Are you curious about why house builders don’t fit Worcester Bosch boilers?
Perhaps you’re looking into new builds, and found yourself curious about the type of boiler you can expect. Or maybe you’ve recently moved into a new build yourself, and are wondering why you have the brand of boiler you do.
The reason can be a surprising one – well, to some!
You see, some homeowners are under the impression that architects will want to fit the very best boilers in a new property. However, that’s not always the case.
As an experienced engineer with over 20 years’ under his belt when it comes to installing and servicing boilers in the Edinburgh area, let me tell you my own experience of why house builders won’t fit the likes of Worcester Bosch boilers in new builds.
Why don’t house builders fit Worcester Bosch boilers?
In other words, why wouldn’t builders want people living in their new homes to have one of the quietest, most reliable boiler on the market? Usually with a 10-year guarantee?
The main reason you might find yourself disappointed with the boiler in a newly-built house, really comes down to budget. Architects who work for builders can find themselves getting beaten down in price. Imagine for a second that the builder could save maybe £100 on every single boiler, and there’s 100 houses. That’s quite a saving!
The other thing to bear in mind if that people going to look at a brand new house will visit, take a look round, and notice the oak doors, marble worktops, fixtures and fittings, garden etc. But unless they’ve had a bad experience in the past, they don’t give the boiler a second thought.
This can mean you end up with a brand such as Alphas or Vokera, with a very low guarantee. There’s also the risk that it gives up the ghost after five years, or has been fitted for the minimum spec required so that when it’s time to fit an extension or conservatory, you’ll find your boiler just isn’t powerful enough and can’t cope.
There is a caveat to this, however. Some builders, such as Calla homes and McTaggart & Mickel fit very high quality boilers, that are fully-zoned and high-spec. It’s nice to see some firms are bucking the trend! On the other hand, I’ve seen some new builds from the likes of Murrayfield and S1 Developments recently, which have been fitted with Alphas.
We’re talking very, very poor quality boilers fitted in million-pound houses. And what makes even less sense is that some of them have even been fitted between bedrooms, at the top of a three-storey house! This means the people living there can hear them come on early in the morning – especially with those noisier components.
Advice from an experienced engineer
I find myself asking: “Why couldn’t they have fitted the boiler differently? Why couldn’t they have gone for a premium brand?”
For my own house, I chose to pay extra for a condensing model of boiler. This was at a time when condensing boilers were just coming out. The point I’m trying to make here is that I was able to have that option – as long as I asked.
So, if you’re going to be moving into a new build, and say they’re fitting low quality boilers as standard? Ask if you can pay a little extra for a different brand instead. They might give you the option to choose a Worcester Bosch, Baxi or Ideal! It’s definitely worth asking.
In the same way, I paid extra to have a steel bath, rather than one made out of plastic. Because who can stand plastic baths, am I right?
Most builders have a certain amount of lee-way, so as long as they’re able to make more money, it shouldn’t be a problem. And it’s more important you get your house exactly the way you want it, so you can avoid problems later down the line.
Conclusion
Wondering why most builders don’t install Worcester Bosch boilers? Well, unfortunately it all comes down to money. The good news is that there are some firms bucking the trend! However, if you find your new-build won’t have the boiler you want in it, it’s definitely worth asking if you can pay a little extra for a different brand.
Do you have any more specific questions about Worcester Bosch boilers in newly-built homes? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.
