Viessmann 111W storage combi "Crinkly/corroding hoses" Your advise/experience

[Gerry8]

Hi
I'm new on this forum so my apology if this is not the correct etiquette. Earlier I thought I was posting this question on a forum but think I actually "started a conversation" with Scott)

I am looking for advice on Viessman 111W corroding hoses.

Background:
I currently have a 19 year old Baxi Maxflow combi which, like the Viessmann 111W, has an on board ~ 50 Litre storage cylinder. As a concept it works well for us as we understand it. It needs replacing so I looked for a similar system and came to the Viessmann 111W. All was going well and then one plumber mentioned the “corroding rubber hoses” on the flow and return. Long story short, after investigations and mentioning this to a few installers a number of them had seen the issue or had mates who had seen the issue. (coincidentally I was speaking with a man I met and he has a Viessmann system boiler which after 2 years had exactly that problem too).
I spoke with Viessmann who were quite defensive on the subject blaming the installers for not installing the boilers correctly (blamed it on too much inhibitor!). The chap I spoke to then admitted that they had now changed from rubber hoses but said the 111W still had one rubber hose left in it. All this rather put me off Viessmann as the attitude seemed strongly to be: “we’re right everyone else is wrong”. (I have seen this with some other German suppliers suppling into the UK market where things may be done differntly to Germany). I also heard that their spare parts such as circuit boards are very expensive (I heard a tale of one board costing £950!).

However the modulation range of the boiler is great, the guarantee of up to 10 years is good and the stainless steel HEX attracts me.

But I am still very nervous about

1. Corroding hoses,
   
2. The price of the spare parts,
   
3. Viessmann’s attitude/interpretation to the application of the guarantee (seem to have a reputation of trying to blame installers and not honouring it)

Question:
Would any of you have any advice/experience to confirm my thoughts or to disabuse me of them?

Thanks Gerry

 

[Rob Foster]

Hi
I'm new on this forum so my apology if this is not the correct etiquette. Earlier I thought I was posting this question on a forum but think I actually "started a conversation" with Scott)

I am looking for advice on Viessman 111W corroding hoses.

Background:
I currently have a 19 year old Baxi Maxflow combi which, like the Viessmann 111W, has an on board ~ 50 Litre storage cylinder. As a concept it works well for us as we understand it. It needs replacing so I looked for a similar system and came to the Viessmann 111W. All was going well and then one plumber mentioned the “corroding rubber hoses” on the flow and return. Long story short, after investigations and mentioning this to a few installers a number of them had seen the issue or had mates who had seen the issue. (coincidentally I was speaking with a man I met and he has a Viessmann system boiler which after 2 years had exactly that problem too).
I spoke with Viessmann who were quite defensive on the subject blaming the installers for not installing the boilers correctly (blamed it on too much inhibitor!). The chap I spoke to then admitted that they had now changed from rubber hoses but said the 111W still had one rubber hose left in it. All this rather put me off Viessmann as the attitude seemed strongly to be: “we’re right everyone else is wrong”. (I have seen this with some other German suppliers suppling into the UK market where things may be done differntly to Germany). I also heard that their spare parts such as circuit boards are very expensive (I heard a tale of one board costing £950!).

However the modulation range of the boiler is great, the guarantee of up to 10 years is good and the stainless steel HEX attracts me.

But I am still very nervous about

1. Corroding hoses,
   
2. The price of the spare parts,
   
3. Viessmann’s attitude/interpretation to the application of the guarantee (seem to have a reputation of trying to blame installers and not honouring it)

Question:
Would any of you have any advice/experience to confirm my thoughts or to disabuse me of them?

Thanks Gerry

Its easy Gerry, if you want this boiler and you have carried out admirable reasearch..you have taught me something. Then re engage with the Germans and see if they will cover these specific parts well over and above their normal statutary
time...nothing silly, say 8 years
might be appropriate in my opinion...or you can stick it on BG and after a service call they will pick up the tab. I for one will be very intrested in their reply ...you are an astute genuine customer who wants their product ....let us know how it all goes
Rob Foster aka centralheatking

 

[ShaunCorbs]

@townfanjon

 

[townfanjon]

Gerry
1, they dont corrode but oxygen is absorbed through the hoses this reacts with the heated water and a thin lining of crud ( for want of a better word ) forms on the inside . Its when this breaks off it can start to to block the plate heat ex. However they are pretty easy to clean if incorporated into a yearly service.
2, its very rare you will need any , pretty sure you can get a 10 year warrenty on the 111’s now .
3, the hose problem has been with the Viessmanns for years now , they bloody well know about it , recently they have changed to copper in some of their boilers after pressure from us guys .
4 lol , all the above would never stop me buying one , I have just bought a new one for my new house.

 

[Rob Foster]

Gerry
1, they dont corrode but oxygen is absorbed through the hoses this reacts with the heated water and a thin lining of crud ( for want of a better word ) forms on the inside . Its when this breaks off it can start to to block the plate heat ex. However they are pretty easy to clean if incorporated into a yearly service.
2, its very rare you will need any , pretty sure you can get a 10 year warrenty on the 111’s now .
3, the hose problem has been with the Viessmanns for years now , they bloody well know about it , recently they have changed to copper in some of their boilers after pressure from us guys .
4 lol , all the above would never stop me buying one , I have just bought a new one for my new house.

What better an endorsement than TFJ...he knows his stuff
Rob Foster aka centralheatking

 

[Gasmk1]

thought it was rubber only on the 050 all the rest metal.

 

[townfanjon]

thought it was rubber only on the 050 all the rest metal.

Yep , but I think op is correct theres still a rubber one in the 111, but tbh I haven’t seen one for ages .

 

[Rob Foster]

Yep , but I think op is correct theres still a rubber one in the 111, but tbh I haven’t seen one for ages .

Maybe its a rogue one , brand new but a left over that they are trying to dump the op could
ask for its registration/build id
before he gets involved
centralheatking

 

[Drewy]

The 111 does have at least the one rubber hose. Viessmann are technically correct regarding the installation problems causing crunchy hoses but it’s not an easy thing to avoid on an existing system.
My advice is to properly flush the system making sure there’s no cleanser at all left behind and stick with fresh water only, Viessmann don’t push the use of inhibitors. I fit Viessmann, don’t use inhibitors and have no trouble.
Oh and if on the yearly service the hose is found to be crunchy don’t squeeze it with the boiler running but drain the thing, remove the hose and clean it out, an easy job.

 

[Millsy 82]

Sounds to me like if you went for the 111 you wouldnt trust it or trust viessman to carry out the warranty on it.

I think viessman boilers are well made but I dont like rubber hoses in boilers and I dont like the price of parts either as they are very expensive.