After 15 years of service, our Vaillant combi has packed up. Now I need a good local plumber based around Birmingham to install a new one. Our previous boiler was fitted by a relative who is currently on holiday for a few weeks.

Any ideas on how to find a good plumber?

word of mouth.

I recently went for a local one who advertised in a local pamphlet that comes through our door.
Rightly or wrongly I reasoned that because he lived in a nice area, he couldn't be a cowboy. My reasoning was that cowboys don't get repeat work and couldn't afford to live there.
He was much better than the previous one I had. I found that one on google (or Yellow pages, I can't remember which).
Word of mouth is probably the best way though.
I found a good TV aerial man and an electrician the same way.
All I need to do now is find a good local builder. The local one's we've used are okay, but not great. All the building work we did this summer was done by my parents builder who is top notch. Unfortunately that's too far for him to come for anything other than major work, plus he's about to retire.

The problem is that my dad's cousin is the one who would normally do our plumbing work (or my grandad depending on what's needed) so not needed to rely on anyone else. Currently looking at which?local and CIPHE websites.

That reminds me, our boiler is due a service.

The Gas Safe Register would be a good start

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk

Who ever it is, make sure they're Corgi registered.

Or since CORGI are now defunct (and were a standing joke anyway), please see here:

Just had our boiler at home replaced by local plumber - really nice bloke - he is also very busy which is a good sign - bad plumbers are rarely too busy!

Boiler we got was a Viessmann Vitodens 100-W and is supposed to be about 94% efficient.

So far the house is much warmer that using the old boiler.

If you need his name/number then PM me but not sure if he'd come up to B'ham.

Well my dad's cousin who does this sort of living has recommended a Vaillant 831.

I've been in touch with a couple of people who are coming round to have a look.

If you register your job with http://www.ratedpeople.com/ you will get 3 call backs within half an hour. I have used this service myself for guttering replacement and was very happy with the company I chose.

Word of mouth if you can but if you use this site people are contacting you because they want the work rather than you cold calling and hoping they'll be interested so you won't get roasted.

Btw supply and fit of a boiler should be around £1000 and the Valliant boilers are good. I used to be married to a plumber so know quite a bit.

Is it completely sh@gged, CW?

I only ask because, when ours packed up last year (a Vaillant Condensing Combi), I phoned British Gas Service and they let me on the scheme for £99 plus £20 a month for the standard service package. They came out and fixed it for no additional charge - a local firm quoted £400 incl labour, with no guarantee that the replacement part was the only problem!

I don't know. Honestly don't. It's a combi boiler. When you turn on the hot water tap, it makes a whirring noise (which sounds like water being moved) and then there's ignition and a flame. On Sunday, there was no ignition or flame but it still whirred as normal. One of my grandad's friends had a look at it and now it won't even whirr. I've got another guy coming today - this chap is from ratedpeople.com so shall see what he says. The boiler is 15 years old so no idea how long it will keep going but just asked my dad and the bleeding thing's never been serviced.

I know one will pm you the details

British Gas won't do their scheme on a boiler that old. Good luck today.