Replacing Thermal Store Question

[joben1]

Hi All,

My 16 year old Albion Mainsflow Integrated Combi Thermal Store (Direct) MF30/180 has split and needs replacing. I have had a couple of plumbers look at it and both have quoted me around the £2000 mark. I never expected it to cost anywhere near that but find that the cylinder alone is around £1200.

I asked if there was a cheaper alternative and my plumber looked into it and said no. I asked why a standard system with the additional tank in the loft couldn't be fitted and was told that the Thermal Store that I have is special. I don't know what was meant by this. Am I being mislead? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Paul

 

[AWheating]

best to keep the thermal store over a gravity hot water cylinder if you want the same pressure and flow rates on your hot water taps and shower.

 

[chris watkins]

Hi Paul
You could try an un-vented direct hot water cylinder, these will still give you mains pressure hot water. They are likely to be cheaper & last a lot longer than the thermal store, however it will require a discharge waste pipe from the safety valves to outside or to a soil stack which was one of the advantage of using a thermal store.
The installation has to be carried out by a someone who holds a Part G / un-vented ticket to show they are competent & will need to be notified to your local Building Control, please make sure the plumbers who quote for the work all have the ticket, ask to see it.

 

[BLOD]

As Chris says an unvented might be your best bet, if you want to stick with a store you could get a gledhill pulsacoil for a lot less than £1200

It might pay to get another plumber who might be able to offer you some alternative ideas to take a look

 

[Dannypipe]

I noticed today that gledhill have started making Boiler Mates again, a new BP model.

I won't pass any comment on them as I've not fitted one. However the Pulsacoil BP's seem a lot better than the old 'A' Class, and 2000, models that proceeded them.

In effect they've gone back to the start like the olf III models, and just use a blending valve rather than PCB's and modulating pumps.

 

[SimonG]

Boiler mates, only one word for them, cack. But that's just my experience.

 

[Dannypipe]

I would agree, but I'm quite happy repairing them and all the other abominations that Gledhill produced.

I've fitted the new BP Pulsacoil and as I say it was better than the models it replaced. Much more basic.

The copper cylinders in the Boilermates is waffer thin though. I wonder if they've improved on that.

 

[joben1]

Thanks all. I think I'll stick with a thermal store and get a second opinion from another plumber.

 

[TTB]

Try Newark Copper Cylinder they will make what you want and have been about some time.

Newark Copper Cylinders | Solar Cylinders, Hot Water Cylinders

TTB