1950s Backboiler system upgrade

[imo9979]

I have been on at my parents for years about their water heating system, early 1950s solid fuel back boiler in the living room supplying hot water to a rectangular tank with a backup immersion element for the summer months, direct cold feed, the tank has a loosely fitted cover over the top. You know when the water is hot because the wallpaper starts peeling, if the postey times it right he gets a hot shower by the front door.

They are dead set against any form of CH or conventional boiler set up. They are now open minded to other options of water storage as they are tired of replacing the ballcock several times a year.

What could be suggested to them? they want to keep the solid fuel back boiler for primary water heating so will still need electric water heating for the summer months.

Any advice welcome

 

[Best]

The 1950s back boiler is probably is poor shape by now. Often the connections are badly blocked. I would suggest you tell your parents to come into the modern world with the heating.
If they want a fire, then a little free standing stove would be good and they can have one with a small boiler for heating hot water, or a central heating boiler, or none. Over 80% efficient.
New indirect vented copper cylinder needed.
Nothing beats a fully automatic oil or gas system for as much thermostat controlled heat as you want, when & where you want, for us when we get older. Keeping a fire burning is okay if you are fit.

 

[Worcester]

We fit these : Klover inset boiler stoves
as replacements for a lot of back boilers.

However, the key thing is that they ONLY replacement DHW storage systems that could fit their current set up is one compliant with current (building) regs

The above will be
a) efficient
b) safe
c) meet current regs
d) partially paid for by a government incentive
e) a LOT easier to use than their current system
f) still gives them manual fill and warmth to the room
g) looks good

see also : Klover inset Wood Pellet boiler stoves, Klover Wood Pellet Inset boiler stoves UK