Do you knowledgeable folk have any experience of these please?

We have to take the plunge and replace an existing 30+YO New World 11Kw back
boiler with something new.
Flue is extendable single wall stainless steel within existing chimney.
150mm I think.

Baxi seem to have the market cornered but this boiler looks good for the
purpose.
It is relatively new to market so some user or installer views would be
welcomed.
Location is in a hearth in what is now a utility room, this hearth is ducted
directly to an airbrick. The existing firefront has not been used in 25
years (and is quite hideous).
We don't have available space for a more conventional boiler.
The latest Baxi incarnation has remote boiler controls which could be very
useful, the firefront is separately powered from a nearby 13A socket.
15Kw output and no doubt improved efficiency will, without doubt, be a
blessing.
This boiler would allow us to use existing pipework without huge disruption.
As far as I have been able to find out there is no connection between boiler
and firefront.
That is the basic situation.

a few questions:
Any pros/cons for this Baxi?
Can the existing flue be used?
Most importantly. Can the boiler function without a firefront? Firefront
would never be used and is ruddy expensive.
I asked this question of Baxi and they say the boiler cannot operate without
a firefront as they work together. I had expected this reply.
The firefront is separately supplied electrically with its own controls and
AFAIK is not connected to the boiler (please tell me if I'm wrong).

Many thanks,

Nick.

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Nick wrote:


a few questions:
Any pros/cons for this Baxi?

Well, it appears to be a high efficiency replacement for earlier models -
meeting current regs but still installed in the fireplace.

Can the existing flue be used?

Not the existing flue liner - it needs a new concentric one 'cos it's room
sealed.

Most importantly. Can the boiler function without a firefront?
Firefront would never be used and is ruddy expensive.
I asked this question of Baxi and they say the boiler cannot operate
without a firefront as they work together. I had expected this reply.
The firefront is separately supplied electrically with its own
controls and AFAIK is not connected to the boiler (please tell me if
I'm wrong).
Dunno. It appears to be an electric fire rather than gas like earlier
models. It *should* work without it - unless there are any interlocks to
prevent the boiler working without the fire being fitted - but hopefully
not. You'd have to fill the hole with *something* of course!
--
Cheers,
Roger
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