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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Plumbing Questions >> Which make of combi boiler? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1183275684 Message started by londonman on Jul 1^st, 2007, 8:41am

Title: Which make of combi boiler?
Post by londonman on Jul 1^st, 2007, 8:41am

Which manufacturers do the forum experts rate and which are the ones to avoid?

Is there any 'simple' DIY test that I can do to measure my flow rate to see if it's adequate for a combi? Such as 'how long does it take to fill a 5 litre bucket'...that sort of thing or is it a bit more complicated than that!

Title: Re: Which make of combi boiler?
Post by runninwata on Jul 1^st, 2007, 12:28pm

I personally like Alpha for simplicity with service and repair boulter for ease of installation i would stay clear of Baxi they are sh*t dont much like Vaillant but aftersales excellent check around and speak to a few local installers see which way they point you, as for measuring flow rate you get a thing called a weir gauge ( basically a cup with a hole in it with graduations and figures on it)which tells the lites per minute or gallons per minute of flow. or just fill the bucket and time how much minutes it takes to fill a set litreage and work it out from there

hope that is of some help

regards

steve

Title: Re: Which make of combi boiler?
Post by thescruff on Jul 1^st, 2007, 3:51pm

I agree with runninwata.

Alpha or Boulter Buderus. with the later being my first choice, provided you have an Rgi that is comfortable with them.

Nothing worse than getting an engineer that has to start guesing at your expense.

Title: Re: Which make of combi boiler?
Post by londonman on Jul 2^nd, 2007, 11:02am

Ah...mea culpa. I should have said OIL FIRED as no gas :-[

Title: Re: Which make of combi boiler?
Post by runninwata on Jul 3^rd, 2007, 9:36pm

i have done a few installations lately with the external boulter camray five combi boiler seems great to me and my customers i certainly wouldnt go by them also done a lot of worcester bosch heatslaves although boulter now owned by worcester anyways so most components the same, Grants also worth looking into all manufacturers mainly use the reillo burner anyway

hope that helps

regards

steve

Title: Re: Which make of combi boiler?
Post by Lectrician on Jul 4^th, 2007, 8:59pm

I fitted a Vaillent EcoTech Plus in mine in the end - I couldn't decide between betwen a conventional system and a combi......but went for a combi for ease.....

It is a fantastic boiler - I went for a larger size than required, which means you can use two taps with ease, and the temp is too hot on max.

It also has a fantastic feature - Aqua-comfort I think it is called. It allows you to connect a conventional 2 ch time clock, or one the Vaillent 'bus connect' timers. The Hot Water channel puts the boiler into 'aqua mode' - which gets the boiler 'ticking over' ready to provide hot water quickly on demand.

It also has an inbuilt filling loop which many boilers do not, and an inbuilt pressure release valve.

I have a 'bus' connected timeclock, and this gives you a screen display which shows the status of the boiler, gas valve, pump, heating, water etc. Shows temp, allows you to boost the temp, advance, bed early etc.

Excellent IMO!

Title: Re: Which make of combi boiler?
Post by londonman on Jul 15^th, 2007, 2:04pm

Lectrician - is it oil or gas?

Title: Re: Which make of combi boiler?
Post by runninwata on Jul 18^th, 2007, 8:35pm

:o :o ::) ::) the clue is in the post :-D :-D
I have a 'bus' connected timeclock, and this gives you a screen display which shows the status of the boiler, gas valve, pump, heating, water etc. Shows temp, allows you to boost the temp, advance, bed early etc.

regards

steve