Foghorn Leghorn Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 Here's a left field, nowt to do with modelling, question ... I need a new combi boiler. I'm in the UK, I have a 3 bedroom house and the boiler also supplies the shower with hot water. I'm also sole occupant so there's no need for a high volume supply of hot water/CH. I've heard that Ideal and Baxi are to be avoided I've also heard that Bosch/Worcester are expensive for repairs etc, over priced and not really worth the extra money That kind of leaves Vaillant, Vokera, Potterton. It seems nowadays that most boilers come with a long guarantee (by default) but I want to avoid having a boiler that needs fixing in the first place I'm open to all views/thoughts on the best boiler TIA Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3DStewart Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 Worcester-Bosch are highly regarded in the industry. If you get a maintenance contract (not from WB) you can ensure no extra costs, and for a new boiler the cost should be quite reasonable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLC1966 Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 59 minutes ago, 3DStewart said: Worcester-Bosch are highly regarded in the industry. If you get a maintenance contract (not from WB) you can ensure no extra costs, and for a new boiler the cost should be quite reasonable. How true it is I don't know, but I have been told the Worcester/Bosch are liked so much because they are the easiest to fit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 The Worcester Bosch factory is heated by Veissmann boilers. There's your cue. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3DStewart Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 (edited) 3 hours ago, bentwaters81tfw said: The Worcester Bosch factory is heated by Veissmann boilers. There's your cue. Worcester make domestic boilers, so they'd need someone else's for their factory. Now they are owned by Bosch they would probably do things differently, Veissmann are primarily known for commercial boilers. They also make domestic boilers which are good but expensive. Edited July 2 by 3DStewart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 5 hours ago, 3DStewart said: Worcester-Bosch are highly regarded in the industry. I've got a Worcesesetershire boiler, now owned by Bosch, and it's been reliable for several years now, right up until I said that. Whether it'll promptly break down the moment I press the Submit Button remains to be seen 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 Nowt wrong with WB boilers. They wanted my son to design a new hydrogen boiler for their domestic market. He is no big fan of Hydrogen and the govt have backtracked somewhat in that direction. My neighbour has a Veissmann recently installed and likes it. Another neighbour is a heating eng. and he likes them too, though he says WB are also good.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foghorn Leghorn Posted July 2 Author Share Posted July 2 Viessmann boilers. Interesting. Expensive but good by the looks of it. I've gone through 2 plumbers in the last 2 years, did loads of research and they both had good reviews, both ended up being ... 'sub-optimal'. So a Veissmann boiler might also lead me to a decent CH/plumber, if someone installs Veissmann boilers there's a better chance they'll be decent. Sadly it doesn't always workout that way but at least it gives me a starting point to search from I also need to avoid smart thermostats, I don't want anything app controlled, I just want a simple thermostat and mechanical timer so that might rule out a Veissmann. Great info guys, keep it coming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3DStewart Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 Vaillant also produce good boilers, but I'm told their controls are over-complicated, though you can get simpler 3rd party controls. Whichever make you go for, a stainless-steel heat exchanger is worth having. They aren't quite as good as aluminium for heat transfer, but they are very resistant to corrosion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 There is some sort of legislation where you either have to install a 'smart*' meter, or a device elsewhere that does something or other. My neighbour what does these things knows my aversion to evesdropping, so this other thingy would be fitted, but he tends to forget where the wires go 😜. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foghorn Leghorn Posted July 2 Author Share Posted July 2 2 hours ago, 3DStewart said: Vaillant also produce good boilers Whichever make you go for, a stainless-steel heat exchanger is worth having. Yeah, I'm with you on that, heat exchangers are expensive parts, I want reliability. Vaillant was on my initial list before I posted here, so it's still in the running 1 hour ago, bentwaters81tfw said: There is some sort of legislation where you either have to install a 'smart*' meter, or a device elsewhere that does something or other. Had to get one of them fang-dangled smart energy meter monitor pieces of garbage last year, don't get me started on that. meanwhile .... My optimistic logic on Veissmann installers was ... mis-placed! I found out one the local suppliers of Veissmann also turns out to be one of those 'sub-optimal' plumbers I'd used previously! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3DStewart Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 I wouldn't worry about getting smart meters installed. They are a great way of helping you understand your energy usage, they also mean you'll never get an estimated bill again. I've no idea why people think they eves-drop on you. Maybe they won't appeal if you're a Microsoft are evil type person, but for everybody else they are a useful installation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 The advantage to the company is that with a smart meter they can cut all your power without a court order. I should imagine that most of us here would not fall into that category, but if your family finances are at all shaky, and your morals a bit lax, or just find that an invasion of your privacy, or just untrusting of big business morals or accuracy I(any ex-postmasters on this board?), you might not find that attractive. The advantages to the user is that he/she cam determine which items in their household are using the most power, and be more careful in their use. Or more bossy to those seen as the lesser members of the household. Personally, I feel well enough educated to be able to recognise the larger power users myself, and have no wish to play mini-Hitler. I do not know of any other advantage to smart meters. If anyone does, please add to my education, as the company trying to push one on me has signally failed to do so. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 24 minutes ago, Graham Boak said: The advantage to the company is that with a smart meter they can cut all your power without a court order. I should imagine that most of us here would not fall into that category, You never know. It could be a screw up that ends up with your electrickery kneecapped in error. I've got one too, and the only reason I don't like it is that they can get a handle on how much you use and when, and you know how they like to charge you more when they can get away with it. How long before we get charged "surge pricing" at times when we're using more leccy? I have a very dim view of large corporations, as the bigger they get, the worse their moral compass becomes. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 Yes, the introduction of selective pricing is another advantage to the company, at least in the long run. I have seen it said, to what truth I know not, that at least some companies are/are going to charge non-smart meter customers at a higher rate. That may just be paranoia from rumour-mongers., but as the government has set a target of the entire country on smart meters (or is that another wicked rumour?) the companies may feel that any tactic that works is necessary. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 We got a Glow Worm combi fitted a couple of years ago, no problem so far. The installer does the annual checks for less than the manufacture. Same size of house, 3 bedroom. We've got 4 downstairs radiators and 3 upstairs. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foghorn Leghorn Posted July 3 Author Share Posted July 3 Talking about smart meters is a bit off topic so I'll keep this brief as poss. Last year I had to change my gas and elec meters for technical reasons and I got a smart meter, whether I wanted it or not. A bit later I needed to give EON (got moved onto them by default from Igloo when they went bust) some manual meter readings so I could get a refund. But, get this ... my 'smart' meter cannot give me a meter reading. Unbelieveable! Sure, it can work out all my hourly/daily/monthly useage (that i don't give a damn about) but can it show my actual meter reading? No. What's the point of a smart meter if it can't give me meter readings! Anyway, getting back to the topic of the thread ... 6 hours ago, John said: We got a Glow Worm combi fitted a couple of years ago, no problem so far. Gloworm, wow that's a name I haven't heard in a long time, didn't know they were still around! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper dog Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 Just to put the cat amongst the pigeons, we had an Ideal boiler fitted 3yrs ago no problems 🤞 and have found a super plumber to go with it that services it yearly. He recommended Ideal over WB btw. The Nuisance in Law had a WB fitted and within months of the warranty ending something went internally over night (possibly the plastic manifold) and was urinating water out of it to such an extent the whole thing was scrap. Apparently this parts failure is not uncommon... Entirely agree on the smart meter stance too, sticking with the original analogue meters for as long as possible. No doubt a time will come when we will have to change but holding out as long as possible. Darryl 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foghorn Leghorn Posted July 3 Author Share Posted July 3 50 minutes ago, Jasper dog said: and have found a super plumber to go with it that services it yearly. I am extremely jealous, a good plumber is rare. If I lived anywhere near Poulton le Fylde I'd be wanting that plumber's name ASAP! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Bob Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 (edited) 1 hour ago, Jasper dog said: Just to put the cat amongst the pigeons, we had an Ideal boiler fitted 3yrs ago no problems 🤞 and have found a super plumber to go with it that services it yearly. He recommended Ideal over WB btw. I was replacing my old boiler (No, not SWMBO unfortunately) 12 years ago. I wanted a Worcester Bosch as it seemed from the hype that it was the best. My plumber was adamant that if that's what I wanted he would fit it but would not want anything to do with the inevitable problems that would arise later. He recommended a Baxi Main boiler as it would be problem free, as I had never heard of them I was sceptical, but 12 years later I have not had any breakdowns or problems. It's in use daily as a source of hot water as well as heating, getting on a bit I find I need to have heating on more often now, but since its installation it has performed faultlessly. Edited July 3 by Retired Bob missing word 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foghorn Leghorn Posted July 3 Author Share Posted July 3 30 minutes ago, Retired Bob said: I was replacing my old boiler (No, not SWMBO unfortunately) 12 years ago. . I assume swmbo doesn't have access to BM then ... otherwise your future might be look a bit dodgy 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Bob Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 50 minutes ago, Foghorn Leghorn said: I assume swmbo doesn't have access to BM then ... otherwise your future might be look a bit dodgy Had all these kind of jokes with the plumber at the time, she is fully aware of my sense of humour, like her membership of the local coven. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyboy2610 Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 (edited) 13 hours ago, Foghorn Leghorn said: Gloworm, wow that's a name I haven't heard in a long time, didn't know they were still around! I'm a bit curious as to what a children's toy has to do with heating boilers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glo_Worm Edited July 3 by flyboy2610 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foghorn Leghorn Posted July 3 Author Share Posted July 3 7 hours ago, Retired Bob said: Had all these kind of jokes with the plumber at the time, she is fully aware of my sense of humour, like her membership of the local coven. Well, that means 1 of 2 things 1. swmbo is a real keeper and a gem or 2. they're quietly plotting your demise so they can run off with the inheritance and the postie 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Bob Posted July 3 Share Posted July 3 3 hours ago, Foghorn Leghorn said: Well, that means 1 of 2 things I think I will go with option 3. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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