Boilers for HMO (4 bed rooms)

[Klorr]

Unlike my last question – which was just of interest, thisone we are going to actually do, one way or the other.

We (me and my dad) have just bought a house that we will eitherdoing up and selling as a family home or converting it into a HMO (so 4 bedrooms with en-suite in each – shower/sink/loo - plus kitchen, living room).

We have the list fromthe council with all the vast number of rules and laws and it all seems doable.
But, plumbing!! Ihave been reading on some of the landlord forums that many of them put eclecticshowers in so there is not too much strain on the boiler.
Does anyone have any recommendations with regards to thistype of thing; have you done one in the past?
Are there any combi boilers that will not just pack up iffour people run a shower at the same time. I really don’t want to put in a tank in the loft. Or are there any boilers (maybe seam) thatare specifically designed for this type of thing.
Of course the boiler will also have to heat the place (up to7 rooms) plus sink hot water in the kitchen, ensuites, etc.
I know it’s a bit of a generic question but nothing iscertain yet and I was just wondering if anyone has any recommendations we couldlook at.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

All depends on water pressures and are existing water main set up

in short no there isn't as there only really designed for one outlet at a time

 

[Riley]

Look after several HMOs and they all have boiler and unvented cylinder in the loft.

 

[SteveWannadoGas]

Just trying to imagine an eclectic shower.... Dont think Ive ever fitted one.

Got it! http://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/eclectic/showers

 

[steadyon]

1. You'll never run 4 electric showers off one incoming main. Each shower requires approximately 40amps at 230 volts, so four would need 160 amps, and this is getting on for double the maximum into most domestic premises.

2. The best way to do it if you have the incoming pressure (at least 2 bar) and flow rate (25 - 30 litres / minute) from the cold main is an unvented cylinder, as Riley suggests.

3. It could be done with a cold water storage cistern in the loft with one large (communal) hot water cylinder or a smaller one in each flat. Probably need a shower pump for each flat as well.

 

[Klorr]

The good thing is that the house we have bought is (at the moment) a right mess. This is good as it means we're going to completely refurbish it - electrics, water, heating, etc. So basically we can start from scratch and do the job right rather than trying to bodge something out of what's already there.

We have a guy from GAH coming round after xmas to test the pressure and give us some options on accumulators and also to advise on "other stuff" - e.g. water tank in loft, small tanks in each room.

PLUS (thanks to the new law which started this year) we will need to meter each room separately.