Advice on best new gas boiler

Best · Jun 10, 2015

A friend of mine is thinking of replacing her gas boiler while she is having her kitchen redone.
I am not involved in gas, but wondered what boiler would be best for her long term and would like to know a few of the better boilers before she asks around.
I know this is often a matter of opinion.
I replaced the rest of the system less than 2years ago when the house got a large extension. The system is now sealed & has a separate expansion vessel & filter. Boiler is a standard non combi. Doesn't need to be a system boiler, but guess it would be handy to have circulating pump as part of the boiler, as old one has the pump below boiler behind kitchen units.
I tbh don't yet know the output needed, but it is a 4 bedroom house with 2 bathrooms and unvented cylinder. Likely near 30kw plenty.

Leo21 · Jun 10, 2015

Poterton flamingo.

Ray Stafford · Jun 10, 2015

It depends on what you optimise your choice for.

Cheapest at installation, or best value for money across the whole life?
Easiest to install? The engineer may care, but the householder won't!
Reliable, but hard to mend with expensive spares, or more likely to require mending, but easy to fix with relatively cheap spares?

Its like choosing a car - you have to trade off between a whole range of issues.

There is no "best" car, and there is no "best" boiler. Its not just that engineers opinions vary, its that punters needs and aspirations also vary.

bright spark · Jun 10, 2015

What about the new ideal vogue. I heard there's a 10 year guarantee on them. Can't b bad!

Ch4 plumbing · Jun 10, 2015

Leo21 said:
Poterton flamingo.

Very attractive boiler, and who cares about high efficiency :39:

Best · Jun 10, 2015

I get the feeling that a Poterton Flamingo recommendation is a wind up! :smile:

Cost of new boiler purchase will be irrelevant to her. I think she will have the sensible approach and want a boiler that is as reliable as possible and last a good few years with decent repair costs etc.
Reason why I am asking is I know that us plumbers have different ideas, sometimes the wrong ideas about boilers. By that I mean some plumbers do not service or repair boilers and can be under an illusion that a certain make of boiler is best, when it actually is unreliable and costly long term.
The original gas boiler is an Ideal and she was told it is a good boiler, but it is fairly old and is not condensing.

Best · Jun 10, 2015

Ray Stafford said:
Cheapest at installation, or best value for money across the whole life?
Easiest to install? The engineer may care, but the householder won't!
Reliable, but hard to mend with expensive spares, or more likely to require mending, but easy to fix with relatively cheap spares?

Okay, ideally a boiler that might cost a bit extra to buy, but is less likely to break down for years and is reasonable for parts.
That's probably asking too much and obviously there is no such thing as a boiler that can be certain to be reliable.