Hi,
I have an old Baxi Bermuda back boiler with a v old gas fire. I am looking to have a new central heating system and have been advised a combi would be the best to have installed. I have had 3 Gas Safe Engineers to estimate with different prices & advice (one never supplied me with an estimate despite saying he would via email - never heard back!)I don't know what to do. I know each engineer will have his favourite boiler & way of working but it's so confusing.
The house is 3 bedrooms (one is really a small box room), 2 lounges, one kitchen, one bathroom/toilet, hallway, stairs, landing. There are 9 rads at present; the box room & bathroom have v small rads. One of the lounges has 2 rads in it (one of which is v small placed under the bay window.) I've only recently bought the house & I would like to keep the rads as they are - they have thermostats.
1) Which boiler would be the best given the above info please?
NB - Only one person in the house.
Glow worm Betacom 24KW, Vaillant Ecotec plus, Glow Worm Ultimate 30? I've been advised the Betacom has a 5 yr guarantee but the other 2 have 10 years.
2) would an electric or gas fire be suitable for this house? The old fire is gas.
3) does the engineer have to supply the boiler or could I buy it myself and have it installed & maintained yearly by the engineer ?
Thanks.
AJ
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
You are correct when stating 'each engineer will have his favourite boiler'
These are the boilers I would recommend in no particular order:
Intergas (Dutch)
Vaillant (German)
Worcester Bosch (Anglo-German)
Viessmann (German)
These are the boilers I would NOT recommend, in no particular order in my professional opinion only:
Sime
Ferrroli
Vokera
Heatline
I would advise you to do your own research in terms of preferred boiler but be aware that many opinions you will come across are from 'laymen & laywomen'
not necessarily from heating professional's so factor this in to your final choice.
Just because a boiler has an extended warranty is no proof of build quality, so choose wisely!
If you decide to choose a Combi boiler your fuel bills will reduce due to the fact you are not storing hot water in a cylinder and modern boilers are far more efficient then you existing BBU but the negative side is with all Combi boilers there are many working parts by comparison so maintenance cost's can increase after the
boiler warranty has expired.
If when choosing a Combi boiler and you have very good mains cold water pressure/flow rate then choose a 30kw as this boiler this will deliver more hot water but if it is not then a 24/25 kw boiler will be fine for your needs.
Update.
You can keep your existing fire if you wish as they are classed as two separate appliances it just needs the back boiler de-commissioning and made safe only, the Gas Safe engineer will know how to do this or choose a more modern gas or electric fire instead if you so wish.
Hi AJ,
In my personal opinion having worked on all three of these boiler over a number of years, id recommend you go with the Vaillant Ecotec Pro 28.
For a number of reasons:
1. They’re a far better made boiler than the other two in question (the parts are mostly brass rather than plastic) thus you should get a longer life out of your boiler.
2. You’ll get your 10 year warranty which Vaillant are good when called upon and don’t try to dodge changing parts if needed.
3. With the new boiler plus regulations which require you to be more energy efficient you can install Vaillant smart controls alongside your boiler.
4. A Vaillant Ecotec 28 will have the power to heat up your 9 radiators with ease which will prove more cost efficient for you as it’s not having to overwork itself.
My last piece of advice to you would be as you’re removing a very old boiler and fire I would have your system power flushed before the new boiler is installed (to remove any dirt/sludge that’s present in your system. Then install a scalemaster, Magnaclean and put inhibitors into the system to try and keep your system sludge free for as long as possible.
Good luck with the install!
O.S.Heating
