Combi boilers, which one ?

[jimisav]

I am considering installing central heating and want to know a decent / reliable combi boiler make / model. I will be running 7 radiators off it and the house is terraced. I am limited for space in the kitchen, can you buy cabinet sized ones, and not the huge old school ones, cheers.

[stanleyman]

I'm not sure if you intend to do this yourself but you need to be a competant person to install gas. If you visit B&Q they have small range of boilers and radiators to give you an idea. There isn't much in them these days and I don't know of any boiler to be avoided. If space is a problem then you can get a kickplate heater to fit under the kitchen units or wall mount a rad high up. The boiler can go anywhere that complies with building regs but ideally it needs to be close to the sink/bath outlets for quick hotwater response. You need good pressure and flow in your water main supply.

[mullein3]

I have just had a new boiler its a condenser one its make is bosch..and its excellent..its not very big its about 28 inches high and its in the pantry on the wall with the flu going through the outside wall ..spurting steam ..i am running 8 radiators off it and the house has never been so warm also its very quiet..

[darkstar]

we had a VAILLANT combi boiler fitted 12months ago, its cut gas bill in half. this is 48x20x15

[grahamfreer]

only combis worth having are german makes. best one is vaillant ecomax (but expensive) worcester bosch are also very reliable all the rest will let you down frequently & wont last as long I certainly wouldn't give them house room & i mend em for a living

[jimisav]

cheers all.

[KARL]

I would agree that when starting afresh, condensing ones are the best to get nowadays because although they cost more they are significantly more efficient than non-condensing. The makes already mentioned are worth looking at. The boiler output needs to match your house volume and heat-loss characteristics. Only the best built and most medern houses retain heat well. The radiators need to match the requirements room by room and should be sited under or very near windows for best results - do not be conned into accepting an installation where all the radiators are just inside doorways to each and every room: this is cheap to install but singularly poor design. The number of radiators tells you little or nothing about the necessary boiler capacity - it all depends on the total requirement for heat, radiators come in a very wide variety of sizes/output. Your local library is likely to have DIY books on basic central heating design.

[mansellsmum]

I can only go from my own experiences. My parents have got a Bosch Worcester for over 18 yrs and apart from an issue (which was sorted cheaply and effieciently by Bosch after several abortive attempts by a local plumber) they have had excellent service. i, on the other hand paid �1200 for a Glow Worm 38 cxi 18 months ago and have already 2 major failures on the hot water supply. Added to this disappointment I have found their service department appalling. Nobody can give you a straight answer when you eventually get them to answer the 'phone.

[jmarty]

I had an Ideal Response 120 installed 6 years ago. Cost a fortune to install and a fortune for repairs. Let me down every winter since installed. Woke up this morning, snow outside and guess what. No heat or hot water. Stay away from Ideal combi boilers. Now I have to wait a week with no heat to have a new boiler installed. Going for the Worcester Bosch this time.