combi boiler installed - cold water storage tank still required?

irenastia

so... looking for some much needed plumbing advice here!!!

we've had a new combi boiler installed in our small 3 bed , 2 bathroom house recently - so far the experience was not too satisfactory..

our plumber has connected all cold water to the mains, incl bathrooms - initially I've had no concerns as that is how is done in Europe where we have lived before, however a colleague mentioned that in Ireland cold water for everything, except the kitchen sink needs to be fed from the attic tank. So what I would like to know then if it is indeed the case and we need to amend our plumbing set up to comply with these regulations...at the moment we are not using CWST at all and several plumbers I have consulted had varying opinions on the matter...

if I need to correct the whole set up we have now (from mains to CWST) - how much am I expecting to pay to amend the pipework? We still have the old water tank left in the attic that we could use...

really lost here and trying to chase the plumber who originally set up the pipework, at this stage he caused us so many issues that I no longer trust him and need to find someone competent to resolve this...

would be interested to hear from any of you in the industry...  what are the requirements for combi set up in Ireland? what would be involved in correcting our current mains connection to CWST?

Wearb

What problems are you having with the current setup?

irenastia

Wearb wrote: »

What problems are you having with the current setup?

As described our cold water for the whole house connected to mains. It was suggested to me this set up is incorrect in Ireland (illegal even), and bathroom cold water needs to come from CWST even in case of combi boiler system. I am looking to find out if that is indeed the case?

Dtp1979

irenastia wrote: »

As described our cold water for the whole house connected to mains. It was suggested to me this set up is incorrect in Ireland (illegal even), and bathroom cold water needs to come from CWST even in case of combi boiler system. I am looking to find out if that is indeed the case?

In some areas councils do prohibit this. But unless you live in the UK you’re going to have crap water pressure. That’s why people use tanks with pumps. Relax, there’s no water police. If it was me personally I’d go with submersible pump pressurising the system.

rightjob!

Best way to do it is the above as said.

Cold water tank feeding a pump.pumping into the combi boosting all hots and colds.
Going off the mains it fluctuates pressure too much

irenastia

Dtp1979 wrote: »

In some areas councils do prohibit this. But unless you live in the UK you’re going to have crap water pressure. That’s why people use tanks with pumps. Relax, there’s no water police.

I get the fact that it is unlikely anyone will come checking actually. However we are planning to sell in the near future and I am concerned this will come up when buyer surveyer checks it out. Wouldn’t want any regulation compliance issue affect the sale at that stage.

What would be the reasonable cost for plumbing to existing tank and installing a pump if I was to go for it? I have called someone to come out for a quote next week - wondering how much I should expect!

rightjob!

irenastia wrote: »

I get the fact that it is unlikely anyone will come checking actually. However we are planning to sell in the near future and I am concerned this will come up when buyer surveyer checks it out. Wouldn’t want any regulation compliance issue affect the sale at that stage.

What would be the reasonable cost for plumbing to existing tank and installing a pump if I was to go for it? I have called someone to come out for a quote next week - wondering how much I should expect!

Too hard to say without seeing the job and pipe runs/layout.
Starting from €600 and up.

Dtp1979

rightjob! wrote: »

Too hard to say without seeing the job and pipe runs/layout.
Starting from €600 and up.

I’d say double. A decent pump could be nearly 500 with vessel

irenastia

What about noise levels from the pump? Tank is right above bedroom, we used to hear it fill up really well in the past, can hear neighbours electric shower well also, pump going off every time you flush a toilet or open a tap might be worse somehow 😔

Personally I wouldn’t fit a pump and a break tank unless I had to due to performance issues.

The rule prohibiting a combi being used directly from the mains is not enforced, most combi I call to are mains fed, a lot of| council property’s are mains water fed.