System or combi boiler?

[newgal85]

Hi guys

We want to do a whole revision of our boiler system- we currently have a system boiler at the moment with a water tank upstairs. One bathroom currently with electric shower and a 2nd bathroom still being constructed. What do you guys advise? Please let me know if this is in the wrong forum and I can move accordingly - thanks

 

[ShaunCorbs]

How many bedrooms / size of house eg standard 2 up 2 down ?

 

[newgal85]

How many bedrooms / size of house eg standard 2 up 2 down ?

3 bed semi - 1 bathroom upstairs and guest bathroom being constructed downstairs next to kitchen.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Combi Boiler if your keeping the elec shower

 

[newgal85]

Combi Boiler if your keeping the elec shower

Thanks Shaun - not sure if I can adapt to mixer shower after having powerful electric showers...I guess with a new boiler the water pressure should be better so mixer shower would be more powerful

 

[Millsy 82]

If the 2nd bathroom is only a guest bathroom then I agree combi and keep electric shower if you have 2 bathrooms used full time then maybe look at keeping tanked hot water.

 

[Riley]

Do you have a vented or unvented hot water cylinder

 

[Riley]

And when you say Electric shower do you mean a shower that heats cold water within itself or do you mean it is a power shower that pumps out hot and cold water. I ask only as I’ve never heard anybody saying about an electric shower being better than one from a combi boiler or unvented

 

[Stigster]

A combi boiler will never perform as well as an unvented cylinder. If you have the space for a cylinder, or already have one I would always recommend that a cylinder is used. Combi boilers are often mis-sold by installers as an "easy option". Combi boilers are great in smaller properties with only one bathroom but anything above that, it's unvented cylinder all the way for me. If space is a major concern, a combi can be a good option. You already have a cylinder (not sure if vented or unvented?) so I would use that space and keep/install an unvented cylinder for performance reasons and also for future proofing if another bathroom were to be added or you wanted to move away from electric showers for some reason.

 

[Rob Foster]

Combis came from the continent in the 80s they were installed in small houses and flats where an F&E tank was impossibke,and space for a cylinder and cold water storage
tank limited. What happened was installers jumped on combis cause they were an easy
one box installation. Then big combis appeared with bigger flow rates. Problem the big combis can heat more hot water than the mains can provide.
System set up answers all these problems well esp with pressurised cylinder..ie unvented. Centralheatking
You can go get a mains booster and steal your neighbours water until I turn up and put my own booster in then your back to a virtual desert.

 

[Scott_D]

If you have the space and money - boiler and cylinder
If not, and you dont use masses of hot water - combi

 

[fixitflav]

Hi guys

We want to do a whole revision of our boiler system- we currently have a system boiler at the moment with a water tank upstairs. One bathroom currently with electric shower and a 2nd bathroom still being constructed. What do you guys advise? Please let me know if this is in the wrong forum and I can move accordingly - thanks

Neither - go for a heat-only boiler.

 

[townfanjon]

3 bed , bathroom with a lecky shower , combi all day long , unless theres 4 people living there who bath everyday.

 

[Riley]

And when you say Electric shower do you mean a shower that heats cold water within itself or do you mean it is a power shower that pumps out hot and cold water. I ask only as I’ve never heard anybody saying about an electric shower being better than one from a combi boiler or unvented

And as asked before

 

[newgal85]

Do you have a vented or unvented hot water cylinder

And when you say Electric shower do you mean a shower that heats cold water within itself or do you mean it is a power shower that pumps out hot and cold water. I ask only as I’ve never heard anybody saying about an electric shower being better than one from a combi boiler or unvented

Hi Riley - its a vented cylinder and ekectruc shower that heats water up within the heating element inside.

 

[newgal85]

3 bed , bathroom with a lecky shower , combi all day long , unless theres 4 people living there who bath everyday.

3 adults and we don't have guests staying over maybe once a year if that.

 

[newgal85]

Neither - go for a heat-only boiler.

Oh I didnt know there was this option?

 

[newgal85]

A combi boiler will never perform as well as an unvented cylinder. If you have the space for a cylinder, or already have one I would always recommend that a cylinder is used. Combi boilers are often mis-sold by installers as an "easy option". Combi boilers are great in smaller properties with only one bathroom but anything above that, it's unvented cylinder all the way for me. If space is a major concern, a combi can be a good option. You already have a cylinder (not sure if vented or unvented?) so I would use that space and keep/install an unvented cylinder for performance reasons and also for future proofing if another bathroom were to be added or you wanted to move away from electric showers for some reason.

Hi Stigster - Thanks! I forgot to mention water pressure is low downstairs and decent upstairs and water is coming through led pipes (we just discovered whilst digging as its a very old house)

Is it worth getting megaflo ?

 

[Riley]

Amazed that you think you’ll get a better shower from electric. Even an 11kw is usually rubbish comparatively

 

[newgal85]

Amazed that you think you’ll get a better shower from electric. Even an 11kw is usually rubbish comparatively

I guess I have always had electric shower so I don't know how the standard shower pressure will be - if it should be better than I'm happy to change

 

[Riley]

It should definitely be better. Assuming your mains pressure is adequate. If it’s not then that’s a whole different ball game

 

[Scott_D]

You should look to have the lead pipes replaced

 

[fixitflav]

Oh I didn't know there was this option?

As you have a system boiler at present I assume the water tank upstairs is the cold water storage tank, in the loft. System boiler has a built-in expansion vessel, so no F/E tank (in loft).
Others might disagree, and it depends on the details of your existing set-up, but heat-only would be my preference. Then the various parts - boiler, pump, diverter valve are separate. It's a lot easier to see what's going on, and if any of them goes wrong there's a good chance you can diagnose and fix the problem yourself. With a system or combi boiler you'd probably need a GSR guy out. You still have the option of installing a F/E tank, or an expansion vessel separate from the boiler.

 

[newgal85]

It should definitely be better. Assuming your mains pressure is adequate. If it’s not then that’s a whole different ball game

Pressure is low downstairs and good upstairs

 

[newgal85]

As you have a system boiler at present I assume the water tank upstairs is the cold water storage tank, in the loft. System boiler has a built-in expansion vessel, so no F/E tank (in loft).
Others might disagree, and it depends on the details of your existing set-up, but heat-only would be my preference. Then the various parts - boiler, pump, diverter valve are separate. It's a lot easier to see what's going on, and if any of them goes wrong there's a good chance you can diagnose and fix the problem yourself. With a system or combi boiler you'd probably need a GSR guy out. You still have the option of installing a F/E tank, or an expansion vessel separate from the boiler.

Yep you are right- I have a cold water tank in the loft and hot water tank next to upstairs bathroom (which is very old so definitely needs cleaning out)