How to choose the right Worcester boiler

[ShaunCorbs]

how many baxi / other manufacturers do you see with linked out condensate trap probes to say its more than a few is an understatement

each boiler has its good points and bad

theres no top / perfect boiler yet

 

[hellfire]

Vaillant man myself,new Worcester boilers now have prv's and expansion vessel in boiler a lot easier to replace

 

[Leo21]

Some are in the boiler (prv,s). And sometimes condense pipes freeze or block or even back up due to adverse weather.
The installation of the condense can be as per MI,s, but other factors come into it. Other manufacturers have the foresight to see it.

 

[Leo21]

And what about low water pressure sensor?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

And what about low water pressure sensor?

dont know why they didnt fit one i believe the new juniors (i series) have it

 

[kris]

My favourite worcester will always be the greenstar classic combi, brilliant boiler ,

 

[townfanjon]

My favourite Worcester is the one in the skip

 

[cr0ft]

I've not fitted a Worcester but have serviced a fair few. Not been impressed with the layout and reliability of them to be honest. Same goes for Vaillant, especially the EcoTEC.

To be honest I'm not hugely impressed with most modern combi boilers, they are all following the route of ridiculously expensive spare parts and built in unreliability.

A few recent examples:-

Worcester flue seal failing and dripping acid condensate onto the metal (yes metal) condensate tray inside the boiler. End result was a new flue. Boiler was 3 years old and flue appeared to be properly fitted.

Ideal Logic+ heat engine corroding through after 4 years, around £600 to repair it for the customer.

Potterton Promax leaking condensate from the bottom of the heat exchanger, onto the gas pipework. 6 years old, another one at 5 years old recently too, both boilers capped off. In both cases damage was so severe that boilers were replaced.

Vaillant EcoTEC main heat exchanger rusting through after 4 years..

Contrast this to the old floor standing boilers that would last for decades.. I could go on but if this is progress I'm out lol!

Force me to buy a combi boiler and I'd buy an Intergas boiler. The boiler is pretty simple and the expensive part (the heat exchanger) wouldn't look out of place as a radiator grille for a Challenger tank. I'd go with them simply as they've never had a heat exchanger failure, ever. All of the other manufacturers have them, frequently.

 

[Leo21]

Intergas are ok, as long as they don't scale up. Which they do.

 

[king of pipes]

We live in a throw away society bud 7 to 10 years on a combi £100 a year for all your heating and hot water is good value , then we get to change it sweet you know when your getting old when you on your third boiler swap on the same address .

 

[Leo21]

That works out to £700 to a £1000 for a boiler swap!

 

[ShaunCorbs]

That works out to £700 to a £1000 for a boiler swap!

just for the boiler

 

[cr0ft]

The issue is that a decent combi swap nowadays is more like £1,800-2,000 if done properly with filter, scale inhibitor etc. That's not the full cost of ownership over 10 years either as this price assumes no controls and no repairs required in those 10 years. Oh and also no servicing either, but I guess older boilers require servicing too so we can ignore that cost.

Assuming a 10 year boiler life that's £180-200 a year just for the cost of your boiler on the wall and gas on top. Add in the carbon footprint of manufacturing a modern boiler and they are actually much less economical than the old floor standing ones we are encouraged by the powers that be to sticker as 'inefficient' and 'upgrade'..

I'd argue that Intergas boilers scaling up is more likely to be down to poor water treatment to be fair. Or do you mean on the primary side king of pipes? I don't have much experience of servicing them if being honest but the new RF ones look well built from an engineering perspective.

 

[Leo21]

They scale up from mains water, because of the twin route hex.

 

[cr0ft]

Does a decent scale inhibitor make a difference on them?

 

[Harvest Fields]

Not fitted an Intergas. Does a filter not help?

 

[Leo21]

On the mains, yes. Because there's no no diverter both sets of water run thripugh the main hex.

 

[king of pipes]

Intergas ? not fitted any of them bud so cant coment , i still think a good modern day combi is good value and i charge nearer £3000 for a upgrade i have 60+ combis on my books which i look after sevice and repair and yes i do get faults , servicing picks up small faults before they get serious, fit it right service it properly not just stick ya anylser in , even if it does breakdown fix the damned thing its what we do charge good money for doing it to , i will agree the older style boilers do run clean and efficiency are not that bad heat up exchange is often Slower but its the controls where it all falls down gravity primaries or more often no control at all other than a timer and boiler stat this causes products of combustion to be produced that could be cut saving money and our planet rant over off to work drive carefully have a good day all. Regards kop

 

[Harvest Fields]

You too mate