Boiler in Bedroom Press

JJJackal

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on buying an apartment with a boiler in the main bedroom press? Have seen a few apartments with boilers in the bedroom. This is the first one that ticks the other boxes. I wonder if the boiler would be noisy?

Nobodysrobots

Can't comment on noise but I'd check if it's the type of boiler that draws air from the room for combustion. I slept in a room before with a similar setup to you except the room wasn't ventilated properly. The air got very heavy and hard to breathe when the boiler was running. So check ventilation. You would also want a good carbon monoxide alarm.

stefanovich

That's an odd place to have a boiler. It may be annoying. Go for a viewing and ask them to turn it on?

JJJackal

I will look into the ventilation. I dont fully understand why one would but a boiler in a bedroom?

stefanovich

JJJackal wrote: »

I will look into the ventilation. I dont fully understand why one would but a boiler in a bedroom?

Free up space elsewhere? Outside wall? What size is the kitchen and where is it?

JJJackal

I plan to view with the boiler on - the boiler in the bedroom has really put me off. I can imagine it waking me every morning (say you set it to come on 30 minutes before your alarm!!)

stefanovich

JJJackal wrote: »

I plan to view with the boiler on - the boiler in the bedroom has really put me off. I can imagine it waking me every morning (say you set it to come on 30 minutes before your alarm!!)

You could move the boiler.

JJJackal

stefanovich wrote: »

Free up space elsewhere? Outside wall? What size is the kitchen and where is it?

Its a kitchen come dining room. As apartment kitchen/dining rooms go its not especially small. The apartment is according to estate agent about 80m2. There is a balcony. The kitchen is not directly beside the bedroom where the boiler is. The second bedroom is between the kitchen and the boiler bedroom.

Its a relatively new build (maybe 5-10 years old) - the builders who built it have a very good reputation for quality build work

JJJackal

stefanovich wrote: »

You could move the boiler.

Is that a big or expensive job?

JustMe,K

JJJackal wrote: »

Its a kitchen come dining room. As apartment kitchen/dining rooms go its not especially small. The apartment is according to estate agent about 80m2. There is a balcony. The kitchen is not directly beside the bedroom where the boiler is. The second bedroom is between the kitchen and the boiler bedroom.

Its a relatively new build (maybe 5-10 years old) - the builders who built it have a very good reputation for quality build work

Is it possible that the bedroom is the only external wall that was available to put the boiler on?

JJJackal

kcdiom wrote: »

Is it possible that the bedroom is the only external wall that was available to put the boiler on?

The boiler has to be connected to the outside for ventilation. Its a single aspect apartment and I guess it fits nicely into the press in bedroom one. It would be exposed on a wall in bedroom 2 or in the living area.

I think this probably explains why its on this wall. Are boilers ever placed on the balcony? (I presume not)

Askthe EA

JJJackal wrote: »

The boiler has to be connected to the outside for ventilation. Its a single aspect apartment and I guess it fits nicely into the press in bedroom one. It would be exposed on a wall in bedroom 2 or in the living area.

I think this probably explains why its on this wall. Are boilers ever placed on the balcony? (I presume not)

They absolutely are.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Templegrove,+Ardarrig,+Co.+Cork/@51.8669961,-8.4324452,3a,35.1y,201.89h,114.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sI2PSFS1rUCgFZVrd-wBG-w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x484485686d904cfb:0xb1b939c38fb23aa7!8m2!3d51.8663135!4d-8.4321594

tricky D

I have a new boiler in my bedroom press and the noise is minimal. It kind of purrs and has never woken me at all and I have insomnia but not at boiler going on time. A bit of rain or wind would be noisier.

Ventilation and carbon monoxide monitors/alarms are obvious considerations.

JJJackal

Very interesting especially re boiler outside

Xterminator

As long as its not your bedroom!

Effects

Your apt probably has a pump elsewhere that will drown out the noise from the boiler anyway.

JJJackal

Effects wrote: »

Your apt probably has a pump elsewhere that will drown out the noise from the boiler anyway.

What do you mean a pump elsewhere?

Not mine yet

seamus

There's not much noise from a modern boiler. It's more of a comforting hum (like the sound of a fire) than a loud rattling noise.

Your main concern is if it's a combi boiler then it'll kick in whenever anyone turns on a hot tap. If you're living with someone else then you'll find the boiler firing in at all times of the day and night.

Effects

JJJackal wrote: »

What do you mean a pump elsewhere?

Not mine yet

A booster pump to give water pressure, as you probably don't have a tank feeding from an attic.

Askthe EA

Effects wrote: »

A booster pump to give water pressure, as you probably don't have a tank feeding from an attic.

Possibly not if a combi boiler.

yer man!

My sister's apartment had this and it drove me mad anytime I stayed there. The boiler was probably about 10 years old and you could hear it fire up in the morning which would wake me. Personally it would be deal breaker for me on a property if I wasn't able to relocate it to a different room.

EdgeCase

Modern boilers don't have any open connection between the room and the combustion chamber. They draw air in from outside and exhaust fumes outside. There were non-sealed type boilers in use not all that long ago however, and they are potentially dangerous. I would not sleep in a room like that without a working carbon monoxide detector and alarm, even with a balanced flue. You can still get leaks and so on.

No boiler operates silently. They're quiet and you wouldn't notice them in a kitchen, but they all have a fan that runs to move air and exhaust gasses through the combustion chamber and they all have actuated gas valves and water valves and relays controlling igniters and so on. All of those click and buzz and snap. You'll also get expansion noises as the boiler heats up 'tap tap tap' type sounds and cools down.

They really shouldn't be in a bedroom. At best it will be like having a loud fridge in the room.

ted1

Askthe EA wrote: »

They absolutely are.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Templegrove,+Ardarrig,+Co.+Cork/@51.8669961,-8.4324452,3a,35.1y,201.89h,114.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sI2PSFS1rUCgFZVrd-wBG-w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x484485686d904cfb:0xb1b939c38fb23aa7!8m2!3d51.8663135!4d-8.4321594

Are they gas?

gctest50

ted1 wrote: »

Are they gas?

Outdoor models for years :




http://www.vokera.ie/2009/07/14/vokera-launches-balcony-boiler-to-withstand-the-elements/

Cyrus

JJJackal wrote: »

Very interesting especially re boiler outside

if you were going to look into that you would want to check that the mgt co would allow it, they may not

Effects

Askthe EA wrote: »

Possibly not if a combi boiler.

Even if it's just the cold feed from the tank to the bathroom sink or the combi boiler?

JJJackal

Cyrus wrote: »

if you were going to look into that you would want to check that the mgt co would allow it, they may not

Think this may well be a deal breaker for purchasing. Too expensive to fix and as you say even if it wasn’t expensive it probably wouldn’t be allowed

Jet Black

I've a two bed and mine is in the 2nd room. It's not ideal for a few reasons but I only really use it in the evening when there is no-one in there so noise isn't really a problem. They biggest issue I have is they room it takes up. The room is small enough so this takes up a bit of space in the room.

Brego888

Have one in my bedroom in 2 bed apartment. Never been an issue for us. Doesn't wake me up and I'd be a light sleeper.

Effects

Brego888 wrote: »

Doesn't wake me up and I'd be a light sleeper.

Clearly you aren't.

Brego888

Effects wrote: »

Clearly you aren't.

Clearly you haven't a clue

Effects

Brego888 wrote: »

Clearly you haven't a clue

Look. All I know is you think you're a light sleeper yet you can sleep through a boiler in the same room. That's not really a light sleeper.

Brego888

Boiler makes little to no noise and is consistent unlike other sudden noises that wake me up. Not that difficult to understand.

Black_Knight

We bought our house with the gas Combi boiler in the bedroom. Immediately replaced the boiler and moved it out to the shed. Most the expense was on the new boiler itself as lucky the shed was plumbed for a boiler (God knows why they didn't just put it there in the first place).

OP, if you think moving the boiler is an option, think about where it would go, and how it would get plumbed. You're likely talking about lifting floor boards and chasing walls to get a tidy job done. A job best done as soon as you move in rather than down the line.
You could try organiser a plumber to call in a have a look to get an idea what you're up against. They'd call out for free, but syncing up timing might be an issue considering you don't have access

Mr. Grieves

JJJackal wrote: »

Is that a big or expensive job?

Depends where you're moving it. I recently had a boiler moved from bedroom to hot press in adjoining bathroom. Wasn't hugely expensive, and as the boiler was old it was an opportunity to get a more efficient one.

It was loud enough to wake the baby when it came on, but it was old; the new one's quieter.

I wouldn't let it stop you buying the place as long as you think there's feasible place to relocate it.