New boiler/ Central heating system

fireisdangerous · 14 Sep 2017 at 10:29

Next on my list of house improvements is to replace the current system boiler as its the original one that came with the house so 20 years old. We bought house last year.

Our setup at the moment is system boiler in garage, hot water tank on 2nd floor then large water tank in the loft. I would like to remove the water tanks from the loft so I can fully board the loft for storage.

Would like to keep the hot water tank so we can have 2 showers going at the same time etc. So I believe my best option is to replace the system boiler with a Combi boiler then replace the hot water tank with a mega flow.

Is this the best way forward?

psd99 · 14 Sep 2017 at 10:34

yes indeed

megaflow + w bosh system boiler

I got this combination myself. 2 bathroom and a 250 litre megaflow (might be overkill but damn it works nicely)

how many rooms/radiators are you looking at?

robj20 · 14 Sep 2017 at 11:12

psd99 said:
yes indeed

megaflow + w bosh system boiler

I got this combination myself. 2 bathroom and a 250 litre megaflow (might be overkill but damn it works nicely)

how many rooms/radiators are you looking at?

He said fit a combi boiler not a system boiler.
Though with him saying a megaflow as well in guessing he means a system boiler. Why postpone choose to have a combi and a cylinder at concept is beyond me.

sparkymark75 · 14 Sep 2017 at 12:48

How about a combi feeding a mixer shower and have the other shower as an electric shower?

fireisdangerous · 14 Sep 2017 at 12:53

Your correct I did mean system boiler. 3 bed house with family bathroom and ensuite but plans to convert garage at some point and extend back of house so were talking say 13/14 rads. I need to replace all the rads aswell so its going to cost mw a big chunk of monies.

fireisdangerous · 14 Sep 2017 at 12:55

sparkymark75 said:
How about a combi feeding a mixer shower and have the other shower as an electric shower?

Currently the ensuite shower is connected to a pump in the loft but we would very much like to remove said pump as it makes a ton of noise. They pump was only necessary as previous owners had one of those cubical showers with multiple jets etc and is over kill for a shower.

psd99 · 14 Sep 2017 at 13:25

fireisdangerous said:
Your correct I did mean system boiler. 3 bed house with family bathroom and ensuite but plans to convert garage at some point and extend back of house so were talking say 13/14 rads. I need to replace all the rads aswell so its going to cost mw a big chunk of monies.

go for a 250 litre unvented indirect megaflow

https://www.plumbnation.co.uk/site/...-eco-systemready-indirect-unvented-cylinders/

An unvented hot water cylinder is a pressurised system which is fed directly from the cold mains water feed and therefore can deliver hot water at mains pressure, which is great for improving the performance of your shower and bath.

Indirect basically means that the water can either be heated up by the gas boiler or if this breaks down you have the immersion option. Think that is a good way to have warm water when the boiler breakdown sometimes.

a1ex2001 · 14 Sep 2017 at 13:38

Whats wrong with the current system or are you doing significant decoration in that area of the house or something? I would never consider changing a boiler without good reason as you won't see any real saving given the cost of replacement.

fireisdangerous · 14 Sep 2017 at 14:03

Main reason is to remove water tank from loft which means I can fully board loft and transfer all the stuff stored in our garage into the loft. Leaving the garage empty to then convert the garage.

Other reason is boiler is 20 years old, need new radiators so made sense to do it all at once.

a1ex2001 · 14 Sep 2017 at 14:20

fireisdangerous said:
Main reason is to remove water tank from loft which means I can fully board loft and transfer all the stuff stored in our garage into the loft. Leaving the garage empty to then convert the garage.

Other reason is boiler is 20 years old, need new radiators so made sense to do it all at once.

Take all the stuff in your garage to the tip cheaper and quicker, we all store way to much stuff! I can see where your coming from though new radsis no reason to change the boiler though.

fireisdangerous · 14 Sep 2017 at 17:23

Could I keep existing boiler and just replace hot water cylinder with megaflow and get rid of water tanks in loft?

robj20 · 15 Sep 2017 at 07:20

Just get an indirect combination cylinder, and if you want increased pressure fit a pump.

Participant · 15 Sep 2017 at 07:32

sparkymark75 said:
How about a combi feeding a mixer shower and have the other shower as an electric shower?

Spoken like a true spark. Electric showers are a load of rubbish.

robj20 · 15 Sep 2017 at 07:54

Participant said:
Spoken like a true spark. Electric showers are a load of rubbish.

How so? Nothing wrong with a half decent one. Yes they don't have the power of a boiler/cylinder fed one but there handy to have in a multi bathroom house. Had ours for years now and never once thought it was rubbish.

Participant · 15 Sep 2017 at 08:19

robj20 said:
Yes they don't have the power of a boiler/cylinder fed one

...which is exactly the point at which the debate ends.

robj20 · 15 Sep 2017 at 08:57

Participant said:
...which is exactly the point at which the debate ends.

So not rubbish then just not as powerful. Perfect for people that say just want a shower that works, and works all the time.

sparkymark75 · 15 Sep 2017 at 09:17

Participant said:
Spoken like a true spark. Electric showers are a load of rubbish.

Despite my username, I'm not an electrician. Just based on my experience of having an Aqualisa electric shower.

Participant · 15 Sep 2017 at 09:31

robj20 said:
So not rubbish then just not as powerful. Perfect for people that say just want a shower that works, and works all the time.

Except when there's a power cut, under which circumstances an unvented cylinder merrily carries on about its business.

I've never had an acceptable electric shower.

Mr.Stu · 15 Sep 2017 at 09:33

fireisdangerous said:
Could I keep existing boiler and just replace hot water cylinder with megaflow and get rid of water tanks in loft?

Yup - boiler is independent (indirect heat source) of the storage and delivery of the hot water.

M1k3H · 15 Sep 2017 at 09:46

Participant said:
Except when there's a power cut, under which circumstances an unvented cylinder merrily carries on about its business.

I've never had an acceptable electric shower.

Combination gas boilers still need electricity though, and most relatively modern houses have combi boilers.

I have both (electric shower in ensuite, boiler fed in main bathroom) and whilst I had the same attitude as yourself (due to electric shower in rented accommodation) I now shower at the electric shower and as far as I'm concerned it's the same. Now, in the winter, when the water is colder, the output is lower admittedly, but still more than enough for a nice shower at a nice pressure. Having said that, I believe my shower is only 8.5kW (Mira Go) and you can get a 9.5kW version of this, so would be even better.