Boiler and central heating advice

[Hagar]

House, three bed bungalow with one bathroom.

Existing system: Glow worm CH / HW boiler mounted on the kitchen wall. There appears to be a condensate pipe with a trace heater externally. HW tank in hall cupboard and header tanks in loft space.

I would like a new boiler and for simplicity, remove the tank in the cupboard (and possibly in roof space) use a combination boiler to provide HW on demand and CH to the rooms.

Is this a practical solution? I am assuming that the mains water pressure is adequate to provide a flow to the shower etc.

Thanks for any responses

 

[NickK]

We had our 25yo open system with HW tank removed and a combi condensing boiler put in.
a) a new gas line had to be put in, 22mm vs 15mm IIRC
b) had our existing CH cleaned with an external pump etc
c) have mag filter and new plumbing put in, removed the old tanks etc and the boiler positioned in the loft (gable wall)
d) our water pressure was fine to start with.
e) evap pipe attached to the soil vent pipe in the loft.

Result is far better heating through put for water, more powerful shower, and CH that really can pump out the heat if need be.

 

[Hagar]

We had our 25yo open system with HW tank removed and a combi condensing boiler put in.
a) a new gas line had to be put in, 22mm vs 15mm IIRC
b) had our existing CH cleaned with an external pump etc
c) have mag filter and new plumbing put in, removed the old tanks etc and the boiler positioned in the loft (gable wall)
d) our water pressure was fine to start with.
e) evap pipe attached to the soil vent pipe in the loft.

Result is far better heating through put for water, more powerful shower, and CH that really can pump out the heat if need be.

Thanks Nick, our system is a similar age. I assume a similar amount of work needs doing. We need to remove a wall between the kitchen and dining room and the gas piping will need to be redone as it runs along the skirting behind the units on that wall.

Was the pressure on the CH pipes OK or did you replaced the pipes to the rads?

It seems from what you say, that this is the way to go.

I think about 30-32kW boiler should do for us. Would you share a budget price for the work, need not be too precise.

cheers, andy.

 

[NickK]

Thanks Nick, our system is a similar age. I assume a similar amount of work needs doing. We need to remove a wall between the kitchen and dining room and the gas piping will need to be redone as it runs along the skirting behind the units on that wall.

Was the pressure on the CH pipes OK or did you replaced the pipes to the rads?

It seems from what you say, that this is the way to go.

I think about 30-32kW boiler should do for us. Would you share a budget price for the work, need not be too precise.

cheers, andy.

It's a Bosch 32CDi cost was about 3K, Guildford Surrey pricing..

 

[Buffman]

Will be around 3
2.5/3k for same location for boiler, probably 5+ if need to move it. I recommend avoiding British gas

(I had a couple quotes and BG do mine this time last year)

 

[NickK]

Was the pressure on the CH pipes OK or did you replaced the pipes to the rads?

The existing pipes and rads were left - they're fine but we replaced the upstair manual valves with TRV valves. I replaced the bathroom rad with larger towel radiator and an under floor CH pipe loop (both on TRV) to warm the floor of the bathroom. The new system simply extended the pipework up into the loft.

 

[Hagar]

The existing pipes and rads were left - they're fine but we replaced the upstair manual valves with TRV valves. I replaced the bathroom rad with larger towel radiator and an under floor CH pipe loop (both on TRV) to warm the floor of the bathroom. The new system simply extended the pipework up into the loft.

Sounds like a similar job to that we are planning (except for the underfloor loop), the bathroom is small and with solid floors throughout, it may not be a worthwhile task.

We will be keeping the rads as it stands and replacing the valves at the same time as the boiler replacement. Replacing the gas supply pipework to the kitchen appliances and the lounge fire (both on opposing faces of the same wall). As it is a bungalow, this means just going above the ceiling level across the kitchen, about 3m wide.

Thanks anyway for your reassurance.