FabSwingers.com forum: Combo boiler advice

By *unlovers OP Couple
over a year ago

rotherham

I know it's a strange subject on a swingers site but people do discuss most things on here I've noticed

We are looking to replace our old boiler for a combi boiler and wondered if either anyine anyone does them or knows the best place to go and cheapest.

Please don't say British Gas as they rip you off with unrealistic quotes

Xxx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

We used a locally recommended guy. Good price and first class service!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

But your own and the flue kit.

Get a decent gas engineer to power flush, fit and test (in that order)

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

sakes am never getting away from boilers lol...I sell(mostly on savings generated from a new condensing boiler) them over the phone...I'm reasonably successful

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"sakes am never getting away from boilers lol...I sell(mostly on savings generated from a new condensing boiler) them over the phone...I'm reasonably successful"

This reminded me.

Make sure the condensate pipe is well insulated if it's to an external drain!

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By *unlovers OP Couple
over a year ago

rotherham

I was hoping someone would suggest who I could contact as we need one ASAP to be honest

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Help link are always on the telly

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By *andyblokeMan
over a year ago

birmingham

"I was hoping someone would suggest who I could contact as we need one ASAP to be honest"

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By *unlovers OP Couple
over a year ago

rotherham

We have looked at allsorts today but as I mentioned we wanting something ASAP so was just hoping someone know friend of a friend who is quick and cheap without waiting for adverts on telly or endless searching online

Xxx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I was hoping someone would suggest who I could contact as we need one ASAP to be honest"

Look through the Thompson local or online for a 24 hour gas engineer, see if any are free tomorrow.

Buy the boiler tomorrow and have them fit it.

I imagine only big company's like British Gas carry a stock of boilers and unless you've got cover I don't think you'd get one fitted asap as you say you need.

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
over a year ago

Central

I'm assuming that a fast, quality lower cost repair is out of the question? We had one done cheaply, as long as we took an annual cover package. I'm not in that industry, so can't sell, repair or install. Good luck as it's cold atm!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

We used British Gas as we have found them to be good and they were far cheaper than any local company and were able to fit it at a day suitable for us. The guy was brilliant and stayed late the 1st day in order to make sure we had heating and hot water that night. The after care has been good.

I have to admit that i have a loyalty to BG as my dad worked for them but to be honest they have given us a very good service in general anyway.

They were also available fairly quickly which was good for us at the time.

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By *unlovers OP Couple
over a year ago

rotherham

Was it expensive

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

British Gas and cheap aren't something you see used together very often

Those fuckers charge over £650 just for a powerflush!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Why do you want to change?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"British Gas and cheap aren't something you see used together very often

Those fuckers charge over £650 just for a powerflush! "

I try to explain to people using bgas who have their old boilers maintained for a monthly cost..they say the gas guy said the boilers fine..and doesnt need changed..sometimes they are paying over £50 in gas alone..

a new boiler 92% energy efficient will reduce their gas bill etc etc etc..

I'm sure bgas are happy waiting till the boiler goes kaput, then explain the parts are harder to get,the boilers discontinued etc..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Was it expensive"

It was cheaper than anyone else. I can't remember off hand how much though, sorry.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"British Gas and cheap aren't something you see used together very often

Those fuckers charge over £650 just for a powerflush!

a new boiler 92% energy efficient will reduce their gas bill etc etc etc..

I'm sure bgas are happy waiting till the boiler goes kaput, then explain the parts are harder to get,the boilers discontinued etc.."

Our next door neighbour had similar sort of cover.

Basically had more in repairs than a new boiler would of cost

Newer more efficient boiler every time

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By *unlovers OP Couple
over a year ago

rotherham

It's not that we want to change

Our boiler died last night and it's not a combi boiler

It was in this house when we moved here and have never had any problems but we have been here 10 years so would like a combi asap

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By *inkyfun2013Couple
over a year ago

lewisham

We've had both boiler and electrical problems recently and used Check-a-trade to find local engineers. It's a really good website and customers write reviews so you can get an idea of their service.

I'd recommend the guys who can to us but we're not local to you.

Get several quotes and good luck.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

British gas wanted 4k for doing mine. I bought a Ferroli Modena energy efficient boiler complete with remote thermostat and got local fitters....and got everything for half the price of British gas!! I have my heating on more often and I'm paying 25% less each month. Google is ur friend

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I would ask around locally, friends and neighbours for a recommended!.

There's alot of questions to ask before you can even say you can have a combi!

Yes they work fine for 70% of houses but there utterly hopeless for the other 30%.

Find somebody local who's recommended and ask his advise and then ask questions why he's advising this or that!

Think about long term, are you likely to move in the next five years... If so an expensive boiler might be wasted (there's huge differences in price from model and makes).

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

STOP!

if you are replacing an existing combination system, probably all straight forward. but if replacing a tank based system you need to think about it.

most plumbers will rip out the tank, join the pipes together and replace the boiler were it is. But in our case that left the route to the kitchen hot tap running from the garage through the house to where the tank used to be, back to the bathrooms and finally back across the house and down to the kitchen. It takes 10 minutes for hot water to reach the kitchen, fills up all the pipes with hot water which then goes cold before you need more so is wasted.

if I had thought about it, I could have reversed the route quite easily and had an actual efficient system.

Also if you have any other heat source, wood burner, solar, whatever... they can work with a tank system but not with a combi. So it may not be your best choice.

other than that, work out what heat output you need and buy the boiler above that spec. and go for a good one, maintenance and installation are more expensive in the whole life price, so dont skimp on the boiler.

if you are cold it's better to get a couple of nights in a b&b than to rush the job and get it wrong.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"STOP!

if you are replacing an existing combination system, probably all straight forward. but if replacing a tank based system you need to think about it.

if I had thought about it, I could have reversed the route quite easily and had an actual efficient system.

Also if you have any other heat source, wood burner, solar, whatever... they can work with a tank system but not with a combi. So it may not be your best choice.

if you are cold it's better to get a couple of nights in a b&b than to rush the job and get it wrong."

Most people won't know about the Btu, it is very important to work out exactly what your home needs or you will be stuck with an underperforming boiler working overtime to try and heat the house. There is an easy Btu calculator online. Use checkatrade or trustatrader.com to find good plumbers in your area.

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By *olgateMan
over a year ago

on the road to nowhere in particular

I've just had an ideal logic fitted. It is an average boiler. If I had the option I would have had a Worcester Bosch (£750ish) fitted for about £100 more. The Worcester is the rolls Royce of boilers. A straight boiler swap would start at around £500 upwards depending on what else needs changing or thermostat, flue etc.

shop around for quotes, for boilers and fitting

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm a gas engineer.

Best advice I can give is go in to your local plumbase / city plumbing or plumbers merchants and ask for a recommendation. Lots of cowboys out there an they are likely to know who to use an who not to!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"If I had the option I would have had a Worcester Bosch (£750ish) fitted for about £100 more. The Worcester is the rolls Royce of boilers."

That is debatable, yes I have one and yes they are an excellent boiler but are they the best ones??? Vailant are meant to be the creme da le creme!... so I'm told...

If you intend to stay in ur home, get the best money will allow.. Harry X

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

No there's quite a few boiler manufactures above vaillant or Bosch!.

There's a German company called veissman and a French company called geminox who are miles ahead of vaillants, they also cost way more.

Actually condensing boilers were pioneered in the 90s by British company's like keston!.

There's no such thing as the best boiler maker... It comes down to cost you'll pay twice as much for a vaillant as you would for vokera or a ferroli or baxi.

The only faults you really find on all modern boilers is the electronics...

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By *errygTV/TS
over a year ago

denton

one thing i would say buy is a mag filter as with old systems they can collect crap, and new boilers have plate heat exchangers and waterways can clog causeing overheat lockout, i just spent a few hours taking a worcester off the wall and chemical cleaning, the mag filter did have crap and sludge in it as i fitted it a few days ago, if you want help pm me, im not gas registered anymore i usually get a friend who is to complete the paper work as now boilers warranty is void unless it is signed off

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm gas safe reg. The advice I would give you is see if your local trading standards. Have a safe traders list.

The boiler I would fit would a baxi not expensive and you can get up a 10 year warranty on some models

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By *van ArdenMan
over a year ago

Coleford, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

British Gas installed a Worcester Bosch combi boiler for us over a year ago. It's great and much cheaper to run than the previous boiler.

We probably paid over the odds but I know that if anything goes wrong British Gas will come straight out to put it right.

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By *inky-MinxWoman
over a year ago

Grantham

Had mine all done last winter £1800

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I have an old boiler in my home. When it was new it was great it wouldn't switch off and the place was red hot. Now that it got a few years on I can't get the boiler flame to ignite. I twiddle with the knobs and I've tried manual coaxing but nothing works I know it will be expensive to replace the old boiler. Should I go to my friends house her boiler works great and always warms me up

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I paid £650 for a baxi-duo 28....I did all the fitting work,paid a friend to sign it off

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Get someone to work out if a combi boiler will work out cheaper for you. Not always the case...also look into location as they can be put almost anywhere

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By *unlovers OP Couple
over a year ago

rotherham

Been advised to have a vailliant

If that's the right name

Sounds like it's going to cost about two grand

Is it really a two man job..?

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By *errygTV/TS
over a year ago

denton

it is easier with 2 men as poss than plan to do same day, old boiler may have large flue brickwork to patch up, rad valves changing so in a way doing the job twice undoing old system, also is flue going thru roof as flue extentsions are not cheap, depending on job it may spill over to 2 days max

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By *unlovers OP Couple
over a year ago

rotherham

That's fine thank you

Just checking

Xxxx

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By *olgateMan
over a year ago

on the road to nowhere in particular

"If I had the option I would have had a Worcester Bosch (£750ish) fitted for about £100 more. The Worcester is the rolls Royce of boilers.

That is debatable, yes I have one and yes they are an excellent boiler but are they the best ones??? Vailant are meant to be the creme da le creme!... so I'm told...

If you intend to stay in ur home, get the best money will allow.. Harry X "
the engineer fitting my boiler warned me off Vailant, expensive parts. Same for a lot of the cheap Italian boilers on the market. Every expert I have spoken to has recommended the Worcester Bosch

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I was hoping someone would suggest who I could contact as we need one ASAP to be honest

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By *olgateMan
over a year ago

on the road to nowhere in particular

One man fitted my boiler in half a day, it was relatively straight forward. I also got a wireless thermostat that I now use as a bedside clock.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"If I had the option I would have had a Worcester Bosch (£750ish) fitted for about £100 more. The Worcester is the rolls Royce of boilers.

That is debatable, yes I have one and yes they are an excellent boiler but are they the best ones??? Vailant are meant to be the creme da le creme!... so I'm told...

If you intend to stay in ur home, get the best money will allow.. Harry X the engineer fitting my boiler warned me off Vailant, expensive parts. Same for a lot of the cheap Italian boilers on the market. Every expert I have spoken to has recommended the Worcester Bosch"
.

Valiant used to be great boilers, I'm not quite the fan I used to be but there still good!.

Worcester used to be average until Bosch bought them out, I like them they have good numbers but like valiant there expensive, if moneys no object you can buy a geminox or veissman.

Personally I used to absolutely adore the ethos boilers from I think Denmark, had the most unbelievable hot water flow and the only combi you could put hot water recirculation on.

They stopped importing them when the euro was high unfortunately.

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By *olgateMan
over a year ago

on the road to nowhere in particular

The engineer told me that the little bit extra paid for a Worcester Bosch would be negated by the cost of parts if there was ever a problem once the warranty ran out.

My ideal logic has an 8 year manufacturers warranty

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Having worked in the gas industry for over 15 years my advice would be stay well clear of anything that seems to cheap to be true. I know everyone is looking for a bargain and value for money but I'd very suspicious and dubious of anyone quoting less than a grand considering your changing your system to a combi system.

Boiler wise stick with Worcester or valiant both top end boilers that are popular with installers and very easy to fault find on and if you live in anything bigger than a 2 up 2 down terrace house you'll need at least a 30kw. I wouldn't touch ferrolli or some of the other boilers mentioned on here. Veissman aren't bad but are more for the industrial and commercial market then domestic but they do have excellent after sales teams.

Price wise if going through someone private and upgrading to a combi system with a Worcester boiler I think you'd be looking at around the 2k mark.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Having worked in the gas industry for over 15 years my advice would be stay well clear of anything that seems to cheap to be true. I know everyone is looking for a bargain and value for money but I'd very suspicious and dubious of anyone quoting less than a grand considering your changing your system to a combi system.

Price wise if going through someone private and upgrading to a combi system with a Worcester boiler I think you'd be looking at around the 2k mark. "

Or for a heat only boiler ,about 15Kw

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By *unlovers OP Couple
over a year ago

rotherham

Already sorted

We having a valiant next week and the cost if fine for us and the parts won't be expensive as its. A friend of a friend

Thanx for everyone's advice

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By *olgateMan
over a year ago

on the road to nowhere in particular

"Already sorted

We having a valiant next week and the cost if fine for us and the parts won't be expensive as its. A friend of a friend

Thanx for everyone's advice

Xx"

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By *inky-MinxWoman
over a year ago

Grantham

"One man fitted my boiler in half a day, it was relatively straight forward. I also got a wireless thermostat that I now use as a bedside clock. "

Do you know how to work it? Mine is a mystery. I've trued the instructions and 5 men have each given me the 'dumb woman' look and then failed themselves to set the bloomin thing.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"One man fitted my boiler in half a day, it was relatively straight forward. I also got a wireless thermostat that I now use as a bedside clock.

Do you know how to work it? Mine is a mystery. I've trued the instructions and 5 men have each given me the 'dumb woman' look and then failed themselves to set the bloomin thing."
.

What model is it?

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By *ob198XaMan
over a year ago

teleford

"I was hoping someone would suggest who I could contact as we need one ASAP to be honest

Dont skimp on the bolier buy worcestor bosch they are really reliable dont buy ferroli etc. Go for a resgistered engineer they used to be called Corgi but now called gas safe. Get a name of there register and ask him for cusotomer contacts.. phone them and say how satisfied were you with mr XX? then make your choice."
. Can't beat Worcester Bosch Make sure your condensate outflow has enough gradient, insulation and if need be a heating element. It is fecking annoying when the boiler stops because the condensate outflow has frozen solid!!!

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By *ob198XaMan
over a year ago

teleford

"One man fitted my boiler in half a day, it was relatively straight forward. I also got a wireless thermostat that I now use as a bedside clock.

Do you know how to work it? Mine is a mystery. I've trued the instructions and 5 men have each given me the 'dumb woman' look and then failed themselves to set the bloomin thing."
. Fecking wireless thermostats. Don't understand ours at all, I regularly have to hit the over ride button to get the heating on.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"One man fitted my boiler in half a day, it was relatively straight forward. I also got a wireless thermostat that I now use as a bedside clock.

Do you know how to work it? Mine is a mystery. I've trued the instructions and 5 men have each given me the 'dumb woman' look and then failed themselves to set the bloomin thing.. Fecking wireless thermostats. Don't understand ours at all, I regularly have to hit the over ride button to get the heating on."
.

There just the same as normal thermostats but err wireless!.

There's a few on the market that drop the connection routinely and are annoyingly hard to reconnect

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By *olgateMan
over a year ago

on the road to nowhere in particular

Thermostat is a generic one. I think it's called centre. It shows the clock and temperature. There is an up down button for the temperature, hit the arrows until the desired temperature is reached and then leave it. It reverts to the current temp and changes as the room temperature moves up or down.

Please don't ask me about the timer.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Thermostat is a generic one. I think it's called centre. It shows the clock and temperature. There is an up down button for the temperature, hit the arrows until the desired temperature is reached and then leave it. It reverts to the current temp and changes as the room temperature moves up or down.

Please don't ask me about the timer. "
.

Lol what confuses most people these days is that alot of timers are combined with stats.. So you have a set back timer.

You programme time and temperature together ie on at 7am at 21 degrees dropping down to say 15 at 9am back up to 21 degrees at 5pm...

It's just another way to be more energy efficent

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By *irtyricoMan
over a year ago

west bromwich

If anyone else needs a combi boiler fitting, contact me as I am a Gas safe registered engineer and I fit boilers and my prices are good!

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