New combi boiler needed - can anyone give me any advice?

i would get the potterton promax combi he range, im a boiler repair man and advice all my cons, the greenstar worcester bosch is a good boiler but the plastic housing inside have cracked 4 times on diff boilers ive seen so must be quite a common problem plus the promax combi has user adjustable hw temp display so u can go from 30c all the way up to 60c, i leave mine on 43c for the perfect shower temp, the higher the output the more hw flow rate but a very very good boiler! thats my opinion.

http://www.potterton.co.uk/images/Potterton_gold_brochure_aug_10.pdf
 
Last edited:
sorry to change the subject, but I think my diverter valve had gone kapput in my combi - I don't get any hot water unless the central heating is on. Anyone know the average price to replace this part?
 
Get a Worcester, not the cheapest but they break down the least from my experience :) .

Vailliant are also very good (both German brands, surprised?) and I would happily recommend Baxi/Potterton (exactly the same boilers with a different badge these days). I put a Baxi Platinum 28HE (exactly the same as the Duo-Tec but with 5yr warranty) in for my Gran about a year ago and it's worked flawlessly so far.

Forget sizing the boiler to the rad's, ANY modern combi boiler will do 6 radiators without even breaking a sweat, you'd need about 12kW at max for that and even the smallest combi is 24kW. You don't actually HAVE to fit TRV's, it just has to be offered to you by the installer, then his obligation is complete even if you choose to say no.
 
i ordered my bolier and rads on-line from here

http://www.discountedheating.co.uk/shop/acatalog/Condensing_Combi_System_and_Heating_Boilers.html

my mate (gas safe registered) could not get anywhere near their prices using his trade merchant. The amazing thing was when it came to delivery the boiler and rads were delivered by his trade merchant!

I ordered a radiator from there a couple of weeks ago after our hallway one was stolen by gypsies while decorating and it was delivered from Plumb Centre even though it was more expensive on the Plumb Centre website! :) .
 
Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 831 Combi Boiler

heard so many good things about these boilers.

I ordered a radiator from there a couple of weeks ago after our hallway one was stolen by gypsies while decorating and it was delivered from Plumb Centre even though it was more expensive on the Plumb Centre website! :) .

I have the 837 - Almost 2 years old and never missed a beat.

Replaced every rad in the house too

I ordered the rads from the place above too and plumb centre delivered them too.

Cannot see why anybody would not want to install TRV's they are so cheap compared to the outlay on a boiler and radiators.
 
Last edited:
Hi, so I've made a bit of progress! Thanks so much for the advice so far.

Initially I was after something with as long a parts and labour warranty as possible...however it seems that none of the decent brands provide a warranty that is that long.

So I have finally managed to compile a shortlist, as follows:

Prices include "Boiler Starter Pack" here: http://www.mrcentralheating.com/index.html

I've been looking at:
Potterton Gold C24 HE (2 years) £629 (boiler only)
Valliant ecoTec Pro 24 (2 years) £855 (inc starter pack)
Baxi Duo Tech 24 (2 years) £758
Baxi Platinum 24 HE (5 years) £920 (is this the same as the Potterton Gold??)

OR - should i just go for £500 Ideal, or Sabre?


The Valliant has cheaper parts in comparison to the Potterton Gold, I think.
 
possibly getting a friend to do it mates rates ?
...
In such a situation you dont have to worry about the parts being wrong, he can just come back another day when you do.
Getting a good builder to do it, who'll be providing gas Cert etc, but he'll be doing doing the boiler around other stuf, so no need to worry if bits aren't there.

i would get the potterton promax combi he range,
Any in my shortlist offer that do you know?
The Promax is £715.

I put a Baxi Platinum 28HE (exactly the same as the Duo-Tec but with 5yr warranty) in for my Gran about a year ago and it's worked flawlessly so far.
Is the Potterton Gold the same, but less warranty - maybe that's why there's a price difference?

Thanks all.
 
I'm no plumber but my dad used to own a plumbing company and he only ever used Worcester boilers. He said once he's installed one of them, 9 times out of 10 he wouldn't be seeing the client for a boiler related problem for years.
 
Back
Top Bottom