Best boiler location- utility or hot press upstairs?

ba3

Hi All,

I'm looking for some advice and/or opinions on combi boiler installation in hot press upstairs instead of having it in utility room downstairs.

I've decided to replace my old boiler with good quality combi one and will have reputable installer doing the work but have second thoughts on boiler location.
House is standard semi d house.

Currently boiler is in small utility room downstairs by the kitchen located on the wall with pipes and vent cutting through wall and connected to gas meter withing 3-4m.
I will be getting rid of the hot press cylinder and will have more space in hot press room upstairs available ( size appx 1m wide), pump will be installed in hot press though anyways.

I'm looking for some advise on moving boiler. Installer suggested that option of moving it up,(hot press is directly above utility).

I see below pros/cons :

Pros:

1. More space in utility room downstairs
2. Boiler hidden from view
3. Less hot water heat loss as boiler closer to bathrooms and tanks in attic
4. Hot press used for boiler and pump potentially it wouldn't be used efficiently anyway with some random shelving in it as is now.

Cons:

1. Additional gas pipe and vent pipes to be running upstairs on outside wall 3-4 m up ( any safety issues with that?)
2. If potential leak happens might be hassle with ceiling leak in utility
3. Is ventilation good enough to have boiler in hot press
4. Safety and noise concern around sleeping in bedrooms near boiler upstairs.
5. Need of occasional folks going upstairs for boiler check etc.
6. Any issues with heating system controls in upstairs location

I'm not an expert so any advise/comments would be much appreciated.
Many thanks!

salmocab

Leave it in the utility, presumably your getting rid of a hot tank which gives you a whole cupboard upstairs for storage. We did this and the space upstairs is great.

beauf

Personally I'd leave it where it is. It's a lot of cost for very little gain if any.

banie01

salmocab wrote: »

Leave it in the utility, presumably your getting rid of a hot tank which gives you a whole cupboard upstairs for storage. We did this and the space upstairs is great.

+1 on this.
We added a small rad and some hanging rails for airing to ours as well as building out a whole new storage/shelving setup.

DGOBS

As well, you might find it a little noisy in the hotpress if by the bedrooms and someone turns on a hit tap while your asleep.

Tom44

Boiler needs to be installed on an outside wall, if not you have expensive flue ( chimney) and you would need to get gas pipe to hot press while complying with current gas regulations.

DGOBS

Boiler needs to be installed on an outside wall, if not you have expensive flue ( chimney) and you would need to get gas pipe to hot press while complying with current gas regulations.

While this is preferential and a much better and cheaper solution (and should always be the first choice), there is no regulation that the boiler needs to be on an outside wall.
If installed in a hotpress in an upper room, which has no outside wall, vertical flueing is a very acceptable alternative.

DGOBS

DGOBS wrote: »

While this is preferential and a much better and cheaper solution (and should always be the first choice), there is no regulation that the boiler needs to be on an outside wall.
If installed in a hotpress in an upper room, which has no outside wall, vertical flueing is a very acceptable alternative.

Longer the flue the more potential risk.

DGOBS

Longer the flue the more potential risk.

Agreed.