Some Advice,

PowerHouseDan

Mods Not sure if this is the right Thread so please move if not.

I am just after buying a House, that needs some works done to it, Elects, Plumping Etc, the House is about 1200sq Ft, currently 3 bedrooms but turning it into 2 large bedrooms with 2 Ensuites, and a Toilet downstairs question is what kinda heating system should i put in, Most people seem to suggest a Combi Boiler, Any Bad points to them or any other suggestions.

Thanks

Dan

A combi is easy to fit and requires less pipe etc.., it will give you hot water non stop and will not run out and will not waste fuel, as you are heating what you use, rather than heating stored water, the down side is if you use it as your only source of heating water then if it breaks you have no hot water, repairs can be costly, they are effected badly by sludge in the heating system, you need GOOD incoming mains water, if you're having a shower and someone turns on another tap it can effect the temperature at the shower.

Using stored hot water(cylinder) you will find the hot water for the shower is unlikely to be effected by the opening of other taps, the cylinders can be fitted with a immersion to heat the water if the boiler breaks down, system boilers tend to be less complicated than a combi, you can fit a cylinder stat and programmer to help cut costs, the downside to having a cylinder would be they cost more to fit, takes up more room, if you run out of hot water you have to wait for reheat.

I would say you need to see what your water mains is like, how much space you have and which method suits your life style, either method if fitted properly will work well, i would consider electric showers as a secondary source of hot water,also other options are unvented cylinder which works well with good mains pressure and you can fit solar panels, combi boiler with a preheated hot water storage vassal inside it or a combi boiler with a large cylinder fitted below which can have a solar panel connected, which ever type of boiler you go for try to get one with a out door temperature thermostat which will help reduce fuel cost. Gary.

PowerHouseDan

Thanks for your Reply Gary, Just quick Question with Regards the COmbi is there a pump in the Combi's for the Shower or is a Sep Pump required to pump water to the showers?

crosstownk

If you pump the shower be sure that the Combi boiler can keep up with the demand for hot water.

I've just purchased a new boiler myself (not fitted yet) and I was looking at both combi and system boilers. I went for a system boiler as it seems the general rule of thumb is that a combi is OK if only one tap requires hot water at any given time, but as I've a family and all hot water taps could be on at one a combi would not suit - stored hot water is what I need.

You can't pump the mains water although some do, to add a pump you would have to fit a break tank that stores the water to then feed a pump, so that is why good mains is what you need to get the best out of a combi, Gary.