New Boiler: Worcester-Bosch or Alpha?

[xrrr]

My old Worcester-Bosch regular boiler is kaput. My local installer has quoted me for a replacement W-B but also suggested an Alpha boiler for the same price as it has 3 years warranty rather than the W-B 2 years. Both new boilers are condensing.

The plumber gave me the Ocean/Baxi rebrand back story but I have never heard of Alpha but they are made in Italy which makes me think of Alfa and Fiat build quality of old...

Any thoughts?

[JONSCZ]

Hi Simon.
Just done loads of homework for my parents for a replacement boiler and after trawling through the internet reviews and talking to a couple of plumber mates, they went for a 'Remeha' with a 5 year warranty.
Have a look here - http://www.avantarange.com/combi_boilers.html
Just a suggestion,
Cheers, Jon

[tybalt]

I've had Worcester Bosch and Vaillant so far and from the two I'd go for Vaillant every time.

[Road2Ruin]

JONSCZ said:

Hi Simon.
Just done loads of homework for my parents for a replacement boiler and after trawling through the internet reviews and talking to a couple of plumber mates, they went for a 'Remeha' with a 5 year warranty.
Have a look here - http://www.avantarange.com/combi_boilers.html
Just a suggestion,
Cheers, Jon

Me too. 5 year warranty and good specs. I fitted the 39Kw combi.

[matts4]

If you get the WB fitted by an approved WB installer, it will also come with a 5yr warranty.

[xrrr]

Thanks guys, thoughts so far...

The installer that has been the most open and helpful (albeit not the cheapest) is a W-B and Alpha installer only so I had narrowed it down to those two brands only. I will take a look at Vaillant and Remeha.

In his opinion the W-B has a design flaw where the o-ring seals degrade and cause internal leaks which knacker the boiler (sounds like what the engineer that serviced my existing boiler said was wrong with my current). If he installs it I get a 1 year parts and labour and a 2 year parts only. If I buy the Alpha I get a 3 year parts and labour cover.

Both are A rated, both are the same size (Alpha slightly thinner), both have the same output, both have the same price. So it boils down (sorry) to reliability and real world performance.

I am leaning towards the Alpha for the extended warranty BUT if the damn thing were to break so quickly I would be annoyed

[russ_a]

It would be worth paying a WC engineer to sign off the installation to get the 5 year warranty.

Some plumbers will try and push a particualr brand as they get taken out a few nights a year by the rep.

[Cupramax]

Another for Vaillant here... had a Chaffoteau and Maurey which was an utter nightmare previously, binned it for the Vaillant which has been faultless since fitting 5 yrs ago.

[Ferg]

Remeha every time for me.

[dirkgently]

Ferg said:

Remeha every time for me.

I`ll second that.

[JONSCZ]

dirkgently said:

Ferg said:

Remeha every time for me.

I`ll second that.

See, Simon - what did I tell you about Remeha. Check out dirk's profile!
Jon

[Simpo Two]

Interesting how the best boilers, according to people who know about boilers, is one that nobody on the high street has ever heard of. Shows you the power of marketing.

[auditt]

Valliant....Cant beat a bunny boiler

[Ferg]

auditt said:

Valliant....Cant beat a bunny boiler

Last one I fitted needed a service call after 3 weeks for an internal leak.

[Lady Summerisle]

Don't get an alpha our last one was a total POS breaking down all the time and the repair guy had problems getting parts.

We've got a gloworm now which hasn't been any trouble so far.

[auditt]

Ferg said:

auditt said:

Valliant....Cant beat a bunny boiler

Last one I fitted needed a service call after 3 weeks for an internal leak.

Never had a problem with them personally

[Allanv]

Lots of reading about the Alpha boiler here.

Never heard of them myself.

http://search.diynot.com/forum_search.php?all=alph...

[Ferg]

auditt said:

Ferg said:

auditt said:

Valliant....Cant beat a bunny boiler

Last one I fitted needed a service call after 3 weeks for an internal leak.

Never had a problem with them personally

They are certainly not as good as they used to be.

[Road2Ruin]

The last boiler we had was a vaillant 820turbomax. Although we did inherit it in our house it was only 7 years old. It had 3 problems in one year, a stuck valve, faulty clock and an 'o' ring go in the heat exchanger. The best bit though was in calling out a vaillant engineer he didn't have a compatible 'o' ring! Tried a similar one which held for about 6 hours. Then took him 3 weeks to get hold of the correct part from vaillant. Got rid of it this year for the remeha.

[FlossyThePig]

Question 1: Does you installer/plumber get any kick back off the supplier for installing their brand? I was told our plumber gets his summer holiday paid for by one manufacturer if he installs (sells) a certain number in the year.

Question 2: What do independant service engineers think of the boiler? I have a WB oil fired combi and our service engineer placed the make second on his list for reliability with Boulter-Buderus top.