Advice on boiler/central heating

Narj · 29 Sep 2010 at 13:53

Hi chaps,

I'm about to begin renovating a place I've bought - short story, it's currently gas fired and I want to put in central heating, however, I'm a bit stuck at which sort of system would be best/most efficient. It's a reasonably big 3 bedroom Victorian place so will need 7 or 8 rads too.

I'm leaning towards having a conventional boiler + immersion heater in whatever setup there is in case the main boiler goes kaput, so I won't be stuck without hot water. The other reasoning behind this is that I might rent the place out next year and don't want someone on my back to get a boiler replaced immediately when they can buy time with the immersion heater.

What's the done thing these days? I've had the combi idea thrown at me but unsure about them, although I'd like to get rid of the tank in the loft if possible. I'm really not that knowledegable on this stuff (obv won't be doing the work myself, thanks to having lots of tradesmen friends & family but could do with some help considering options).

Cheers OcUK oracles...

Mr Jack · 29 Sep 2010 at 14:35

I'd fit a Combi.

JBuk · 29 Sep 2010 at 14:43

Combi

Archy · 29 Sep 2010 at 15:29

How many bathrooms/ensuites with showers/baths are in the house?

My personal recommendation would be a good, correctly sized combi boiler if there is just one main bathroom, anything over that fit a pressurised cylinder and boiler. Combis will struggle if there is a high demand for hot water, and pressurised systems are the most efficient.

Mr Jack · 29 Sep 2010 at 16:03

Archy said:
My personal recommendation would be a good, correctly sized combi boiler if there is just one main bathroom, anything over that fit a pressurised cylinder and boiler. Combis will struggle if there is a high demand for hot water, and pressurised systems are the most efficient.

If you have a combi, you should be fitting showers that heat their own water anyway. They shouldn't be running off the boiler.

JBuk · 29 Sep 2010 at 16:24

A standard mixer shower is fine from a combi

Narj · 29 Sep 2010 at 17:14

Aye there's 1 main bathroom. No ensuites and none planned. I was hoping to get away with a mixer tap shower on the bath. I'm happy to get a decent boiler, it's one thing I won't go cheapo with because I know how much of a pain in the rear it is when they go wrong

Any manufacturers I should prefer/avoid?

Bennie-Mac · 29 Sep 2010 at 17:17

Worcester Bosch are a solid make of boiler, Vaillant also.

dante6491 · 29 Sep 2010 at 17:17

PianoBasher said:
Aye there's 1 main bathroom. No ensuites and none planned. I was hoping to get away with a mixer tap shower on the bath. I'm happy to get a decent boiler, it's one thing I won't go cheapo with because I know how much of a pain in the rear it is when they go wrong

Any manufacturers I should prefer/avoid?

http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=175736

I had a boiler fella around the other day to look at my 12 year old combi as it gave up the ghost. We managed to get it going again but he said the next time it breaks down I should really think about replacing it. Recommends Broag/Remeha's as they are easier to fit than Valiants. Also mentioned that Worchester Bosch are quite average, they only get by because of the Bosch name tacked on the end.