Hot water and Heating

[RDCorporation]

Hi all!

Me and my fiancee are in the process of buying a house, it's a 3 bedroom Semi-Detached with only one bathroom.
Bathroom is fitted with electrical shower so has it's own cold water feed.

Currently the house has a Gas Boiler and a Hot Water Tank in Airing cupboard in the smallest bedroom, which I am not a big fan of considering the amount of space its taking.

I know a lot depends on the main water pressure and flow but I am trying to work out what system will be best for this house.
The boiler is very old and while still works, will require replacing soon I think.

As previously said, ideally I would like to get rid of the Hot Water Tank to make space and my thoughts were with Combi Boiler. Considering its equiped with electric shower, combi boiler would only have to supply the bathroom basin, kitchen and heating system so should easily cope?

I also looked into Unvented Cylinder systems and possibility to mount the Boiler and Cylinder in the garage, which would be a very costly procedure but might provide best performance. Although for a house with 1 bathroom and only 2 adults will probably be an overkill?

My parents run a combi boiler and it copes well with heating and water although its 2 bedroom flat. Shower is one of the best and easily outperforms any electrical shower I had to use elsewhere.

Ideally we would also want the shower to run "from mains" and not electrical shower but I do like the "safety" of having electrical shower incase boiler breaks down.

What systems do you guys run and how do they cope?

Thanks in advance!

 

[bremen1874]

I happy with my combi + electric shower. Three bedroom house with two adults.

I had the old boiler and tank removed and the new boiler installed in the loft instead of the kitchen. I have no regrets about doing it and the extra space is useful.

 

[RDCorporation]

I did initially want to put new boiler into the loft as well.
Any disadvantages to doing so?

If you dont mind me asking how much roughly it set you back to change the system?

Thanks!

 

[Syla5]

I am happy with my combi boiler. 3 bed semi, 1 bathroom, 2 adults 1 child. Our shower is connected and we have no issues. A combi boiler even if you attach your shower will be more then good enough. We specced up the boiler when we got it installed, cost a couple of hundred more at the time but future proofed our options for adding an additional ensuite without having to be concerned about the boiler.

 

[bremen1874]

I did initially want to put new boiler into the loft as well.
Any disadvantages to doing so?

If you dont mind me asking how much roughly it set you back to change the system?

Thanks!

No disadvantages so far. They installed a remote filling loop so I don’t need to go into the loft to check the pressure or add water.

It cost about £2200 four years ago. The actual boiler cost £800ish of the total cost.

 

[sovietspybob]

A combi should be ideal for you, we've got one in our fairly big house and the only thing it does struggle with is 2 people having a shower at the same time as the pressure does go down so it's very good then.

With just 1 bathroom it would seem a no brainer to me as you gain the space where the tank was and the efficiency of a combi boiler with unlimited hot water.

 

[RDCorporation]

I am happy with my combi boiler. 3 bed semi, 1 bathroom, 2 adults 1 child. Our shower is connected and we have no issues. A combi boiler even if you attach your shower will be more then good enough. We specced up the boiler when we got it installed, cost a couple of hundred more at the time but future proofed our options for adding an additional ensuite without having to be concerned about the boiler.

Thats good to hear, we don't mind spending more on a better / more powerful boiler. I do prefer to go slightly overkill just to know the system will easily cope and as you say, future proof. Thanks!

No disadvantages so far. They installed a remote filling loop so I don’t need to go into the loft to check the pressure or add water.

It cost about £2200 four years ago. The actual boiler cost £800ish of the total cost.

Sounds reasonable, was it a major pipe rework or just extension into the loft?
I would have though you will have to fill in the hole left in the wall after removing the boiler from kitchen?

A combi should be ideal for you, we've got one in our fairly big house and the only thing it does struggle with is 2 people having a shower at the same time as the pressure does go down so it's very good then.

With just 1 bathroom it would seem a no brainer to me as you gain the space where the tank was and the efficiency of a combi boiler with unlimited hot water.

Exactly my thoughts, just happy it's backed up by real life experience.

Current hot water tank and airing cupboard is the only thing that I didn't like about the house and boiler needs changing anyway, would rather do a proper job straight away.

Thanks for all information.

 

[chroniclard]

Combi with 4 bed house, only one shower/main bathroom though, combi works fine. They do come in various ratings to cope with different sized systems. Be fine with the appropriate one.

 

[bremen1874]

Sounds reasonable, was it a major pipe rework or just extension into the loft?
I would have though you will have to fill in the hole left in the wall after removing the boiler from kitchen?

Mainly just extending the pipes that already went to the airing cupboard up into the loft. The biggest job was running the gas supply.

The old boiler was fitted to an internal wall with the flue going up through the roof.

 

[RDCorporation]

Mainly just extending the pipes that already went to the airing cupboard up into the loft. The biggest job was running the gas supply.

The old boiler was fitted to an internal wall with the flue going up through the roof.

Ah I see, in the house we getting it would make sense to re-pipe it as the airing cupboard is on the other side of the house, whereas a new boiler would be in pretty much same position just 2 floors above in the loft.
But thats something to figure out later.

How long did the whole process take?
Thanks.

 

[bremen1874]

2 days.