New Combi Boiler - Any recommendations?

[TheBlueRaja]

Hi All,
My boiler is on the way out and i think im going to need a new one, i am a light user (i.e. the hot water is most heavily used for the shower) in a one bed flat and was wondering what boiler i should get to replace the current one.

I was planning on getting one off the net to save a bit of cash.

Any help would be appreciated, if its any help i currently have a Vokera RS 20-80 Flowmatic.

Ta!

Edited to add, a quiet one would be appreciated too as its located in a cupboard in the bedroom.

AFAIK you have to get a condensing one, now, BR

We just got a Worcester 'Greenstar 28i junior' & very nice it is, too - we did it the expensive, but easy, way and got British Gas to fit it, though.

Ironically, the one it replaced, you may remember, is the same Vokera as yours - after 15 years good service, so if this new one gets near that, I'll be pleased

[TheBlueRaja]

Is it quiet? And if you dont mind me asking - how much was it inc installation?

PM me if you dont want to post it here and you dont mind telling me.

Ta!

[brundles]

I was given Worcester Bosch and Vokera as recommendations recently when I was asking a similar question on another forum.

Many people seem to swear by Worcester Bosch.

[Graham M]

We had a Vokera and had nothing but trouble with it (but it was 11 years old...) We now have a Baxi which is a British make and its been working great!

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

Is it quiet? And if you dont mind me asking - how much was it inc installation?

PM me if you dont want to post it here and you dont mind telling me.

Ta!

Its hard to say, we haven't been running it for heating, recently and it is hung on the wall in our kitchen, not in a cupbard, so all I can tell you is it seems quieter than the Vokera.

I do so wish you hadn't made me look at the quote, I'd nearly got over it

- lets say it was slightly more than £2100 but less than £2200 and a years free service was included. That included a £300 'trade in' for the old boiler and an 'existing customer' discount of 5%.

They did a superb job, though, I couldn't fault it, and the installation included all the upgraded 'earth bonding' you need under the new regs, that was £133, by itself

[Gareth]

Originally Posted by brundles

I was given Worcester Bosch and Vokera as recommendations recently when I was asking a similar question on another forum.

Many people seem to swear by Worcester Bosch.

We've got a Worcester Bosch too... and I can recommend it heartily!

[greencreeper]

I get a new one on Monday First repair the landlord has done in over two years. I've got bubbly in the fridge. The current one has developed a bit of a build up of mud at the bottom, and the flu is next to the window, so it needs a fan-assisted flu, I'm told. Not sure how they intend wiring it - the electrics are a bit dodgy. Should be interesting.

You know you're old when you spend your evening chatting about boilers

Originally Posted by greencreeper

I get a new one on Monday First repair the landlord has done in over two years. I've got bubbly in the fridge. The current one has developed a bit of a build up of mud at the bottom, and the flu is next to the window, so it needs a fan-assisted flu, I'm told. Not sure how they intend wiring it - the electrics are a bit dodgy. Should be interesting.

You know you're old when you spend your evening chatting about boilers

you know you are old when people describe you as 'sprightly' - otherwise you are correct

[greencreeper]

Originally Posted by homealone

you know you are old when people describe you as 'sprightly' - otherwise you are correct

True

[etccarmageddon]

I'd recommend Baxi which is the same as Potterton.

---------- Post added at 07:20 ---------- Previous post was at 07:16 ----------

my mum has a worcester and swears AT it! the hot water temp is all over the place and there is no way to adjust it. you turn hot tap on and wait ages for heat then it is about as stable as a big brother inmate!

---------- Post added at 07:21 ---------- Previous post was at 07:20 ----------

you can buy a boiler off the net for around £600-1000 - if you buy from british gas you will get screwed. then if you know a corgi man you should be able to get him to install it for under £400.

---------- Post added at 08:03 ---------- Previous post was at 07:21 ----------

The Worcester 'Greenstar 28i junior' - I can find this for £815 inc vat to buy off the 'net.

Originally Posted by etccarmageddon

my mum has a worcester and swears AT it! the hot water temp is all over the place and there is no way to adjust it. you turn hot tap on and wait ages for heat then it is about as stable as a big brother inmate! <snip>

Very different to my experience, so far, although I agree not being able to adjust the water temperature is a pain, I've found it very quick to get up to temperature and stable once it gets there. We have a thermostat fitted on our shower, and it settles down really quickly to a steady fast flow of water - noticeably better than our old boiler.

Your comments regarding the cost are spot on, but we wanted a quick job covered by a service contract, as well as a guarantee, which was what we got, so no regrets, for us, but you are correct to point out the alternatives

[Taf]

The Council fitted us a Baxi combi... it's been a lemon since day one.....

[TheBlueRaja]

Hmm, this isnt helping - looks like nobody knows a good boiler.

Thanks for all the advice so far though, i want to go down the internet route and get somebody to fit it as 2 grand for BG to fit it seems a bit steep to be perfectly honest.

[Salu]

I was told by a corgi fitter that you basically get what you pay for. Side by side they may look similar specs but for example, it's the substitution of plastic for metal inside that lowers the quality and longevity of them.
Just ring up 3 corgi fitters and see what they each say for recommended brands...