Worcester or Vaillant

[mike_s]

Hi, Nice and simple, which do you prefer and why?

We are Worcester accredited installers, we have been installing and maintaining them for 19 years.
However it does seem that the Worcesters do have more problems with frozen condensates, especially the I junior and SI range with the trickle condensate traps (the CDI and older HE's syphon it out in one go).

The Vaillant ecotec plus has a condensate syphon and cheaper than the SI. They also come with a longer flue as standard, for most side exit flue installations you need to purchase the Worcester flue extension.

Vaillants have just as good reputation, if not better for reliability and their equivilent models are 50-150 pounds cheaper. They only come with 2 year guarantee but you have to pay an extra 100 quid on top for the Worcester 5 year guarantee anyway.

Only thing I'm not sure about is that Vaillant's customer service isn't meant to be as good? What is their technical helpline like? Worcester answer in 10 seconds.
Are the Vaillants as easy to fit? Can you run the pipes vertically behind the boiler like you can with Worcesters?

Looking forward to a good debate here, I think we will be trying Vaillant the next time we would've normally done a Worcester.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

but the BAXI DUOTECS simpler and does not have melted heat exchangers or fragile plastic components,IMHO no brainier really if my home the BAXI every time

 

[villa_tom]

I have never installed a vaillant, but as far as working on them if they breakdown I would opt for vaillant everytime. Worcesters are a nightmare to work on especially if you have to change a PRV on one of the newer models. Also I find vaillant technical alot easier to deal with and they always seem to get their warranty calls booked in sooner than Worcester do.

 

[villa_tom]

but the BAXI DUOTECS simpler and does not have melted heat exchangers or fragile plastic components,IMHO no brainier really if my home the BAXI every time

Have you ever had many faults with these? I have never installed one but am seeing more and more of them as I am working in privately owned houses now.

 

[mike_s]

Will also be pricing up the Baxi Duotecs next week and maybe seeing if we can meet their rep, we met the Vaillant rep yesterday and can hardly get hold of the Worcester rep.
Do the Vaillants still have problems with their heat exchangers?
The Vaillants being easier to work on also really appeals to me as I repair most boilers myself rather than passing them on to Worcester.

 

[villa_tom]

I worked on brand new vaillants and worcesters for a year and half at my old place and never had a problem with a heat echanger on a vaillant but saying that I only changed two on the worcesters.

 

[AllyBongo]

Would tend to go for Worcester, easier install. I sub-contract to british gas, and fit both often. Also MI's for vaillant are crap

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Have you ever had many faults with these? I have never installed one but am seeing more and more of them as I am working in privately owned houses now.

no,very early ones had a problem with flue water killing the fan but that issue was designed out 4 years ago,very,very,reliable boilers IMHO,and i have fitted a few 40 kw duos expensive but storming performance

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Will also be pricing up the Baxi Duotecs next week and maybe seeing if we can meet their rep, we met the Vaillant rep yesterday and can hardly get hold of the Worcester rep.
Do the Vaillants still have problems with their heat exchangers?
The Vaillants being easier to work on also really appeals to me as I repair most boilers myself rather than passing them on to Worcester.

you will like the duotecs,i have never replaced components on them(which speaks for its self) but if you take the boilers burner,fan assembly out very easy everything is well thought out on them

 

[hydrotherm]

Have fitted mostly Vaillant now for last four years and never had any problems. Really easy install. You need £30 spacer frame kit to run pipes behind. Downside of Tech. Support is the 70p minute phone no.

 

[hihowudoin]

Have fitted mostly Vaillant now for last four years and never had any problems. Really easy install. You need £30 spacer frame kit to run pipes behind. Downside of Tech. Support is the 70p minute phone no.

not if you use this number Vaillant 01634 292392

 

[mike_s]

very handy to have that number, just saved in my phone. cheers for the answer on the 30 quid spacing kit to run pipes behind. I'm going to read the MI's for the baxi duotecs and the vaillant ecotec plus to find out more.
I know you say vaillants are plasticy, but is that really a bad thing? What about the heat exchangers, do the vaillants and Baxi's have stainless steel? Are the duotecs an easy one man lift like I'd say the worcester si's and i juniors are? by dimensions the ecotec plus are the shortest of the lot, nice to know they can fit in confined spaces and doesnt look too big on a kitchen wall unlike the Mains.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

duotecs are a easy lift,spacer kit is also around 30 quid and heat exchangers also stainless steel,the exception to the weight part is the 40 kw being the same size but slightly heavier,you can get baxi on 01926405405 or trade only helpline on08443358428

 

[bert large]

I must admit I always fit Vaillants & find them very, very easy to install & reliable (reaches for wood to touch 😉 )
I'm afraid I will have to follow Thumper's advice (Bambi film) on Worcester boilers 😉

The Baxis do look good though & a good bit cheaper. I have only intalled one Platinum before which has proved to be good in the past 5 years, never done a Duo tec though. I intalled loads of the old SE 80E's & 105E's. Good reliable boilers but the start up time of the hot water was horrendous. What are Duo Tec's like in this respect Gasman ?

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

well 28kw compared to a 30kw performa,performa jumps all over it,but 33 kw very fast,40 kw duotecs unbelievably quick,platinum exactly the same boiler as duotec and potterton gold combi also promax combi and pts heatmax

 

[AllyBongo]

platinum exactly the same boiler as duotec and potterton gold combi also promax combi and pts heatmax

Are these all exactly the same, same parts and all. I did some Baxi courses a few weeks back and noticed some of the baxi, potterton and main looked similar. Why do they make the same boiler but brand it different? Just for sales?

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

baxi and potterton band a combis all the same,mains different,its just to save on manufacturing costs ,also baxi 105 he,performa and main 30/24 band b all the same,the main eco being the exception being totally different if i am honest the main rep showed me the main eco when it was launched he did not like my reply when he asked me if i liked its engineering

 

[gasmarc]

i would not install anything that does not come with a free 5 year guarantee , God knows why any installer or customer would settle for anything less

 

[AllyBongo]

Gasman you seem to know your stuff, i fitted duo tecs a while back before i was self employed, must say they seemed pretty good. Thinking of fitting them again after reading good things on here about them. What warranty do you get??

 

[stevetheplumber]

i would take a good look at the remeha range small, good finish ,5 years parts guarantee.Ive never had to repair one but lay out is very simple im not sure what quantity yor talking about but i would suspect an emerging company would be able to offer you some very good terms i know one of our local companies get a substantial discount