Choosing a new gas boiler ? Is there a pain free way to do this ?

[rivertree]

Boiler's dying Need to choose a new one. I find the whole process a baffling minefield.

Where do I start ?

 

[marty21]

try and not use British Gas - cost me a fortune they did

 

[Hocus Eye.]

I got a Worcester Bosch. It cost an arm and a leg. I used British Gas and paid at least 50% more than I should have. The boiler is good though.

 

[rivertree]

Can I use British Gas for which Boiler advice and then get someone else to install it. The boilers gonna have to heat a very large house plus several showers and kitchen.

 

[Chester Copperpot]

If you've got the cash go for a Vaillent or Worcester.

Potterton do some quite good quality boilers too and are a little cheaper rthan the other two.

 

[bi0boy]

Potterton are owned by Baxi now, if you stay away from the cheaper end of their range they're not so bad.

Vaillant and Worsecter Bosch are the best, and British Gas are a massive rip-off.

Get some quotes from installers of the brands you prefer, you can get a list of local people from the manufacturers' websites. They'll advise which model you need by measuring your rooms and doing calculations, you just need to choose the brand.

 

[rivertree]

Potterton are owned by Baxi now, if you stay away from the cheaper end of their range they're not so bad.

Vaillant and Worsecter Bosch are the best, and British Gas are a massive rip-off.

Get some quotes from installers of the brands you prefer, you can get a list of local people from the manufacturers' websites. They'll advise which model you need by measuring your rooms and doing calculations, you just need to choose the brand.

Valiant or Worsector it is then. So I just need to get house measurements and go on their website. Excellent - thanks I can do that

Other then manufacturer's websites, is their any other place to find realible installers ?

 

[bi0boy]

Valiant or Worsector it is then. So I just need to get house measurements and go on their website. Excellent - thanks I can do that

Other then manufacturer's websites, is their any other place to find realible installers ?

I meant the installers will measure your rooms when you get a quote, so you don't need to bother.

Check if your local council had a registered traders scheme, it's usually run by the local trading standards. Basically they produce a list of tradespeople who aren't reknowned for fucking people over. Might be a good place to start. Also of course check the GasSafe website, that will list everyone local to you who is legally allowed to carry out such work.

 

[co-op]

Valiant or Worsector it is then. So I just need to get house measurements and go on their website. Excellent - thanks I can do that

Other then manufacturer's websites, is their any other place to find realible installers ?

I'd really recommend doing your own calculations for what size of boiler you need, the last time I had to change one I had two installers - Pimlico Plumbers and British Gas - recommend me boilers that were - respectively - double and approx 30% larger than I needed. This would have cost a lot more and also made fitting them in a sensible space impossible and generally was very bad advice. Don't think because they are 'reputable' companies they won't rip you off, the two I've just mentioned quoted £5,000 and £2,500 for a job that in the end cost me about £1100 and worked fine for the 4 years that I stayed in the flat subsequently.

I'd choose a boiler yourself (calculating the size needed according to various internet calculators) and then get quotes for installation (and removal of the old one) from local companies or traders, and then see if you can't buy the thing yourself - they are surprisingly cheap if you get them from a wholesaler - again use the internet for prices. In the end the one I got put in was bought by the guy who put it in but we agreed a price for him to go and buy it and bring it round - it was a bit pricey but saved me the agg (I don't have a car) and I was happy with it.

 

[marty21]

I got a Worcester Bosch. It cost an arm and a leg. I used British Gas and paid at least 50% more than I should have. The boiler is good though.

same here, the boiler is excellent tbf, BG were very expensive though -

 

[rivertree]

I'd really recommend doing your own calculations for what size of boiler you need, the last time I had to change one I had two installers - Pimlico Plumbers and British Gas - recommend me boilers that were - respectively - double and approx 30% larger than I needed. This would have cost a lot more and also made fitting them in a sensible space impossible and generally was very bad advice. Don't think because they are 'reputable' companies they won't rip you off, the two I've just mentioned quoted £5,000 and £2,500 for a job that in the end cost me about £1100 and worked fine for the 4 years that I stayed in the flat subsequently.

I'd choose a boiler yourself (calculating the size needed according to various internet calculators) and then get quotes for installation (and removal of the old one) from local companies or traders, and then see if you can't buy the thing yourself - they are surprisingly cheap if you get them from a wholesaler - again use the internet for prices. In the end the one I got put in was bought by the guy who put it in but we agreed a price for him to go and buy it and bring it round - it was a bit pricey but saved me the agg (I don't have a car) and I was happy with it.

Thanks, I'll use online calculators and measure it myself. I was thinking of doing the same, buying the boiler online seperately and then finding a local tradesperson to fit it.

I know of one good plumber so I'll hopefully use him if I get a decent quote off him.

Incidently, if anyone's interested I just found this thread on Boiler brands

 

[Geri]

I've also got a Worcester Greenstar, it's been excellent so far (two years). I didn't bother getting a quote from British Gas as I knew they would be at least £500 more expensive than anywhere else, I got two local companies to quote for me and went with the cheapest.

 

[co-op]

Thanks, I'll use online calculators and measure it myself. I was thinking of doing the same, buying the boiler online seperately and then finding a local tradesperson to fit it.

I know of one good plumber so I'll hopefully use him if I get a decent quote off him.

Incidently, if anyone's interested I just found this thread on Boiler brands

I know a guy who used to manage rented houses and he had a couple of ex-CORGI (ie GasSafe as was) guys who didn't really do enough work to be bothered with staying certified and he'd pay them a day rate to install - a fairly generous few hundred at the time - and then he'd get a registered guy to come in and certify it afterwards. It used to come to about £450-500 + boiler for installation all in which looks like the cheapest way to do it. I guess a lot of plumbers who aren't registered would be able to actually do it. Bit of a risk if you don't know them of course!

 

[rivertree]

I know a guy who used to manage rented houses and he had a couple of ex-CORGI (ie GasSafe as was) guys who didn't really do enough work to be bothered with staying certified and he'd pay them a day rate to install - a fairly generous few hundred at the time - and then he'd get a registered guy to come in and certify it afterwards. It used to come to about £450-500 + boiler for installation all in which looks like the cheapest way to do it. I guess a lot of plumbers who aren't registered would be able to actually do it. Bit of a risk if you don't know them of course!

That's a great idea. I think I'll go for a Valiant and start getting some quotes

Thanks