written by LITTLESPRING on 03/06/2017
I have had this boiler for 5 years now and it has been nothing but trouble. The main heat exchanger has been replaced because it leaked. The rubber hose link pipe has been replaced twice and have had various other water leaks elsewhere on the boiler. I now have a problem with the pressure rising slowly even when the boiler is not in use. Came back off holiday and the gauge was reading 2.6 I checked to make sure the filling valves was shut correctly and have had the pressure sensor replaced but the problem persists. Has anybody else with this model boiler had this problem and if so did you get it fixed and by what means.
written by Perkins11 on 03/02/2017
These boilers have problems they turn off and don't come on again for around 2 and half hours if you're lucky by this time you are freezing cold my boiler does not have an original part in it as it has been repaired over and over and still has the same problem and mostly shows up F22 whatever that is also have a smell of strong dampness since being installed for those thinking of buying one Please Don't
written by 95Moser on 15/05/2015
I've incurred no end of troubles since inheriting this boiler from the previous owners of my house. F9 fault after F9 fault. I've even gone as far as having a water softener fitted to help the poor thing cope. Glowworm customer service couldn't be more disinterested if they tried, terrible service. They were quite happy to leave us with no hot water or heating in the middle of winter with a small baby. Our local plumber came to the rescue and advised us to get a new boiler. After much perseverance, I have succumbed to taking his advice, although with a bitter taste in my mouth and a hole in my purse. If you are looking for a budget boiler, look elsewhere!
written by takes22tango on 07/02/2015
Had fitted just over 3 years ago a complete new C H system and Glow Worm 30x boiler. Besides the 2 year guaruntee that came with the boiler I had also a 3 year extended guaruntee. Recently the boiler stopped working and I asked my service engineer to investigate why. On opening the cupboard where the boiler is installed he found the waterproofed base of cupboard ( boiler mounted above electricity meters) FLOODED. On further investigation he found the diverter valve was leaking badly and the PCD not functioning. Next day Friday Feb 6th 2015 I telephoned the Glow Worm repair 'hot line' and after waiting an age to speak with a receptionist I explained the fault and said that with the weather at minus degrees I was without any C H heating or hot water. "We will get an engineer to call on you sometime on Tuesday 10th Feb" came the reply. I protested saying this an emergency and brochures advertising the Glow Worm extended guaruntee states that, with the guaruntee in place you can sit back and RELAX knowing that "if something goes wrong" YOU WONT BE LEFT IN THE COLD: our engineers are on call 364 days a year. "Sorry" came back the reply, "that's the earliest we can get an engineer to you". So not only is the GLOW WORM 30X boiler in my experience extremely 'SUB STANDARD' but promises made in GLOW WORM brochures re extended guaruntee, are worse, and not worth the shiny paper they are written on. BE WARNED!!!
written by 371Barry on 26/01/2015
I inherited a 30cx from the previous tenants, they obviously didn't want to pay lots for a boiler. What a load of rubbish! Less than 2 years old and we've had countless faults - all F9 related. 2 heat exchangers later, a water softener (we have VERY hard water) and many calls to friends who are plumbers or have plumbers out to get the thing working. Glow worm have been really unhelpful , they need to send their customer service people on a training course in 'how to speak to people'. Stay away, do not buy!
written by MarianaDaly on 24/10/2014
we have Had this boiler for three years and it has been nothing but trouble. We replaced a very old solid looking boiler having heard all the hype about com is, I wish we had left sell alone. We have had the usual F9 problems and several new igniters fitted; but the real problem has been leaks. We have had British Gas back about a dozen times and they have now capped the boiler off until Glowworm visit and repair an apparent fault. Keep well away from Glowworm boilers.
written by vvShepherd191 on 27/08/2014
As an installer I always powerflush the system (ignore the F9 reviews - they havent done). I always fit 32mm effluent for anything other than the shortest runs (avoiding freezing - another common complaint) All the one star reviews are badly installed from what I can see. Get a decent installer and they are excellent - and cheap. I've not had a single failure from a couple of dozen of these once installed correctly. Had to call Glowworm about some complex setup, and again when some water got on the electronics.
written by on 03/02/2014
We had an old open vent system that was expensive to run but was good for heating and hot water. On the "green deal" we had this Glow worm combi boiler fitted. I can not fault it on the heating side. However the domestic hot water is another issue. The boiler display shows 62*C. The delivery temperature on the bath is 23-24*C (tepid to say the least) The hand wash basin hot water is better at around 30-35*C. We called the company who installed it and all they could say was "it`s because of the size of the bath tap". The copper pipe supply to the bath tap is the same size as that to the hand wash basin tap.So I can not see how this can make such a vast difference, when the distance between the hand wash basin and the bath taps is 1.2 meters of copper pipe.
written by Jamie1169 on 31/01/2014
I have had this boiler for just over a week and find it to be excellent. It replaced a conventional gas boiler and hot water cylinder system. Hot water is virtually instant and extremely hot (temperature can easily be adjusted to suit). When I turn the central heating on, the radiators are piping hot in a couple of minutes where before it would take for ever. I totally agree with some previous comments regarding fitting and service. This is a review of the boiler. The boiler is excellent. If it is fitted incorrectly or you choose a bad fitter it's hardly the boiler's fault! If you put the wrong fuel in a car you can't really complain because it doesn't run very well! It's a very compact boiler that fits inside a kitchen cupboard with a direct rear flue so I could put it where the old boiler was instead of spoiling my kitchen by putting it on the wall (I live in a flat with a small kitchen and many neighbours have fitted large ugly replacement boilers on their kitchen wall, having to remove precious cupboards to facilitate it). I can run the shower and a separate hot tap in a different room without any problems whatsoever. It has a great wireless thermostat that I can use for all the required settings and move from room to room to instantly change settings or instantly turn the heating up. I would definitely recommend this boiler.
Written on: 23/09/2014
one week isn't enough of time to review in my view
Written on: 24/09/2014
Correct but I can only review about how I felt it performed and on how it was a massive improvement on my old boiler. Many months later I still feel it's brilliant and friends who live in similar properties have had the same boiler fitted too after my recommendation and they feel the same too! So there! By the way, I've only left this reply because I've had an automatic email that you've left a comnent and I'm a bit drunk so I hope it makes sense.
Written on: 24/09/2014
And further..... The bad reviews don't seem to relate to the actual product! They either refer to bad installation or later service. Fair enough but that is probably not Glow Worm's fault. Like every other manufacturer they will use local engineers, who work for everyone else too! Is that a fair review of the product? After having mine installed, in casual conversation with a colleague in a completely unrelated job who still fits boilers as a side line, he said they were excellent and I can't fault that!! By the way, I live in Brighton Marina so I can confirm that they're excellent and in fact much better replacements than the original boilers. There really isn't any need to have a big ugly space consuming boiler fitted to your kitchen wall!!!! These are designed to go in a cupboard despite what SOME plumbers think! I'm no plumber but I read the description!!!!
Written on: 27/07/2021
Exactly!!!
Mine is in a Kitchen cupboard
Excellent boiler installed by a experienced efficient installer!!!
Written on: 27/07/2021
I agree with your comments
Installer was excellent
I've had my Glow-Worm Flexicom cx Combi for almost 8 years
I do NOT understand the negative comments above!!!
Must be from rival makers and installers!!!
Boiler is serviced yearly
Had no problems with mine
Recommend these boilers
written by on 07/01/2014
Unfortunately I have an F9 sufferer. Only seems to fail in Winter so light usage over summer doesn't seem to be a problem. Dodgy product, avoid.
written by on 23/10/2013
Afer x2 engineers from elsewhere failing to fix problem resorted to glow worm fixed price - friendly engineer called before 9am to give aprox time - came when he said he would and fixed problem. No nonsense call centre got through after short delay (expected at this time of year) brilliant service . 30cxi is 13 years old and never had a problem . Would recommend product and service.
written by Frankytheeel on 19/06/2013
I fit about 2-3 Flexicom boilers every month. Have done for 3 years. I also used to work for Glowworm so I know the product very well. I wouldn't fit something if it wasn't any good. To date I have had one failure which was dealt with the next day by Glowworm. Alot of the reviews here need to be removed in my opinion as they have nothing to do with the boiler whatsoever. Faults caused by dirt is down to poor installation Low pressure has naff all to do with the boiler If your condense is freezing the boiler has not been fitted properly! If your complaining about glowworm engineers fine, but this is a review of a product not a company ! I wish people would actually just review the product as its quite possible my customers may read this and I don't want them thinking I have sold them a lemon. The very early version of this boiler DID have some issues : Loud ignition and general ignition issues: caused by a design quirk in the heat exchanger, now fixed with an updated heat exchanger Leaking from left hand rubber hose: This is a problem that has affected alot of boilers under the Vaillant umbrella including vaillant, no vaillant group products come with rubber hoses any longer so this fault is cured. Leaking from rear support block : Batch fault from a few years back Thats it, with Vaillant in charge, any design faults are designed out, its the German way ! I wouldn't have had one of these boilers pre 2008, but now I'm happy to recommend them to my customers and supplying them with a full 5, 7 or 10yr warranty. They are excellent value for money and one of the most compact boilers on the market, as well as having a rear flue option which only one other boiler on the market has. Also Glowworm own controls are second to known. Weather compensation and modulation control is a breeze.
written by Fief on 09/04/2013
After moving house and inheriting a glow worm boiler I booked with Glow worm for a service. They very rapidly asked for payment upfront, strangely the only thing that they have managed to get right!! Engineer didn't turn up for the 1st date booked after taking a days leave from work I was furious. A second date arranged by lunchtime no engineer to be found so I contacted Glow worm after holding for an age yet more bad news...my service had been cancelled in error! Third time round same thing. Think on about buying Glow worm don't think they no the meaning of customer service. I've given up and hopefully they manage to give me a full refund...watch this space.
written by charlie1066 on 09/04/2013
I find these boilers are pretty good value and if installed correctly are reliable, i fix one of these most days of the week and i notice a lot of reviews arent very good, there can be a problem of it condensate is fitted externally due to freezing so it best to get this fitted internally if possible, i notice a lot of people also complaining about dropping pressure, if your rads are vented and this still happening, there a good chance you have a leak. This often happens due to the increased pressure, esp if you are going from a gravity fed system, esp around the manifold, or could be the leak has been there for years, just your tank has maintained the pressure so you have never noticed it, neither which is the fault of the boiler.
written by catletmein on 26/03/2013
This Glowworm Flexicom 30cx boiler is NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE,every time there's a frost it ceases working because the condense pipe that is plumbed exterior of the home freezes, even if its lagged ! Cold weather = no heating and no hot water with this useless boiler , its a complete waste of money , OMG it tests the patience of Jove with having to keep boiling a kettle and tipping the boiling water over the exterior condense pipe outlet several times a day in cold weather. Then there's the leaks from underneath the boiler , the constant changes in pressure that one has to keep adjusting , having to clean the condense bottle out, where tiny bits of grit out of the water supply accumulate that stops the float in the condense bottle from working ! it functions or should I say more of a truth is IT DOES NOT FUNCTION with it's infuriating F-9 fault code being in operation mostly .It's going straight down the scrap yard as soon as I can replace it as that's the only fit place for it.
Written on: 08/04/2013
Don't put your condensing pipe outside then!
Written on: 17/04/2013
Errrmmmm I didnt put the condensing pipe outside , it was plumbed in like that with no other choice at the time because the " now well known problems with these boilers" had only just started to come to light. I see that most of the poor ratings for these boilers are actually from people who have them in their homes and have to live with this pile of useless scrap metal .
Written on: 05/02/2014
I have noticed since this review that some of the issues that have caused problems with these boilers have been addressed by some installers ie the installation of the condense pipe was initially put externally (that was the way they were installed) it was only when people started to complain about the freezing of the condense pipe was it identified that it should be plumbed in inside ,and glowworm recommended an adaption Kit to convert this to the internal installation at an extra cost of £100 plus for the kit ! I first became aware of this in 2009 ,several months later and problems with the freezing condense after my boiler was put in. This boiler was sold upto and including that time without the knowledge of the public or the manufacturer that there was this major problem with the boiler and it's installation of its condense pipe ! so it was very much not fit for purpose up until recently because it would not work in freezing weather. The good thing about all these reviews good or bad is the fact that it's educating the public at least in identifying where the problems are/were, and what has been, and could be done to rectify the problems,.
written by on 22/10/2012
due to bleeding the radiators, the pressure dropped so i got the landlord out, to sort it. everythings running again, but we cant remember what the pressure should be when the boiler is not being used! at the minute its on 2.8 but we did have the heating on for a couple of hours! Its been off now for half hour and is 2.8! what should the pressure figure be showing on the front??? Thankyou
Written on: 26/10/2012
Should be 1.0 with no demand.
Written on: 02/02/2013
You should only check the pressure when the radiators are COLD. You also cannot see the pressure when the boiler is running as it shows TEMPERATURE.
When COLD, the pressure should be 1.2 BAR which should then rise to no more than 2.2 BAR when fully hot.
Written on: 17/01/2013
if the heating is off it should be 1.0
Written on: 21/11/2012
the pressure should be 1.2 bar cold and around1.8 bar hot
make sure you have turned the filling valve off after filling the system
as you could over pressurise it
written by PHILTHYballs on 16/10/2012
I,ve installed around 50 of these boilers and only had 2 problems wth them ..And it was to do wth the plumbing system and not the Boiler
Written on: 23/02/2013
Hello ,
Im installinmg one today sat 23rd Feb 2013 for first time wondered if you would mind me calling you to discuss its commissioing as dont wont to fry the circuit boards etc ensure no teething probs .
be gratful if I could chat
If so please drop me an email with contact details etc
written by on 02/09/2012
I moved into my new build flat 1 month ago and within 2 weeks this boiler would not supply either HW or CH. The developer has had Glow-Worm in and they say it is not the boiler but the system. The developer's plumber doesn't agree. Somebody comes everyday to adjust the pressure but it goes to 0.1 within 1 day, or they used to as I have had no HW or CH over this weekend. As a woman I need hot water for hygiene around the home and for personal use, and heating as an elderly person. I don't know what to do next.
Written on: 21/11/2012
it sounds like you have a leak in your central heating pipes
youcould also be losing pressure from the pressure relief valve
of the boiler but the Glow Worm engineer would have checked that so you need to ask your installer to check the installation for leaks
until this is sorted ask him to show you how to pressurise the boiler your self so you can have heating and hot water
written by on 23/05/2012
I Install around 25 glow worm flexicom boilers each year, aswell as other manufactures like Vailant, Worcester etc and I can honestly say that they are a good heating appliance. As anything in the Industry as long as they have been installed to a high standard and that the system they have been installed onto has had a full system powerflush then you should not get any problems with them. I never get called back to any of mine.
written by on 26/04/2012
I too had a Glowworm 30cx installed when I moved into my current house: and it has broken down several times in the past six years. Which might not seem too bad except that I am now told by my plumber/gas fitter that he would never recommend this boiler and that what I now need is a filter as the internal parts are plastic and trouble will occur without a filter. More money. I like the compact style of teh boiler but it is frequently needing repressurising, and parts have already needed replacing. Wish I had visited this site before buying!
Written on: 22/11/2012
As an experienced installer and service engineer I would not recommend a flexicom combination boiler unless I don.t have enough space to fit another boiler
Flexicoms are are probably the smallest combination boilers and they also have a rear flue option which means you maybe able to fit them under the kitchen worktop
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As rated by our community of reviewers
Sumaric's Comment
Written on: 27/07/2021
I agree with your comments
Installer was excellent
I've had my Glow-Worm Flexicom cx Combi for almost 8 years
I do NOT understand the negative comments above!!!
Must be from rival makers and installers!!!
Boiler is serviced yearly
Had no problems with mine
Recommend these boilers