Ravenheat Primary CSI 85

I have made numerous repairs to a CSI 85AAA. Eventually discovered that the G.C. number on the Watson Plate [for the none Gas Safe this is equivalent to the VIN number on your car] was for a different model altogether. Suffice to say another boiler is now on that wall!

I had a Ravenheat CSI 85 gas boiler professionally fitted to replace an old low efficiency floor boiler six years ago. We have since had 38 call outs for separate problems to include replacement circuit boards (twice), ignitions modules (three times), gas valves (three times), three-way valves(once), combustion chamber fans (twice), condensate traps (once), faulty temperature sensors (9 replaced in six years), domestic hot water plate heat exchanger (once) and failed wiring connectors. The heating system was regularly treated with Fernox and had a magnetic particle filter. The system had been taken apart so many times for repairs that the cover clips were broken, combustion chamber screws were worn out and the control panel cover fell off. In short - it's simply the absolute worst appliance I've ever owned, and that takes some doing. Each repair was covered under my home care boiler cover - and each repairman that came to work on it just shook his head the second he saw that it was a Ravenheat. I even went so far as to hire my own CORGI/GAS SAFE engineer for a repair and flush - and he told me they were by far the worst boilers for serviceability on offer in the UK.

I've never been able to use the wall-mounted programmable thermostat to reduce the temperature during the day /late at night or to run it at a lower temperature whilst I'm away from home. The boiler can't manage to bring a cool system back to temperature without tripping out. I've had to pay someone to 'boiler sit' in the winter just to ensure that they heat stays on. This most recent bank holiday was the final straw - my sister in law and her small children visited, and the boiler simply refused to stay lit for more than 3 minutes to give them a bath.

I contacted yet another reputable engineer out, this time to give me an estimate - he took one look at the Ravenheat and said that ANY brand he fitted would be better than that disaster.

In total, across six years, I've spent 134 days without heating, 156 days without hot water and spent 29 days of my own personal holidays waiting for repairs. That is over - a new Worcester Bosch now sits in the airing cupboard and the Ravenheat is buried beneath the scrapheap from which is was spawned.

This boiler was professionally installed by a Gas safe/CORGI engineer and professionally serviced and repaired since installed 6 years ago. There have been 32 callouts, 106 days with no heat, 128 days without hot water and 23 days lost holiday time due to this domestic boiler horror. The boiler is used in a two person modest home and has had an easy life. However, it continues to fail to give more than a 5 minute shower and cannot be relied on during the winter to set on lower settings- I've come home many times to a 6 degree house.

Complicating matters is the inconsistent parts in the boiler- the parts on the manufacturer website frequently don't match what's actually installed. 12 different boiler technicians from 4 service companys have told me that Ravenheat is the absolute least-reliable boiler they have ever seen. I'm on my way home tonight after yet another week of cold showers to meet the engineer who will send the boiler to the scrapheap from which it seems to have been spawned.

This boiler constantly breaks down It has had numerous spare parts fitted and rarely can it last more than 3 months without something else going wrong

Firstly, the boiler is a pig to fit as the pipework layout is not typical compared to most combo boilers. The boiler is 3 years old and has required a new expansion vessel, flue gas señor and overheat stat. Best to avoid. If you are looking for a decent budget boiler go for Baxi Main.

We have had our bolier for 4-5 painful years now.

Day 1 of installation needed a new PCB.

1 year down the line diverter valve gone.

2 years : expansion tank, pressure release valve & tap

3 years : PCB (yes again)

4 years : connectors, diverter valve, clock, various switches and the PCB (i think the plumber got it wrong on this occasion as we still have a dodgey switch that if we press slightly the boiler works. Its leaking constantly outside from the release pipe (not the condensor trap) and we are not repairing it. I will be taking a sledgey to it when its replaced (very bitter as it always broke down in the winter!)

For a CHEAP budget boiler that specs to be efficient, it would have been cheaper buying a more reliable one.

DONT BUY !

Have to say that the initial service call over the Xmas period was to long but the service engineer who called on 3rd January went a long way to compensate. The engineer was called Chris and he went out of his way to resolve the issues, making sure that all was ok.

I bought this from B&Q because it came with a 3 year guarantee. What a big mistake! The so called plumber who fitted it for me did not warn me (a right so and so).

I have had problems from day 1! Ravenheat aftercare service is non existant! They just come along and say you need to pay for a powerflush, magnaclean, etc. Any excuse so they don't have to do anything!

I have replaced numerous faulty parts on it and wasted a ton of money over 3+ years!

DO NOT BUY ANY RAVEHEAT PRODUCTS!!!

Also watchout for cowboy plumbers who are out to make a quick buck in replacing expensive Ravenheat parts.

Please, please, please don't buy a Ravenheat boiler, they are rubbish. I installed a CSI 85 combination boiler 4 years ago and it has been nothing but trouble since. Within days of been installed the hot water failed, called Ravenheat who were reluctant to come out. I put pressure on them and the engineer replaced both temperature sensors. Worked for about six months then the same problem again, had to twist Ravenheats arm to get an engineer out. He replaced the same two sensors and fine, it worked for about six months and sure enough it failed again. It was now out of warranty (the 3 year warranty is on parts only, you have to pay labour), so I replaced the sensors myself. I have never had any more trouble with the sensors, but. The fan seizes up and needs to be lubricated (about every 4 to 6 months) and now the plate heat exchanger has failed and I will have to replace it (a difficult job). It constantly springs leaks from the various compression unions. All in all its a pile of junk. Even when it is working OK it struggles to deliver hot water to more than one point at a time. I was told by the Ravenheat engineer that it can't deliver more than 10 litres a minuet and that's in the summer, in the winter its a lot less. I am lucky (I think!) as I can do the repairs myself. I'm getting rid of this heap later this year. A boiler should last for 15 to 20 trouble free years, not 4 years of constant repairs. YOU have been warned!!!

Having read the 5 other reviews regarding the Ravenheat CSI 85 I can whole heartedly agree with each comment. The boiler was fitted in June 2010 and during the cold spell with the boiler in winter mode it would stop working when the hot water tap was operated. Not being a gas safe fitter means the technical people at Ravenheat refuse to speak with you. Customer services informed me that the fitter would have to be in front of it so they could talk him through tests to find out the problem and I would still have to cover the fitters cost even if it was a technical fault. Both boiler and after sales care are a waste of time. No doubt I too will be cutting my lossess by replacing the boiler before next winter.