Boiler and tank questions

Matt_Hirst · 4 Jul 2017 at 09:35

Mysterae_ said:
Interesting, what convinced you to go with a pressurised system? Of the four companies I sourced for a quote no one mentioned the pressurised system but I guess the house isn't big enough for such a system. Three of the four blokes said a combi boiler would be best, the fourth was non-committal and would fit whatever I decided, which is fair enough.

For us, we knew existing tank solution doesn't work, the combi boiler looked like it was perfect, but having two daughters who are starting to fight to use the showers at the same time and also speaking to the other households on our estate that we knew had new boilers fitted there was only one with a combi boiler that said it worked for them (however they only had one child and never ran multiple baths / showers / appliances at the same time). Also after speaking to 5 different plumbers/tradesmen, three said pressurised systems one said combi and the other said conventional tank - we went with the majority vote.

Will see whether its the right decision in a couple of weeks once it's fitted and will report back.

Matt

Felix · 4 Jul 2017 at 09:52

I've just had a 250l megaflo fitted (using my existing combi to heat it). Same situation as above and I didn't want electric showers. We have people staying at the moment and had 2 shower running at once and there was little noticible difference in water pressure. If you have space for a tank then definately get a tank. I find the hot water is pretty much instant compared to when the combi was used for DHW and there doesn't seem to be much heat loss from the tank. I also found that with the combi being used for DHW it would fire up full pelt to heat the water where as now the boiler runs cooler (but longer and hopefully more efficient) to reheat the water tank.

Mysterae_ · 5 Jul 2017 at 00:00

Interesting takes on the subject. Our house is a 3 bed semi with one shower/bath so the demand for hot water won't be great.

I'd love to see some comparison in gas usage between a combi and a condensing boiler with a tank for typical usage. I'm struggling to make my mind up!

It boils down to (no pun intended

:

- new condensing boiler and tank, keep existing shower but gain no storage space. The cheaper install option too.

vs

- new combi boiler in the loft, source and fit a new shower but gain storage in a small cupboard in the kitchen and an entire airing cupboard. Lose the redundancy of the immersion heater.

Once the final quotes are in I'll make up my mind...

Matt_Hirst · 5 Jul 2017 at 10:00

Mysterae_ said:
Interesting takes on the subject. Our house is a 3 bed semi with one shower/bath so the demand for hot water won't be great.

I'd love to see some comparison in gas usage between a combi and a condensing boiler with a tank for typical usage. I'm struggling to make my mind up!

It boils down to (no pun intended :

- new condensing boiler and tank, keep existing shower but gain no storage space. The cheaper install option too.

vs

- new combi boiler in the loft, source and fit a new shower but gain storage in a small cupboard in the kitchen and an entire airing cupboard. Lose the redundancy of the immersion heater.

Once the final quotes are in I'll make up my mind...

For us we have the space, so that wasn't a consideration, new boiler and tank are going in the integral garage, the only thing wife says she will miss is having an airing cupboard which she does use.

Matt

Matt_Hirst · 13 Jul 2017 at 09:26

Well it was fitted over the past two days, had no hot water on the first day only cold, but yesterday got both and all seems good, very good really.

Showers now run with a lot more pressure - can run both at the same time even!

Very impressed so far, tank in garage takes a fair bit of room up, so going to have to sort the available space out around it to be better but other than that very happy.

Matt

Gammawolf · 13 Jul 2017 at 10:14

I could swear we live on the same estate by what you've described

, i'm having the same thoughts about hot water but haven't had the guts to do anything about it. What ball park figures were you looking at if you don't mind me asking?

task · 13 Jul 2017 at 10:52

We recently moved from a 3 bed semi with combi boiler and one shower, giving good service/pressure to a 3 bed bungalow with two showers. Bungalow has a HW tank in bathroom from a 1986 Potterton BOA oil fired boiler, cold water tank in loft.

Showers were thermostatic and pressure was abysmal, fitted a shower pump to both showers and I would now say the pressure is better than the previous. Pump is fitted in the boiler house on a shelf against the wall of one of the showers, I honestly can't hear it running over the noise of the water running in the shower. Took us 3/4 of a day to fit, although it was an easier job as both showers back onto the boiler house. Some pics in m thread on here I believe.

Matt_Hirst · 13 Jul 2017 at 12:05

We had new boiler, pressurised tank and all stuff needed, a new radiator for daughters bedroom all pipework and electrics done, removal of all old stuff and it came to £3500.

Matt