which is best, Vokera, Potterton or Baxi duo tec

[gerrynortheast]

I need a new combi to replace an old back boiler in my 2 bed flat which I rent out.

I have been quoted £1750.00 for a Vokera with a 5 year warranty
and 1850.00 baxi duo tec with a 7 year warranty.

Both prices inc vat

Another company quoted me £1750 for a Potterton with a 2 yr guarantee.

I don’t know which models they are but I assume they wont be the most expensive ones!

May I ask you knowledgeable guys which one you would recommend please?

Thanks,

Gerry

 

[johnnyplumb]

the duo tec the best of the 3, but if finances allow, go for the baxi platinium, you'll get a 10 year warranty
it'll be about £200 more

which part of the country are you in ?

 

[gerrynortheast]

the duo tec the best of the 3, but if finances allow, go for the baxi platinium, you'll get a 10 year warranty
it'll be about £200 more

which part of the country are you in ?

Thanks for your reply. The flat is in Newcastle upon tyne

 

[Ray Stafford]

It depends on how much longer you intend to own the property for.

Realistically, un-expired warranty isn't going to make much difference to the price if you sell the place.

If its a short term investment, and you expect to sell it soon, go for the cheapest deal, and forget the warranty.

If it is a really long term (ie pension) investment, then Johnnyplumb's advice is good. The Platinum is essentially the same as the Duotec but in a different package with a longer warranty.

If you are undecided about how long you may keep the property, then hedge with a middle of the road bet - the Duotec falls into that category.

I'm not a fan of Vokera's but thats just me. Others may feel differently.

 

[gerrynortheast]

So for the cheapest it’s a choice of either the Potterton or the Vokera. Both at £1750.

Which is the best boiler?

Thanks Gerry

 

[SafeGasInstall]

I will go and ask for my favourite boiler that has a great customer service and that will be Worcester Bosch

out of the tow you mention I will suggest potterton and YOU MUST ALSO HAVE CH POWER FLUSHED+ MAGNACLEAN CENTRAL HEATING FILTER before install is not boiler will last no longer then 18 months

 

[johnnyplumb]

the potterton will probably be a duo-tec under a different name, only cheaper because of the 2 year warranty
is it a potterton gold

 

[Ray Stafford]

the potterton will probably be a duo-tec under a different name, only cheaper because of the 2 year warranty
is it a potterton gold

I had assumed Potterton Promax when I saw 2 year warranty. I thought Pott Gold was 3 years?

 

[johnnyplumb]

dont know if it's changed ray, used to be 2yrs on gold and 1 yr on promax

nowadays, it's harder to sell boilers with short warranties, most people want at least 5 yrs

 

[gerrynortheast]

I've just been told the vokera model is a compact 29he. Just seen one online for £771.56 Inc VAT

I dont know if it's a good model or not

 

[nipper39]

I fit a baxi platinum in newcastle for 1750 recently ,great boiler ten year guarantee.but if its cheap and cheerful you want nothing wrong with vokerea , baxi offering seven years on duotec at mo, as with any boiler these days most of the parts are made in italy and companys put them together , its good installation that make boilers last .if installed correctly any boiler should last its guarantee out.

 

[gerrynortheast]

Thanks for all your replies guys.

One company who suggests installing a Potterton says he wouldn’t be doing a powerflush as you don’t need it and has done only one in 10 years.

So can ayone tell me if a powerflush is needed when fitting a new combi to replace an old back boiler?

Thanks

 

[Linkyplumb]

Powerflush is not always required, but as we cannot see the job, we cannot be sure.
That is not a bad price for a back boiler conversion.
Never fitted a vokera, but repaired loads. Not the worst boilers out there, but not the best.
If the cheapest is the option, then I would go for the potterton over the vokera.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

Thanks for all your replies guys.

One company who suggests installing a Potterton says he wouldn’t be doing a powerflush as you don’t need it and has done only one in 10 years.

So can ayone tell me if a powerflush is needed when fitting a new combi to replace an old back boiler?

Thanks

Pls see post #6

 

[EPH]

It's not a necessity to power flush it (unless you're British Gas) but nobody can tell you it needs one without visiting site. It might be best practice in most situations but equally, could be over kill and not suited to your current system.

 

[TBServices]

DuoTec all day long out of those 3, potterton will be same boiler with reduced warranty. Mad not to spend £100 for an extra 5 years piece of mind no?

Vokera should be avoided at all costs.

 

[gerrynortheast]

Thanks for all your replies guys.

Now I’m being told that a Vallant is better than a baxi duo tec. Is this true or not?

 

[TBServices]

Not necessarily. It's Horses for courses pal, we all have our favourites. Vaillant are very expensive, other than a pro model, which is very basic, still likely to be more than a duotec and not worth the premium.

Personally I fit ideal logics which also have a 7 year warranty.

 

[gerrynortheast]

Sorry I forgot to say it's a Vaillant eco-tec pro

 

[TBServices]

Full of plastic, nothing special.

DuoTec's are solid boilers, but they're big, ugly and old. Can't really knock their reliability though.

 

[Kyle87]

Are vokeras that bad. I went on a couple of free days with vokera in Birmingham and yea I know it's more or less just a sales pitch but there seemed some good points to the vokeras.

Like a rear flueing option
Huge bore on hex even though its ali
The technology looks pretty good

I'm new to the game so I don't know what the reliability of these things are.

 

[Killy Bing]

Are vokeras that bad. I went on a couple of free days with vokera in Birmingham and yea I know it's more or less just a sales pitch but there seemed some good points to the vokeras.

Like a rear flueing option
Huge bore on hex even though its ali
The technology looks pretty good

I'm new to the game so I don't know what the reliability of these things are.

*grins*
Just you wait

 

[TBServices]

Are vokeras that bad. I went on a couple of free days with vokera in Birmingham and yea I know it's more or less just a sales pitch but there seemed some good points to the vokeras.

Like a rear flueing option
Huge bore on hex even though its ali
The technology looks pretty good

I'm new to the game so I don't know what the reliability of these things are.

Cheap for a reason, and parts are ludicrously expensive.

 

[Kyle87]

*grins*
Just you wait

Well hopefully I won't make the mistake of fitting one if I get enough ppl here telling me not to.

As its been said it often is horses for courses
But sometimes it's genuine folly to fit a certain brand

I enjoy fitting wb cdi
My gas man loves them

He wouldn't touch an ideal logic with a barge pole.....others here love them

I personally want to give the logic+ a shot

 

[Killy Bing]

Well hopefully I won't make the mistake of fitting one if I get enough ppl here telling me not to.

As its been said it often is horses for courses
But sometimes it's genuine folly to fit a certain brand

I enjoy fitting wb cdi
My gas man loves them

He wouldn't touch an ideal logic with a barge pole.....others here love them

I personally want to give the logic+ a shot

I like worcester cdis & ri's
grant oil boilers
intergas
vailliant
i want to give the logic plus a bash

and an atag boiler

 

[TBServices]

Well hopefully I won't make the mistake of fitting one if I get enough ppl here telling me not to.

As its been said it often is horses for courses
But sometimes it's genuine folly to fit a certain brand

I enjoy fitting wb cdi
My gas man loves them

He wouldn't touch an ideal logic with a barge pole.....others here love them

I personally want to give the logic+ a shot

It's the easiest boiler in the world to fit, and I haven't had a breakdown on any of mine yet.

 

[Ermintrude]

Logics are good much much better than any Worcester produced in the last 10 years. Baxi duotec over the potterton and Vokera though

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

duotec HEA or potterton titanium both the same boiler,both with 7 year warrenty,both are very reliable both make Worcesters look like a toy boiler because that what it is a plastic pile of tat thats hard to work on,vokeras are gay

 

[kel4783]

Fitted a Baxi duo last week in the words of louis welsh " i like it alot"

 

[gerrynortheast]

Sorry to be a pain guys but an installer suggested doing a chemical system flush after installing the new combi.

I asked, can the boiler be used during the week leaving it soaking? Is a powerflush not quicker and more recommended?

This is the reply I received...

Yes the more you use the boiler the better for the chemical to work.
Powerflushing actually takes a lot longer (in total hours spent) if it gets done properly. A chemical soak gets deeper into the hard grime when left for a few days and with plenty of heat.

Please can you guys advise if the above makes sense??

Thanks

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

chemical flush,rads off,flushed trough,and he pipework flushed,filter and inhibitor fitted

 

[jefaz]

I would fit the duo tec....not a bad price too. Does that include filter,wireless programmer,TRV's??

 

[Kyle87]

Sorry to be a pain guys but an installer suggested doing a chemical system flush after installing the new combi.

I asked, can the boiler be used during the week leaving it soaking? Is a powerflush not quicker and more recommended?

This is the reply I received...



Please can you guys advise if the above makes sense??

Thanks

I would do chemical flush BEFORE new boiler fitted. Why introduce new boiler to shizen system????

 

[gerrynortheast]

chemical flush,rads off,flushed trough,and he pipework flushed,filter and inhibitor fitted

He didn’t mention taking off the rads. But is it ok to run chemicals and cr@p through a new boiler system?

 

[Kyle87]

duotec HEA or potterton titanium both the same boiler,both with 7 year warrenty,both are very reliable both make Worcesters look like a toy boiler because that what it is a plastic pile of tat thats hard to work on,vokeras are gay

Vokera a are gay is the best and most technichalist term I've ever came across for describing a boiler lol

 

[Kyle87]

He didn’t mention taking off the rads. But is it ok to run chemicals and cr@p through a new boiler system?

It's ok to run chemicals through but I wouldn't be putting any poop near new boiler.

You wouldn't put old oil in a new car

 

[TBServices]

It depends on the system as to what kind of flush you will require.

 

[gerrynortheast]

Would a powerflush be just as bad a chemical system flush. Assuming the boiler needs to be running?

It’s just that the existing back boiler is DEAD!

 

[gerrynortheast]

Would a powerflush be just as bad a chemical system flush. Assuming the boiler needs to be running?

It’s just that the existing back boiler is DEAD!

Is a power or chemical flush usually done through the old boiler BEFORE installing a new bolier?

If so what about the fact that the existing boiler id dead??

Thanks

 

[lame plumber]

if your putting in any boiler esp a wb that has a plate heat exchanger, get it power flushed if the bbu is dead. Or fit an intergas and flush on completion as there isnt a lot to block!

 

[gerrynortheast]

if your putting in any boiler esp a wb that has a plate heat exchanger, get it power flushed if the bbu is dead. Or fit an intergas and flush on completion as there isnt a lot to block!

Unfortunately I don’t understand what you mean as I’m not a plumber or heating engineer.

Plain English please.

 

[Ermintrude]

Vokera a are gay is the best and most technichalist term I've ever came across for describing a boiler lol

A lesbian boiler is ok, bi is to be avoided but gay it's just not right , not down here in Texas!

 

[Kyle87]

Unfortunately I don’t understand what you mean as I’m not a plumber or heating engineer.

Plain English please.

Basically telling you to have system cleaned before installing boiler. As crud will block the plate heat exchanger in your boiler.

Your plumber needs to decide how to best clean your system ie power flush or mains flush but either way it needs to be cleaned.

Don't opt for the cheaper one based on cost as a dirty system will kill your boiler in no time

 

[gerrynortheast]

So can the system be power or chemical flushed without using a boiler since the old one that’s in is dead?

I asked the guy about flushing using the new boiler and have been told as follows..

I

t's fine and normal practice for heating engineers.


The water only passes through the heat exchanger in the boiler which is basically a pipe that gets hot to heat the water. There is not going to be any debris or dirt left in your system when I am finished to cause any problems anywhere.

Can anyone please tell me if this is correct info?

 

[nipper39]

As far as I am aware some typs of clean is necessary under the manufacturers instructions. Power flushing is more to do with the litres per min been pumped round the system around about 100 per min along with the chemicals used it dislodges debris and because of the high flow pump it scoures the pipes with the debris and chemical solution. This is much better than a chemical been pushed round by a central heating pump. But first ask yourself a few questions , were the rads hot before were there any cold spots on rads , did system take ages to warm up . If rads were fine then it proberbly dosent need power flush. Another option on combi systems ir to put a drain point onreturn pipe as close to boiler as ppossible then you can shut off valves on boilers flow and return and usingmfilling loop flush the whole system as much as is necessary, first hot then cold , with a cleaner in if you want and repeat untill your happy

 

[Kyle87]

So can the system be power or chemical flushed without using a boiler since the old one that’s in is dead?

I asked the guy about flushing using the new boiler and have been told as follows..

I


Can anyone please tell me if this is correct info?

It's correct about the heat exchanger being a pipe, but often it's a flattened pipe pressed into a large coil. But the bore remains small.

I wouldn't ever dream of putting dirty water through a new boiler.

Maybe others will say different but I doubt it.

I think we've killed this topic now. You've got all the advice. Take it or leave it but thanks for using ukpf 🙂

 

[Shirty]

Out of the 3 i would choose baxi with only problem overtime hw feed washers always leak

 

[Ermintrude]

Out of the 3 i would choose baxi with only problem overtime hw feed washers always leak

Replace it with an aluminium one from Vokera. Buy a few packets and then no more boiler rot next to DHW outlet