred manus, so if you want to keep everything right ask the lad who he recommends and use him to service it every year

i'm not wedded to WB but as i've been warned off Baxi/Potterton I wondered what ppl would recommend?

I know everyone is different so in the same way consensus on Baxi/Potterton seems to be poor, I'm hoping there might be two of three alternatives that will give me what i'm looking for

 

[johnny2007]

Not a boiler engineer, so take this as my personal opinion.
I have had a WB for 20 years before it was time to change it.
In many properties I deal with there are different brand of boiler.
Some of them seem to be unbreakable, some others break down regularly despite regular service and regardless of brand.
So, I believe there is an element of luck with boilers (like everything else).
I'm sure all of you have seen cheap appliances live forever and expensive ones from well respected brands fail very early.
Same with boilers?