Recommend me your boilers (boring, obviously, but I'm desperate!)

Our boiler has finally decided to give up, after two years of struggling, so we have to bite the bullet and get a new one. If only it were that simple! I've no idea where to start looking, apart from British Gas, but I'm sure they'll be expensive and we need to keep the cost down due to our (ever more costly) wedding. I need a Combi boiler, but I don't know anything about good makes, or who best to get to install it (other than the fact they need to be on the Gas Safe Register).

So if anyone has any good recommendations, I would be eternally grateful! 

TIA.

Where abouts are you based?

I'm in Kent.

All new boliers have to meet new eco guidelines- besides a condensing boiler will be cheaper to run.

This may be helpful http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Planning/BuildingRegulations/DG_10030520

My local council were offering grants for condensing boilers last year- so do check if they are available to you.

Thanks for that, I'll have a look at the guidelines. I'm a total boiler novice!

Don't touch British Gas for a new one  - they charge hundreds more than you need to pay.  Also ... are you sure your boiler is really dead?  Although I've just slagged BG off they have a fixed price repair scheme, no fix no fee.

Anyway, I got the Baxi Duo-tec Combi 28 HE as it was a Which best buy.  It has been good as gold, although I dispute that a new one saves money, I still believe my 20 year old one was better but BG said it was unsafe because IF it broke they couldn't fix it ....

Anyway, worth a look at Which to see what else is around, or what they say about ones that are on special offer locally.  If you're not a member you can join for a tester for a pound or so.  Here's what they said about my boiler ....

This combination boiler is efficient, user-friendly and a great choice for flats and smaller houses.

It's one of the few boilers we've tested which reaches the very highest efficiency standards, matching its claims to meet the A Sedbuk standard. As well as offering excellent efficiency, this boiler is also reassuringly easy to use.

Its instruction manuals are well organised and the controls on the boiler are simple too. Helpfully, day-to-day user instructions are also provided in a drop-down panel on the boiler itself which means they're easy to reference when you want to use the controls.

There isn't a timer, but you could ask your installer to add a generic digital timer for a small additional cost.

This boiler is also available in smaller (24kW) and larger (33 and 40kW) sizes.

This model has been superseded by an updated version which we haven't tested but check online retailers for availability

Pros: Excellent energy efficiency, easy to use

Cons: No timer - however, you can get one fitted at the same time.

We've lived here just over two years, and had to have it repaired so many times I can't remember (once with the BG fixed price scheme, others after buying Homecare). We have to whack it to get it going, which we were told to do by the BG repair man (who came out so often last year, I felt like he was our own personal engineer) and that's through Summer! So pretty sure it's dead. I can't cope with another cold Winter with intermittant heating and hot water, it drives me up the wall.

Thanks for the recommendation, we have a pretty small house so maybe another Combi would be best. I'll check Which out tomorrow.

You need an independent plumber not the likes of British Gas. Go through Yellow Pages and get a few quotes then go with the person who isn't necessarily cheapest but who you feel you trust most.

In terms of makes, Vaillant and Worcester Bosch are big names, but I'd ask the plumber for recommendations.

I was sorry to see my old boiler go - 25 years old and never so much as a pilot light go out. 

I had it "serviced" every year by BG and for 10 years they tutted and said it was obsolete but every year it passed with flying colours.  I dreaded them coming round but didn't dare cancel because of the age of the boiler and the way they went on about it.. 

I eventually gave in and bought a new one when they put a "Do not use" yellow sticker on it, even though the 3 different plumbers that came to give estimates for a new one said there was nothing wrong with the old one.  £2k and t've lost the airing cupboard but the shower has a bit more pressure.

 Bitter, moi?

We have a Worcester combi boiler in our rental cottage and condensing boiler in our house. I think they are wonderful. We ordered them on line and saved quite a bit of money. We then got a local plumber to fit it.

Thanks for the replies, everyone. We've spoken to a local plumber and he's coming to do a quote, we also have another lined up. They're both said not to touch BG with a barge pole due to the fact they over inflate their prices.

tumbleweed:

I was sorry to see my old boiler go - 25 years old and never so much as a pilot light go out. 

I had it "serviced" every year by BG and for 10 years they tutted and said it was obsolete but every year it passed with flying colours.  I dreaded them coming round but didn't dare cancel because of the age of the boiler and the way they went on about it.. 

I eventually gave in and bought a new one when they put a "Do not use" yellow sticker on it, even though the 3 different plumbers that came to give estimates for a new one said there was nothing wrong with the old one.  £2k and t've lost the airing cupboard but the shower has a bit more pressure.

 Bitter, moi?

I think that's part of their training! They do it to my parents, even though their boiler works perfectly. God, I would be very peeved if I got a new boiler which was worse than the old one.