Which Boiler Manufacturer?

[JK0]

If I am looking for a new boiler make, not only am I looking for reliability, I also wish to know spares will be available for 15-20 years.

Anyone any good/bad experiences with the above?

[mind the gap]

If I am looking for a new boiler make, not only am I looking for reliability, I also wish to know spares will be available for 15-20 years.

Anyone any good/bad experiences with the above?

Worcester Bosch, I say unto you. Have had good experiences. Their boiler service and breakdown contract is worth having, too.

[JK0]

Thanks MTG.

[Brixtonia]

Yep - I would go Worcester too. The other one widely recommended by most plumbers is Vaillant.

Shop around as the prices vary massively from one site to another. Clocks and flues are not included in price. I found best price for a WB Greenstar 30si was on ebay (normal high street merchant - just uses ebay for online sales). Depending on where you live you can also get very competitive 'supply and fit' prices on ebay.

[Ericthelobster]

Another W-B fan here...

[SMurray]

I agree with 'mind the gap', Worcester Bosch are great boilers!

[JK0]

Thanks guys, a unanimous vote. Worcester Bosch it is.

[mind the gap]

But don't come back and whinge at us if you buy one and it breaks down! :D

[Interlaken]

I wouldn't go about it this way. I'd go by plumber. In London my regular plumber is a Potterton man- fair enough - he fitted the boiler, services it and does gas safety certs. He is very reliable and honest and will turn out to other plumbing stuff ( I never have boiler breakdowns) and always gives good advice. In return I pay promptly and always use him.

On the south coast my plumbers are Glow Worm men (though one of them is a boiler anorak and never ceases to astound me with knowledge of the most obscure makes when I buy old properties with naf boilers). They know their stuff and same as above and we are all happy. I think if you get a boiler fitted by a plumber who fits what you choose then you are storing up trouble. In my experience plumbers favour one company if they are any good so pick a gas plumber who you can stick with for the life of the boiler is my tip.

[mind the gap]

'Glow Worm Men' sound fun. Do they dress up? How do they keep their glows glowing brightly?

I also know a boiler anorak. In fact, I know two, so I tend to put them together on social occasions. They have no conversation at all. Apologies for sounding like a Philistine, but there is a limit to how excited I can get about the entrails of boilers.

[jeffrey]

If you chop each one in half, do they then grow new heads?

[HMO Landlord]

If you chop each one in half, do they then grow new heads?

Excellent they can then get the work done twice as quick. :)

Plumbers in these parts don't seem to be that good. I got quoted £300 to have my heating system flushed out because the hot water wasn't working properly. (apparently hot water and heating affect one another). I could have fixed it for less than a pound. As i looked over the wall and saw the neighbours water pipe (garden tap) that feeds my house was leaking. Bought a compression fitting to cap it off.

Hey presto, no leak next door = higher pressure in my boiler = hot water working fine again.

I said could have fixed it...got back from bnq with cap but the neighbour paid for a plumber to cap it off.

CAUTION = Replacing boiler parts needs gas safe person.

[Ericthelobster]

I think if you get a boiler fitted by a plumber who fits what you choose then you are storing up trouble. In my experience plumbers favour one company if they are any good so pick a gas plumber who you can stick with for the life of the boiler is my tip.That's good advice and I was going to mention that myself actually. I was originally introduced to W-B by a plumber in fact; in my experience many of them do tend to go for W-B anyway.

[Always Problems]

I wonder why there are no Scrap Yards for boilers. My 12 year old Gloworm had a faulty circuit board which cost £250 and was a simple pull out and push in. So when these Boilers are replaced does nobody strip them and sell the parts especially the working bits, or even re-condition them. After all fitting an identical boiler to the one you have taken out must be child's play as all the pipes will be in the correct places.

[JK0]

I bet there is some overly strict health and safety law which prohibits second hand parts being fitted.

[Ericthelobster]

I wonder why there are no Scrap Yards for boilers. My 12 year old Gloworm had a faulty circuit board which cost £250 and was a simple pull out and push in. So when these Boilers are replaced does nobody strip them and sell the parts especially the working bits, or even re-condition them.What makes you think they don't? Here's one outfit I have personal knowledge of, for a start:
http://www.cetltd.com/

They sell lots of Gloworm circuit boards at around £30-40...

[mk1fan]

You can get them on eBay. I got a circuit board for my Potterton.

[confused_ape]

asked my plumber this question the other day (and as already stated by quite a few people) he also swears by Worcester and Vaillant (sic?). avoid at all costs Baxi - had a nightmare with one and it's got to go...