Help with my boiler dilemma

beekaa

I'm in a bit of dilemma here as my contractor already stripped out my bathroom before discussing with me a vital issue, which is the water pressure is not enough for mixed tap shower as I wanted to get rid of the electric shower.

I've been given 2 solutions - either getting combi boiler, or installing a pump for hot tank. The boiler I currently have is standard and fairly new - only 2 years old.

However, I heard about the risk of either option pressurizing the pipes causing burst or leak. The house was built in 30s and was rewired and replumbed before but I don't know for how long.

I'm pretty scared of the idea of ripping off my new flooring to fix up some leaks.

So what do you think? Is there an ideal solution for this?

Thank you.

youtheman

I did up my bathroom a few year ago. Got rid of the electric shower and fitted a thermostatic mixer instead. Installed a pump in the hotpress but it only fed the shower. So a new section of pipe had to be run up the wall of the hot press, across the attic and down behind the stud wall in the shower. So if you have a stud wall where your shower mixer is going it a relatively simple job. If its' a solid wall then you might have to remove some tiles and chase the pipe into the wall. But putting in a combi boiler is a far more expensive and disruptive solution.

beekaa

Thank you so much! That's what one of the plumbers recommended to me but he said it will cost 2k. For combi, I've received different quotes between 5k and 9k so it's all so expensive to me.

Can I ask how much it cost you back then?

Thank you.

youtheman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123261327#Comment_123261327

A few hundred euros back then. You'll get a pump for maybe 200 euros. Depending on plumbing, I would estimate maybe 500 to 1000. That's just my 'finger in the air' estimate. But it will be considerably cheaper than the combi boiler option.

Combi boiler will give you unlimited, instant, hot water. That is it's main advantage. With the mixer you have to pre-heat the water (either with immersion, solar or central heating). Factor this into your decision also. So it's not all about money!

winklepicker2025

A good ST pump or walrus pump will cost you between 400-500.

Plumber would be similar depending on how close the bathroom is too the hot press.

in2dark

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123263706#Comment_123263706

Would the combi need a pump though?

Looking to replace my old system boiler with a combi and redo my bathroom. Want to get rid of the elctric shower and buy a quality german mixer shower.

All bathroom contractors told me i need a pump, some rgi contractors told me combi cannot be connected to mains and a pump after the tank is needed and some other rgi contractors told me i have super strong mains pressure and they can connect the combi to the mains and happy days

Im soooooo confused...

Any hint?

youtheman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123358146#Comment_123358146

There is no tank with a 'Combi Boiler', that's the whole idea of them. I just looked up the installation manual for a Vokera Combi Boiler and it sates that there is a pump already built into the combi boiler. Also states that your thermostatic mixer must be compatible with a combi boiler. It can take between 8 bar and 0.5 barg water inlet pressure, and it will automatically regulate the flow.

Lenar3556

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123358146#Comment_123358146

The correct way to do it is to pump water to the combi boiler.

Connecting directly to the mains may work in some cases, but there are risks associated with doing this and the arrangement doesn’t comply with building regulations.

Lenar3556

He’s referring to a cold water storage tank (likely in his attic). A pump should be fitted to the outlet from this and pump to the combi boiler.

There isn’t an integral domestic hot water pump in a combi boiler. The Vokera literature you refer likely relates to a circulation pump on the heating circuit.

monseiur

Seeing that your house was built in the 1930's and re plumbed since is it possible that most if not all pipework is surface mounted ? If yes you may have easy access to the pipes supplying your shower - you could fit something like a Stuart Turned pump on these specific pipes. It's an on demand pump which basically means that it will kick in automatically when you turn on the shower, so no need to worry about switching it on and off. These pumps are not exactly cheap ranging from €300 to €500 but they last for years - you basically fit and forget !

monseiur

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123360956#Comment_123360956

oops excuse type - The pump is Stuart Turner (not Turned !)