Baxi recently revamped its 400 Combi. PHPI caught up with Andy Speake, Product Manager at Baxi, to discover a little more about the reasons for the move and some of the features of the new range.
Q. Why did Baxi take the decision to revamp the 400 Combi?
The market segment which the Baxi 400 range falls into across national and independent merchants is very competitive. To give installers the best quality at an affordable price, we wanted our combi range to stand out, which is why we took the decision to re-engineer a richer version in the form of the Baxi 400 Combi 2.1.
Q. Did you use installer feedback to steer the design of the new version?
Yes, we did. We listened to installers through extensive focus groups and surveys to discover the aspects of the boiler ranges they love and deliver them at a lower price point. We’ve been able to bring the high-quality features of our flagship 600 and 800 ranges – such as an expanded range of outputs, pipes at the rear of casing for a neater cupboard fit without a stand off frame, and the addition of an external analogue pressure gauge – to the new 400 range.
Q. Why has the pressure gauge been reinstated on the front of the boiler?
The original Baxi 400 Combi 2 contained a digital pressure gauge within the boiler display screen for homeowner use. There was also an internal analogue pressure gauge for installers to use during commissioning.
When listening to feedback from installers, they told us that homeowners preferred the old analogue pressure gauge as a visual aid from the front because they were simply used to it.
The Baxi 400, 600 and 800 boiler ranges all now include the external analogue pressure gauge in addition to the digital gauge, covering all preferences.
Q. What other improvements have been made?
The Baxi 400 range offers a new 36kW output, compatible with both natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), alongside the 24kW and 30kW models. This flexibility allows for rates up to 15.0litres per minute at a 35°C rise. The ability to manually change to LPG without needing a conversion kit also saves installers and their customers time and money.
The external analogue pressure gauge makes it easy for homeowners to monitor and top up their central heating system, reducing the need for installer callouts. And to further reduce the likelihood of callouts, our pre-heated siphonic condensate trap is heated to 55°C, making it 99% resistant to freezing even in the harshest winters.
The range now also possesses a durable metal casing, which is preferred by installers for its robustness. It also allows them to attach their magnetic flue gas analysers during servicing, enhancing convenience.
The Baxi 400 boasts a compact and neat design, with the facility to pipe neatly upwards behind the casing to eliminate the need for a stand-off frame. This design ensures that the unit fits seamlessly and neatly into kitchen cupboards without taking up too much space, while also providing clear, horizontal access to all connections, simplifying the installation process.
Offering added efficiency measures to customers, the Baxi 400 Combi 2.1 is fully compatible with a range of smart accessories, helping installers meet the demands of Boiler Plus regulations. This includes Baxi’s uSense 2 – a seven-day programmable smart room thermostat that allows the user to control their central heating schedules from their smart device via the My Baxi app.
Other compatible accessories include Baxi’s In Flue Outdoor Sensor, which monitors the external temperature. When it’s warmer outside, it ensures the boiler uses just the right amount of energy to meet demand, and vice versa – lowering energy consumption and bills. The patented weather sensor makes installation quicker and easier by simply clipping into the flue terminal and feeding directly through the inside of the flue to the boiler.
Q. Are there any new flue options?
The Baxi Easy-Flue (internal fit) horizontal short and long flue ranges are a perfect match for the Baxi Combi range.
It is designed to be fitted from inside the property and is particularly useful when the flue terminal is at height, negating the need for scaffolding or ladders. It is also safer and saves time and money as only one person is needed to fit it.
The internal-fit flue also includes a multi-lip weather seal, which protects the flue hole from the elements outside and is designed with an oversize weather collar, removing the need for installers to seal the flue terminal outside with sand and cement.
Q. What is the warranty on the boiler?
The Baxi 400 Combi 2.1 is supported by a five-year parts and labour warranty. This is subject to it being registered for the warranty within 30 days of installation, having the Benchmark checklist completed by the installer and an annual service carried out.
