Where To Locate a Combi Boiler?

RosyGirl

I'm currently doing up an apartment and am planning the installation of central heating.

I'm planning to install a gas-fired combi-boiler, which I undertand would mean I could remove the immersion in the upstairs landing hotpress. Because the kitchen is tiny, I was wondering could the combi-boiler be located in the hotpress upstairs instead? The hotpress is in the landing and won't have access to a perimeter wall - it's directly outside the (tiny) bathroom, and immediately adjacent to what I hope will be a power shower in the bathroom.

Is this advisable, or would it better to integrate the boiler into the tiny kitchen downstairs? Does it need some sort of a flue leading to the outside??

aujopimur

DIY gas work is illegal, a RGI will advise you.

Egass13

aujopimur wrote: »

DIY gas work is illegal, a RGI will advise you.

I could be wrong but I'm sure with a user name like "rosygirl" that she wasn't planning on carrying out any illegal gasworks herself..

Your boiler will have a flue which will need to be terminated externally in accordance with manufacturers instructions and local regs. This can be out a wall or straight up providing your a top floor apartment and your allowed to do so. There are plenty of other factors to consider so having a competent RGI take a look and advise as such would be the best idea.

RosyGirl

Yes! I'm female, and will be using a legit plumber - am just trying to organise the renovations with a measuring tape and a book of graph paper at the moment.
I was hoping to free up a bit of kitchen space for cabinets etc., by keeping the boiler elsewhere. However, if an outside wall is needed, the kitchen might turn out to be the most logical, and accessible place.

Back to the drawing board.....:)

aujopimur

Modern boilesr can have horizontal or vertical flues several mtrs. long.

Egass13

aujopimur wrote: »

Modern boilesr can have horizontal or vertical flues several mtrs. long.

Yes , but from a vertical point of view she would have to be top floor or she would be running through somebody else's apartment! And horizontally there has to be an access hatch at every joint for inspection so unless you are going to leave the flue on show running through your house or if you don't mind the look of a boxing with several access panels , I'd stick to the kitchen wall

RosyGirl

Actually, I AM on the top floor - the bedrooms and bathrooms are squeezed in under the roof and next to several small attic spaces. In which case, perhaps a flue might be able to exit vertically, since the hotpress is directly beneath the roof....but I'll have to take a closer look, and consult with the heating engineer closer to the time.

I wasn't really sure if a flue was necessary with a combi-boiler, so at least that clears that question up...

Sparkpea

you could put it in the attic.

MiniGolf

Sparkpea wrote: »

you could put it in the attic.

I have put quite a few combi's in attics. Perfect in smaller houses/apartments where space is at a premium.

RosyGirl

It looks like I have plenty of options here. I have a walk-in attic space beside the bedrooms which houses two water tanks and which would have enough space for my boiler.
Also, if I get the plumbers to remove the immersion tank, then I can use the hotpress as a storage cupboard. It's a win-win!

Thanks to everyone for all their input.

Sparkpea

whats the water tanks for that it stores? will they not be taken out if you get a gas combi boiler?

K.Flyer

Sparkpea wrote: »

whats the water tanks for that it stores? will they not be taken out if you get a gas combi boiler?

I would not take the tanks out.
Mains pressure can be a bit hit and miss with huge variances even on the same road.
If they are not in the way I would take a feed from the tanks via a pump to the combi, tidy up the pipework in the hot press and you still have a supply of water in the event of water shortages or cuts.

RosyGirl

The tanks in the attic feed other apartments in the same building - I won't be touching them at all. But should I keep the immersion tank in the hotpress just in case of water shortages? Is that what you mean, K.Flyer?

Egass13

RosyGirl wrote: »

The tanks in the attic feed other apartments in the same building - I won't be touching them at all. But should I keep the immersion tank in the hotpress just in case of water shortages? Is that what you mean, K.Flyer?

So is the attic actually yours ? I'd check with the management company first to see if they would allow you to locate a boiler up there

K.Flyer

RosyGirl wrote: »

The tanks in the attic feed other apartments in the same building - I won't be touching them at all. But should I keep the immersion tank in the hotpress just in case of water shortages? Is that what you mean, K.Flyer?

No, I thought that you meant that the attic was yours and that the tanks were yours also. There would be no benefit keeping the immersion tank in the hotpress if you are fitting a combi boiler.
As Egass says, you will need to contact the managent company before starting any works in the attic especially where fitting a gas boiler is concerned. And probably best to clear it with them as to what you can or cant do before getting contractors to price up the work.
Is there a gas supply in the apartment already?

MiniGolf

K.Flyer wrote: »

I would not take the tanks out.
Mains pressure can be a bit hit and miss with huge variances even on the same road.
If they are not in the way I would take a feed from the tanks via a pump to the combi, tidy up the pipework in the hot press and you still have a supply of water in the event of water shortages or cuts.

^^^ What he said! ^^^

RosyGirl

Just to clarify - the building is family-owned, so I've got permission to do whatever is needed in the apartment I'll be using. I won't, of course, be touching the water tanks which feed the lower apartments, but I do have full and easy access via a door in the bedroom to the attic space which houses two of the water tanks. (Which I won't be removing!!) I was planning to use this attic area for storage since I have flooring I can re-use there. I had no idea I could also fit the combi-boiler into the attic space, which is an excellent idea, especially since the attic space is so easy to get into, and also since the flue could very easily exit vertically through the ceiling.

As regards the gas supply - this has yet to be connected and there is currently no heating in the flat other than electric plug-in ones. The neighbouring apartment, however, already has a gas connection, so I presume the connection will be easy enough to accomplish.

Many thanks to everyone for their excellent input. As I said already, I'm still only at the graph paper and measuring tape stage...

MiniGolf

RosyGirl wrote: »

Just to clarify - the building is family-owned, so I've got permission to do whatever is needed in the apartment I'll be using. I won't, of course, be touching the water tanks which feed the lower apartments, but I do have full and easy access via a door in the bedroom to the attic space which houses two of the water tanks. (Which I won't be removing!!) I was planning to use this attic area for storage since I have flooring I can re-use there. I had no idea I could also fit the combi-boiler into the attic space, which is an excellent idea, especially since the attic space is so easy to get into, and also since the flue could very easily exit vertically through the ceiling.

As regards the gas supply - this has yet to be connected and there is currently no heating in the flat other than electric plug-in ones. The neighbouring apartment, however, already has a gas connection, so I presume the connection will be easy enough to accomplish.

Many thanks to everyone for their excellent input. As I said already, I'm still only at the graph paper and measuring tape stage...

That sounds perfect. Whereabouts are you so maybe someone on Boards could recommend an installer.

RosyGirl

The apartment's in Ballsbridge, and I'm planning on installing the central heating in 18 months' time....I've just had the place insulated, and the Velux windows replaced, so I'm ready to move onto the next stage. My college-going daughter is currently living there, so I have to wait for her college course to end before tearing the place asunder. (The Velux windows and the insulation work drove her to distraction already this year, and there's only so much moaning I can listen to...!)

The names of a few reliable contractors would be appreciated...