chocchick Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Does anyone know about brands of boiler (combi)? Ours has been declared dangerous and not to be used It could set on fire and poison us with carbon monoxide if a panel slipped again like it did this time (just onto ignition bit so not dangerous). Luckily we've been boiling water in the kettle for washing up and haven't used it for months. We want to move to a dream house in the country (with more chickens) so don't plan on staying more than a few years so we're wondering about doing it fairly cheaply. The gas man said Wooster and something else were really good, but that there were a lot of bad ones. He quoted just under £2k though (£1k boiler+fitting). OH's Dad seems to think you could get a boiler for £300-400. Also, is servicing worth it? OH thinks it's a money making exercise, but the gas men looked surprised we'd not had it done in 4 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I think you mean Worcester but don't quote me! We had a combi fitted by a plumber friend at our old house - it cost us £2k but that included moving the boiler from the kitchen and into the old airing cupboard space in the room above and taking out the old water tank so it was a bit more than just replacing the boiler. It took 2 men plus an electrician a day and a bit to do it. Can't remember the make though. We need a new boiler at this house so will be watching this topic with interest. I hated the combi, but am told it the problems were because of the water pressure being too low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I had my boiler replaced 3 years ago and got a Worcester combi boiler, so I can have hot water when ever I need it, and don't need a cold water tank or hot water cylinder (so more room). I can't remember, but I think the whole supply and fit was about £1.5k. if you've already had a combi then it's less work than if you've had another type of boiler as they are plumbed in slightly differently. I always get it serviced, only costs about £40 once a year, but give me peace of mind that it's working OK and not leaking carbon monoxide. Phil's about to replce his boiler, and is looking through his Which? online service - I'll see what he comes up with and let you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I have a Worcester combi boiler and I love it Mind you it is the size of a small Elephant (I'm not kidding ) I run a mains shower off it and you get plenty of hot water in fact it is set on 2 out of 5 on the heat setting for the water it is that hot They are expensive though I have PM'd you Sarah about a different manufacturer I don't want to broadcast that in public Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 I've been watching too much Jeeves and Wooster I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Ours is a Chaffoteaux et Maury boiler and although we have just instant hot water boiler I've heard that their combi boilers are good. We've had our 17 years with just two call outs and much to my shame 3 services. Now ours is older I do want to get it serviced more often just to make sure it's safe but I'd never go back to a hot water tank now. All the hot water I want whenever and none left to cool in a tank. Just a point, when we had it fitted we were advised not to go for a combi though because if one part breaks down you've lost both heating and hot water. Depends if you have room for two boilers, our central heating boiler is in the downstairs loo, hot water in the bathroom. That was as I said 17 years ago though things do change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 We have a Worcester Combi Boiler. It is fab. It was about £K all in as I recall. Choccy Babe I think it is a good idea to have a boiler serviced regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I'm afraid I don't have my boiler serviced either, although I probably should as it is now 12 years old (a Ferroli combi) . I do have a carbon monoxide detector though, plugged in to the electric, and that was less than £40 many years ago. I was brought up with solid fuel so when I had the gas installed in my own house I was rather paranoid about it, hence the only gas appliance is the boiler, which is in the kitchen on the 'wing' of the house. I wanted as many fuel options open as possible so I could not be held to ransom by any one fuel provider (remember the 70's, folks?). When a part went on the boiler many years ago, in January, I was able to survive for two weeks (until pay day ) without my gas central heating, by using the electric(my shower is also electric) and coal fire. In the 12 years I have had the Ferroli I have spent less than £250 on three call outs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 We have a Worcester Combi Boiler. It is fab. It was about £K all in as I recall. Choccy Babe I think it is a good idea to have a boiler serviced regularly. When did you get it? Just wondering if you know a cheaper option. OH said it was a condensing combi boiler he recommended that is supposed to be more energy efficient. I'm non the wiser... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 3 years ago ..that should have been £2K....missed the 2 out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Claire, I have multifuel options too, the hot water and central heating are gas from the boiler. The shower is electric and I have a multi-fuel stove, which can warm the house if necessary. I use the stove in the winter to supplement the heating and save on gas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 Same here, I grew up in an all electric house and it was a nightmare when there were powercuts etc. My only issue at the mo is that I have no water tank of any description so when the water goes off, please do remember I'm in Yorkshire waters area, then we have to run over the road to my brither in law to fill the kettle from his tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 Luckily we don't have water cuts here Trish, but the electrics are always going off! More so on the circuit that my office is on than at home, but it's still a pain having to reset everything. I remember the winter of discontent in the 70s only too clearly, my dad was away on business so my mother had to cope on her own with two children and no electricity. I remember her cooking our meals next dor on their gas stove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 That is why I have a gas cooker!! I get lots of power cuts but with an open fire in the lounge and a gas cooker I can stay warm and fed The worst in my area was in 2001 when we had horrendous snow I was lucky as the town I lived in on my side the power was only off for an afternoon but the other side of the town all the way down past where I live now was off for nearly a week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 Me too Louise, and at a pinch I can cook on the wood stove in the living room, but I'd rather not unless it's necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 is a combi boiler big enough for a 3-bedroomed house? I'm looking at replacing mine soon, I had a combi in my last (smaller)house and it was great, as it's just me here, I don't want to store loads of hot water. Also, when a pipe split recently, the hot water tank emptied several times through the kitchen ceiling before it could be stopped ...I hate having water tanks at all! but someone said to me that a combi wouldn't provide enough, or maybe they meant if I sold the house in future to a family it wouldn't provide enough for multiple use? I'm not planning on moving any time soon mind you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 My house is biggish and a combi boiler does the trick. I suppose they come in different sizes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 I grew up on west coast of Scotland and we always had long power cuts in the winter when the gales blew in from the Atlantic. My mother was a great believer in belts and braces so had the Rayburn for heating and cooking, plus a big collection of oil lamps (I can remember the tilley lamp getting thrown out the kitchen window as it would burst into flames when she was trying to prime and light it!!), also had a calor gas cooker and heater just in case the Rayburn conked out! and a little round parrafin thing that gave heat and could have a pan on top. Had a couple of power cuts here in Norfolk last year so OH bought a generator that will run the lights, boiler pump, fridge freezer and microwave but haven't had to use it yet. Shame, I want to be a blaze of lights while everyone else is in darkness! We had British Gas in to give us a quote for a new boiler - the sort without a hot water tank but it was very expensive even allowing for their special discount. Now there has been article in newspaper putting down the British Gas special offer saying that better deals can be had elsewhere. So we're still looking and I will also be watching this post with interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 is a combi boiler big enough for a 3-bedroomed house? I'm looking at replacing mine soon, I had a combi in my last (smaller)house and it was great, as it's just me here, I don't want to store loads of hot water. Also, when a pipe split recently, the hot water tank emptied several times through the kitchen ceiling before it could be stopped ...I hate having water tanks at all! but someone said to me that a combi wouldn't provide enough, or maybe they meant if I sold the house in future to a family it wouldn't provide enough for multiple use? I'm not planning on moving any time soon mind you. I've got a 3 bedrommed house and a combi boiler is fine - it even heats this draughty Victorian wreck! There was an article about gas boilers and which sort to choose in the latest copy of Which? Magazine, Phil lent it to me to photocopy for Choccy. I'm sure that if you look hard, it'll be online too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisnrob Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Much useful boilder advice/discussion at http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=111835 Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 wow, what a useful site - thanks Rob! I am going to wait till it really needs doing, but I've got a lot more ideas now about the options. Thanks, and I will keep watching this post. By the way, I do get my boiler serviced regularly (with expensive British Gas Homecare contract, mind you) - but I used to just pay someone to do it once a year. I'm more concerned about the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning than the boiler breaking down. You'll know if the latter happens, but not necessarily the former ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beauty-Box Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Hi, We have a Worcester Junior combi boiler in a three bedroom dormer bulgalow and it's great! Fortunately hubby's a heating engineer so he fitted the central heating and boiler. He does come in handy somtimes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted October 3, 2007 Author Share Posted October 3, 2007 things are getting complex... 1 fitter arrived, quoted for a Baxi boiler within a few days the next fitter cancelled twice by PM and text, then phoned 5 hours after he couldn't make it and is busy 'til Dec now anyway The next fitter didn't give us the quote by yesterday (Vailent and cheaper make). We phoned and emailed and are getting tonight/tomorrow...hopefully I got these via the Sheffield forum and they give sensible advice, but I suppose promote themeselves The fitter tonight apparently trained the one who didn't turn up, says he lies about being an ex-British gas engineer, and you've no guarantee about the Internet people, he doesn't post personally as wants customer recommendations. He says the baxi boilers are rubbish and will only fit vailent/Worcester. All OK. This guy is recommended by OH's work colleague. He won't give us a written quote as his mate is moving house and his printer is broken or something and laughed that'd I'd need one, and wrote a figure down on some notepaper we had and gave his word he's stick to it. He then added VAT. OH said his partner had given us £900 cost for the boiler and said he should take that off, and he did. How can we take his word over £1-2k?! I'm now convinced all of them are dodgey One won't write it on paper, one fits apparently(?) bad boilers, the other is being rubbish at emailing a quote (nearly a week) and the other one messed us around, lies (?) and didn't have the courtesy to tell us by phone. Any ideas?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Have PM'd you about Pete the plumber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Goodness! Any workman,especially one fitting something as difficult & important as a boiler MUST give you a written quote. We are in the building trade, & to be honest I would avaid anyone who tried to wriggle out of doing this. Is there any boiler fitting standard, where you can phone up & get a list of recommended fitters ? I will ask The Hubby - he works with these people all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
