Glow-worm boilers, any views?

[cjs]

A friend has been quoted for a new Glow-worm boiler, allegedly it is small enough to fit inside an existing wooden kitchen cupboard whereas others aren't?? Think it is an Ultracom2 model.

Anyone got one? Is it good and reliable? Efficient? She is pretty set on going with this plumber and boiler, I just want to make sure she is getting something that will last.

Does anyone know where/who makes Glow-worm boilers? Are they badged up from another manufacturer?

[MK4 Slowride]

I've got one and had no issues, heats up very quickly and isn't invasively noisy. I also sign up to a £13 a month british gas service plan that includes emergency call out etc which I've found quite good.

[Rickyy]

They are not the best, but by no means the worst.

I wouldn't worry too much about reliability and efficiency. No modern condensing boiler is 100% reliable. I'd be looking at part availability and how easy they are to work on.

Glow-worm are actually part of the Vaillant group now I think. Which isn't a bad thing. My biggest gripe with them though are that a lot of them use plastic manifolds on the wet side of things and they can and do split.

They can be a bugger to replace. Not too sure on the model you have posted, they all look the same too me!

I the model you posted a combi or regular boiler? I'm not too fussed on Glow-worm combis, but their regular boilers are used in a lot of new builds and don't seem to give too many problems.

[spike ST500]

pretty mush the same as ricky, Glowworms are part of Valliants.

Glowworms a good mid range boiler, and pretty reliable.

[herewego]

Which magasine this month rated glow-worm as average reliability with Worcester and Vaillant top although there doesn't seem much in it to me, 71% as opposed to 75%

[Rickyy]

Also, I'd advise that it is serviced regularly (as should every boiler), I had to shut down quite a few condensing Vaillants and Glow-worms on a service contract this year due to the burner door seals failing. Can happend to any boiler, but the Vaillant group seem prone to it.

Products of combustion escape from the burner and start corroding the boiler casing, can eventually lead to products escaping into the property!

[Globs]

I have a Gloworm Micron 60FF, apart from the 3 PCBs that failed straight away, the 4th that failed last year and the heat exchanger leak that meant a full strip down and yet another PCB it's been fine.

My one fits in a cupboard too BTW

[Arthur Jackson]

Globs said:

I have a Gloworm Micron 60FF, apart from the 3 PCBs that failed straight away, the 4th that failed last year and the heat exchanger leak that meant a full strip down and yet another PCB it's been fine.

My one fits in a cupboard too BTW

The good old Micron. PCBs a plenty!!!