Biltema quality

[Nygge72]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows how Biltema's quality in areas like plumbing, ventilation, and electrical cables compares to more well-known brands within the same areas. I'm thinking if it is usable for new construction, for example?

 

[etompau]

Spontaneously, I would say varied. You can't exactly know what items Biltema has currently chosen to stock and sell.

 

[13th Marine]

Aren't there better suppliers at cheaper prices for a new build? Rinkabyrör, elbutik, and soliduct for example.

 

[Gårdsboende]

I have, in a few panic situations, gone to Biltema and bought electrical items like sockets, cables, and even some plumbing items.

I think their electrical items yellow very quickly, there's a lot of burr left in boxes after casting and they are a bit lacking in fastenings.

For plumbing, I have bought drainpipes, "balofixer," and some chrome and regular copper pipes.

As a super-duper handy DIY enthusiast, clear assembly instructions with tightening guidelines are appreciated. I think Biltema generally lacks this.

For more planned projects where I've calculated what needs to be installed, I have instead purchased from electrical stores and Rinkaby. I feel better with brand-name items in the house, and Biltema items are gradually being phased out as I see fit.

 

[Dan_Johansson]

The big problem with new construction is that it requires large quantities, and Biltema's inventory, to put it kindly, is variable... They don't have large quantities of ventilation pipes, sewer pipes, bends, etc., so you would have to count on going there ten times to get everything...

I was going to buy an R15 plug yesterday, for example, and there was one. The stock status in the app says 5+...

 

[KnockOnWood]

In general, I now avoid Biltema after a couple of incidents.

• A towel heater almost burned down our newly built house.
  Only luck prevented a catastrophe:
  https://www.byggahus.se/forum/el/195763-elektrisk-handdukstork-brand-varning.html
  
• Used Biltema anchor screws to secure the garage roof trusses to the bearing beam with angle brackets.
  Many of the screws broke, and the heads came off after a day. The roof appeared to be loosely placed.

So now it's JULA when I shop at a discount store instead of the hardware store.

 

[Nygge72]

Aren't there better suppliers at cheaper prices for a new build? Rinkabyrör, elbutik, and soliduct, for example.

Shall check them out

 

[Lucky2015]

Personally, I don't have good experiences with Biltema. A couple of examples:

- Bought a shower mixer. After a few months, it started to rust on the outside. After five months, the knobs were barely movable as they jammed together.

- At the same time, bought a complete shower with a rain shower head or whatever they're called. The plastic started to yellow and crack after just a few months. After a year, it looked like it had been there for 20 years.

Overall, I find Biltema to be poor at handling complaints. Jula is better, and if something breaks, you get it replaced without discussions.

 

[Magnus E K]

I haven't shopped excessively at Biltema, but I do have a water heater (30-liter) that has worked flawlessly for over two years. (It's in a boiler room with a floor drain and no flammable materials nearby, which should limit the damage if/when it goes haywire...)

The only thing I can think of that I bought at Biltema that was obviously rubbish was a radiator key that was so thick it didn't fit (got another one at a proper plumbing store).