Boiler recommendations

[JonMad]

So, our 30+ year old Potterton boiler at home is going strong, touch wood, but the one at the house my wife rents out has just been condemned. Is there a go-to make (and maybe model)? FWIW it's a 2 bed house.

[NotoriousREV]

Worcester Bosch. Job jobbed.

[Jobbo]

You'll find gas fitters have a preference for Vaillant or Worcester Bosch depending on who they generally use. I have had a couple of issues with the Vaillant I had fitted three years ago which have been fixed quickly under warranty so I wouldn't say avoid Vaillant; but whichever you get, make sure you get a decent length warranty and comply with its terms (usually annual servicing required).

[JonMad]

Thanks chaps. Let's see what quotes come back...

[Swervin_Mervin]

Was it condemned by British Gas by any chance?

[Carlos]

I appreciate you're probably not interested in any real world experience but we've fitted 3 viessmann boilers to rental houses over the last 10 years and had no issues at all, i think they came with a 5yr (at a minimum) warranty. They were also considerably cheaper than the usual go to Worcester Bosch.

My dad then had one about 5yrs ago and his has been bomb proof as well, even though he turns his off every night at the plug

[Carlos]

Was it condemned by British Gas by any chance?

We had one back boiler condemned twice, the first time a young engineer pulled it apart to service and clean but had no idea how to put it back together as he'd only ever worked on Combi's !

[JonMad]

I appreciate you're probably not interested in any real world experience but we've fitted 3 viessmann boilers to rental houses over the last 10 years and had no issues at all, i think they came with a 5yr (at a minimum) warranty. They were also considerably cheaper than the usual go to Worcester Bosch.

My dad then had one about 5yrs ago and his has been bomb proof as well, even though he turns his off every night at the plug

Ta, will see what they come back with. VITODENS 100-W looks suitable for this place.

[jamcg]

My experience with viesseman isn’t too good, so from person opinion I’d avoid them. We fit Worcester’s and have virtually no problems with them. Valiants big problem is the pressure sensors fail, both low and high, and allow the boiler to run with no water in them so for a rental I’d avoid them, as this is usually terminal. Also they need boiler seals changing every 5 years or these can fail and destroy the inside of the boiler, again a terminal problem. Baxi duotecs are a good bet for rentals, good cost to reliability ratio. Their maintenance is easy, parts are common and always on stock in merchants

So if you can afford it get Worcester, if you can’t get a duotec

Don’t get an ideal. Ever.

[JonMad]

[scotta]

My experience with viesseman isn’t too good, so from person opinion I’d avoid them. We fit Worcester’s and have virtually no problems with them. Valiants big problem is the pressure sensors fail, both low and high, and allow the boiler to run with no water in them so for a rental I’d avoid them, as this is usually terminal. Also they need boiler seals changing every 5 years or these can fail and destroy the inside of the boiler, again a terminal problem. Baxi duotecs are a good bet for rentals, good cost to reliability ratio. Their maintenance is easy, parts are common and always on stock in merchants

So if you can afford it get Worcester, if you can’t get a duotec

Don’t get an ideal. Ever.

I spanked for a Worcester Bosch in the old place. Excellent kit.

In the new house we have.....an ideal....

I fitted a new motorised valve to the system yesterday as on Sunday night the heating wouldn’t turn off. Seems to have hopefully done the job as it switched off properly this morning. Fingers crossed.

[jamcg]

My experience with viesseman isn’t too good, so from person opinion I’d avoid them. We fit Worcester’s and have virtually no problems with them. Valiants big problem is the pressure sensors fail, both low and high, and allow the boiler to run with no water in them so for a rental I’d avoid them, as this is usually terminal. Also they need boiler seals changing every 5 years or these can fail and destroy the inside of the boiler, again a terminal problem. Baxi duotecs are a good bet for rentals, good cost to reliability ratio. Their maintenance is easy, parts are common and always on stock in merchants

So if you can afford it get Worcester, if you can’t get a duotec

Don’t get an ideal. Ever.

I spanked for a Worcester Bosch in the old place. Excellent kit.

In the new house we have.....an ideal....

I fitted a new motorised valve to the system yesterday as on Sunday night the heating wouldn’t turn off. Seems to have hopefully done the job as it switched off properly this morning. Fingers crossed.

Sounds like a failed motor, it’s a common fault, the motor fails in the open position and as it’s the valve that sends the switch live to the boiler it keeps the system on

[duncs500]

This is the thread you've been waiting for jamcg!

We really should do a new thread with what all our vocations are again so that we can call on teh skillz of people when needed.

[JonMad]

So, if I can ask, Combi boiler in a small (70s, well insulated) rental house or stick with traditional?

[Barry]

My house was built in 1998, it's still running its original Worcester Bosch 28Cdi. Granted its had a new tank, pump and a couple tweaks over the past five years but still heating my house without complaint. The one thing it does do is cut out DHW in really cold weather, flue issue, but as I'm in the middle of upgrading the en-suite to an Aqualisa 9.5KW shower I care less about that.

[jamcg]

So, if I can ask, Combi boiler in a small (70s, well insulated) rental house or stick with traditional?

Ignore the needs of the heating system as a combi can provide enough heat to the radiator side of the system for about 2 houses. It’s the hot water side that determines what the best option is. If 2 bathrooms are in use at the same time on a regular basis stick with tradition boiler and cylinder setup- bigger combos help in this situation but it is still a compromise. If it’s for the rental property go for the combi- everything is in the one box for maintenance and when new is all covered by manufacturers warranty so is more cost effective in the longer term in the case of any faults. In terms of size look at the hot water flow rates- you need the incoming flow rate from the cold mains to provide the flow through the boiler so no point going above what the mains can provide

[scotta]

My experience with viesseman isn’t too good, so from person opinion I’d avoid them. We fit Worcester’s and have virtually no problems with them. Valiants big problem is the pressure sensors fail, both low and high, and allow the boiler to run with no water in them so for a rental I’d avoid them, as this is usually terminal. Also they need boiler seals changing every 5 years or these can fail and destroy the inside of the boiler, again a terminal problem. Baxi duotecs are a good bet for rentals, good cost to reliability ratio. Their maintenance is easy, parts are common and always on stock in merchants

So if you can afford it get Worcester, if you can’t get a duotec

Don’t get an ideal. Ever.

I spanked for a Worcester Bosch in the old place. Excellent kit.

In the new house we have.....an ideal....

I fitted a new motorised valve to the system yesterday as on Sunday night the heating wouldn’t turn off. Seems to have hopefully done the job as it switched off properly this morning. Fingers crossed.

Sounds like a failed motor, it’s a common fault, the motor fails in the open position and as it’s the valve that sends the switch live to the boiler it keeps the system on

So....I think Ive replaced the wrong motorised valve. Came upstairs tonight and the pump was still running. Moved the other valve and it clicked off....

[JonMad]

So, if I can ask, Combi boiler in a small (70s, well insulated) rental house or stick with traditional?

Ignore the needs of the heating system as a combi can provide enough heat to the radiator side of the system for about 2 houses. It’s the hot water side that determines what the best option is. If 2 bathrooms are in use at the same time on a regular basis stick with tradition boiler and cylinder setup- bigger combos help in this situation but it is still a compromise. If it’s for the rental property go for the combi- everything is in the one box for maintenance and when new is all covered by manufacturers warranty so is more cost effective in the longer term in the case of any faults. In terms of size look at the hot water flow rates- you need the incoming flow rate from the cold mains to provide the flow through the boiler so no point going above what the mains can provide

The following person likes this post: JonMad

Many thanks.

[Jobbo]

So....I think Ive replaced the wrong motorised valve. Came upstairs tonight and the pump was still running. Moved the other valve and it clicked off....

Are they the same? I can switch the heads between our two valves easily if one fails.

[Gavin]

Ah, an expert! Can I ask, our combi boiler which is a Worcester something is about 12 years old now and sometimes when you switch the hot tap on it gives an almighty clattering for a few seconds, like something is struggling to open maybe. It is not something that happens every time, it wouldn't happen for instance when we had the boiler serviced and the engineer was on site and he serviced it and found apparently no problems but of late it seems to be getting worse and even now getting a buzzing vibration when the heating kicks in. Is that a common problem or do I need a guy on site when the noise happens?