Firebird slimline combi

[Millsy 82]

Never installed one cant fit the grant combi in so thought I would price for a firebird. Are they any good?

I'm not a big fan of worcester oil and dont think they are worth the extra £400.

 

[SimonG]

Combi of choice at the minute.

 

[Aire]

I installed one for my boss a couple years ago, I don't generally do oil but it's been fine since install. Only thing I will say is they look a little dated compared to Worcester. I believe there was also something about the expansion vessel only been large enough to take up the expansion in boiler and that a secondary external vessel is recommended for even a standard sized heating system. This is what I was told by the guy who commissioned the boiler, he made me put an extra one in before he passed it off. As I don't fit oil boilers I didn't question it and maybe Simon can confirm. Just thought I'd mention it so you can price for it now if it is actually required.

 

[SimonG]

Extra expansion vessel is standard for me. Seen to many boilers leaking like sieves.

 

[Millsy 82]

I installed one for my boss a couple years ago, I don't generally do oil but it's been fine since install. Only thing I will say is they look a little dated compared to Worcester. I believe there was also something about the expansion vessel only been large enough to take up the expansion in boiler and that a secondary external vessel is recommended for even a standard sized heating system. This is what I was told by the guy who commissioned the boiler, he made me put an extra one in before he passed it off. As I don't fit oil boilers I didn't question it and maybe Simon can confirm. Just thought I'd mention it so you can price for it now if it is actually required.

Grant were like that they have now fitted a 24ltr expansion vessel in them.

I am going put an additional one on and remove the existing one in the boiler to not confuse the next engineers.

 

[Millsy 82]

Combi of choice at the minute.

Can I ask your reasoning?

I've always been grant I have got a few 4/5 year old 26e that leak like sieves because no additional expansion vessel and no where to put one.

 

[SimonG]

Used Worcester at the beginning but let down big style with support.
Then warmflow but they changed the design without even letting on. Now have that crappy motorised valve that costs an arm and a leg to replace.
Never fitted grant, saw too many leaking when I first started oil so stayed away.
Now firebird.
Ideally I would fit an unvented cylinder and a hounsfield boiler.

 

[Millsy 82]

It's nice to hear why people fit the boilers they do.

My first ever experience on oil was a firebird whitebird? The company I worked for used to get someone drive from Somerset to Gloucester to do their oil work and after a service this boiler wasnt working right so I got sent out to it,before i was oftec and not having any experience on oil what so ever, so I was off armed with an oil pressure gauge and new nozzle and a brand new smoke pump. It was choked up to hell and i cleaned it up a treat changed the nozzle altered it all to what it should be hey presto all worked absolutely fine I thought I was a god . Next day I got called back to it chucking thick black smoke out . By the time I got back out to it it was choked up again so had to clean it out again all perfect god feeling returned and I sat with it for 30 minutes it all of a sudden for about 10 minutes chucked out thick black smoke. a few drives down the road to phone manufacturer and nailed it to motor replaced all good.

Ever since then I have had a hatred for all things firebird.

Never liked worcester oil always been a pain to work on and like you with Grant's seen loads leaking like a sieve.

Warmflow the parts stupidly expensive.

And then grant always been good in my eyes. So just stuck with them. Seen a few recently leaking but think that's down to expansion vessel sizing.

 

[SimonG]

It's weird how little things stick with you.

If you get chance on a heat only have a look at the hounsfield. Nice easy install and nice to work on.

 

[Millsy 82]

It's weird how little things stick with you.

If you get chance on a heat only have a look at the hounsfield. Nice easy install and nice to work on.

I got an email off hounsfield and never thought about it. Do you have to buy direct?

 

[SimonG]

I got an email off hounsfield and never thought about it. Do you have to buy direct?

Yes direct from them. They run two price lists. Trade and public.