Made a shortlist for replacement combi boiler, any advice on these?

[rednev]

Ive tried to do as much research as possible to try find a replacement for my ageing Potterton Lynx Electronic combi.


I have a gas safe fitter doing the job, but is isnt linked to either brand (so wont get any extended warranties, just the standard ones mentioned below)




I have picked out the following, and left a note with my reasons (costs include fittings and boiler cost):


WORCESTER-BOSCH Greenstar 28CDi = £1250


- 5 year Boiler Guarantee
- 10 year heat Exchange Guarantee
- Peace of mind of large support network, and low risk of shortage of parts in the future.


Cons
- Replacement parts can be pricey, more elements that can go wrong compared to the Intergas like model






Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 824 = £1219


- 5 year Guarantee
- Stainless Steel Exchange
- Large support network, and low risk of shortage of parts in the future.
- From what I can gather, are a bit easier to access for repairs compared to the Worcester should they be needed


Cons
- Replacement parts can be pricey, more elements that can go wrong compared to the Intergas like model






INTERGAS Combi Compact HRE 24/18 = £1051


- 10 year warranty on the heat exchanger
- 3 year warranty on parts/labour if warranty card registered
- Less parts to go wrong as used in above models
- Seem to get glowing reviews... cant really find any bad ones?
- Cheaper than the other alternatives.


Cons:
- It concerns me that parts may not be available in the future, and support from engineers if needed when warranty ends.


- Upon doing research, some of the parts used in the boiler are not without their issues when other brands have used same parts.




Having a bit of a dilemma on which one to go for, so would appreciate any input.


Cheers

 

[villa_tom]

If it where me I'd go for the vaillant. But that's just personal choice and I find them easy to work on and Diagnose faults.

Many on here are advocates of intergas, which is fair enough.

Its all personal choice really. I've seen more to wrong with Worcesters and vaillants, but there are loads more of them about.

Speak to your installer and see what he thinks

 

[rednev]

Installer is happy to install whatever I am really.

He recommended Worcester or Vaillant, but happy to install the Intergas if I want.

I think its probably a choice between the Vaillant and the Intergas for me.

The Intergas model makes sense to me due to the lack of lots of moving/perishable parts, but I dont want to be left high and dry a few years down the line if they end up a niche product and the parts arent available anymore or I will have to hunt out a specific engineer to carry out repairs.

 

[tamz]

Your dilemma should be what kind of workmanship do you really expect for about £100 after the costs of materials

 

[Millsy 82]

You cant go wrong with worcester or vaillant. Neither parts are massivley pricey. Worcester have possibly the best after care of all manufacturers vaillant can be a bit of a pain at times. The vaillants are better built though IMO.

Cant comment on intergas never seen one. Although from pictures of it it is butt ugly lol.

 

[rednev]

Your dilemma should be what kind of workmanship do you really expect for about £100 after the costs of materials

The costs Ive mentioned do not include labour for fitting. Its the price of the boiler and parts only.

APologies for confusion, but 'fittings' I mean by other parts.

 

[tamz]

The costs Ive mentioned do not include labour for fitting. Its the price of the boiler and parts only.

Ahh :lol:

I'd go for the worcester but the 29cdi classic

 

[lame plumber]

intergas arent going anywhere as they arent a small organisation in the european area, just new to the uk and showing some manufacturers the way ahead, how can one box be uglier than another does puzzle me though, and todate I have fitted intergas for around 3 years and no issues but have also fitted wb and had one fail on day 2!!, hence why i stick soley with intergas now,

 

[SafeGasInstall]

you see the worcesters and vaillant has to be installed by the accredited installer to get the 5 or 7 years guarantee ,if not will be only 2 years !
I am worcester accredited and that is how I install them , and to be honest will work out cheaper for you if installer supply boiler and all the rest , you will not save by you getting it

 

[rednev]

I have an email from both Worcester and vaillant confirming the warranty periods I have stated for if the boiler has been fired by a non Worcester / vaillant fitter.

Vaillants give 7yr now when fitted by a vaillant advance fitter

 

[hammers4spanner]

All boilers are rubbish imho if they were actually anygood we would all be at home bored ,

glowworm 10 year warranty

 

[SafeGasInstall]

I have an email from both Worcester and vaillant confirming the warranty periods I have stated for if the boiler has been fired by a non Worcester / vaillant fitter.

Vaillants give 7yr now when fitted by a vaillant advance fitter

its imposible to be right , I install worcester and i sign them out with 5 or 7 or 8 , but can only do 2 on vaillant as I am not accredited

 

[SafeGasInstall]

All boilers are rubbish imho if they were actually anygood we would all be at home bored

what is that supposed to mean

 

[rednev]

The promotion offers you:

An additional 3 years on top of our standard 2-year guarantee for ecoTEC pro models.
An additional 2 years on top of our standard 5-year guarantee on ecoTEC plus models.
An additional 2 years on top of our standard 5-year guarantee on ecoTEC exclusive models


http://www.vaillantthinksahead.co.uk/7-years-guarantee/

 

[SafeGasInstall]

never underestimate the power of the SMALL print
Terms and Conditions | Vaillant Thinks Ahead

 

[hammers4spanner]

it means they are pants everybody argues whats the best what to install but at the end of it they are pretty much all tat , they all go wrong nowadays manufactured parts on boilers are shocking , get a boiler with long warranty

 

[rednev]

never underestimate the power of the SMALL print
Terms and Conditions | Vaillant Thinks Ahead

I don't see the issue with that.

With ecotec plus models the standard warranty is 5yrs... If fitted by vaillant advance installer its 7yrs

 

[Wet dream]

Vaillant for me had issues with Worcester after safes in past. Only thing that puts me off intergas is the offset flue on boiler swops

 

[R1CKY]

I agree with H4S. All boiler are sub par in quality IMO, you're better off choosing the one with the best support network. Which is Worcester IME.

Still not convinced by Intergas, I've seen one up close and it didn't seem to be great quality. Its essentially the same setup as a Ferroli Modena, which also had fewer moving parts than other combis, but was forever failing because of sensors, PCBs, pressure switches etc.

 

[Mrs Tara Plumbi]

... you're better off choosing the one with the best support network. Which is Worcester IME.

....

Ditto.
That is the basis on which I would choose a boiler for my house.
And it is the same reason our company install mostly WB

 

[oz-plumber]

Hi all,
I cannot believe the warranty's that you guys are offered in the UK.
We are offered a 12 month warranty from the suppliers and the warranty is generally from the date of purchase.
I usually buy boilers in lots of 6 or 12 ( 6 boilers for the price of 5 or 12 boilers for the price of 10 )
I generally offer my own warranty on the boilers as getting a warranty from the suppliers is not worth the effort or the customer dissatisfaction.
What I call it is " Box Warranty " - as soon as the box is opened the warranty is null and void.
I would love to see an Australian supplier stand up to the plate and offer some of the manufacturers warranty's that you guys are offered.

Oz-Plumber

 

[SafeGasInstall]

That is how we roll here

 

[oz-plumber]

What do you mean by that SafeGasInstall?

Are you implying we are antiquated or being led down the garden path?

 

[SafeGasInstall]

No at all , market is bad here so this is how they manufacture stimulate the sale if new boilers

 

[TBServices]

I agree with H4S. All boiler are sub par in quality IMO, you're better off choosing the one with the best support network. Which is Worcester IME.

Still not convinced by Intergas, I've seen one up close and it didn't seem to be great quality. Its essentially the same setup as a Ferroli Modena, which also had fewer moving parts than other combis, but was forever failing because of sensors, PCBs, pressure switches etc.

Ferroli is a different world of crapness though. The components are poor quality so won't last, just like the vokera compact - no good having no DV or plate hex if the PCB, fan and thermistors go wrong every year.