Anyone in the know about central heating systems?

[Kiwi]

I'm going to replace my back-boiler system with something a bit more safer and modern. I have a 3 bed mid terrace and they are going to need to take out the back-boiler and put in a new modern one either in the kitchen or in the cuboard under the stairs.

Anyone got any idea's of likely costs so I know if i'm getting a fair price on the quotes i'm getting next week?

Any help appreciated :)

Kiwi

[AND1E]

i wouldnt go round touching your back-boiler :P


hello m8

[Ronaldo]

no idea but :x anyway

[SteveP]

You want a combi boiler (whatever they're called) type nowadays and have hot water tanks removed if thats what u have. I'm no Central Heating expert btw :P

[Bitty]

I really hope we don't see a similar situation to the cooker Kiwi :{

Back Boiler Menace : Spirit of Cooker Returns!!.

Better than the latest Lord of the Rings movie.

[~Dear Old Granny~]

Make sure (really sure) that your installer is CORGI registered. Check on the CORGI webby.

That's first and absolutely essential

Use a Potterton or Baxi boiler - Most reliable IMHO.

If you have an old fashioned hot water tank then you may want to replace it with a new energy efficient Herculag (Green foam covered pre-insulated one) style tank. You'll save wads of cash by doing this and it may be essential anyway.

If you have a water tank system (Hot water tank, tank in roof) then I'd 'suggest' that you retain this system - Combis are excellent for small dwellings, but you have NO back up water heating, restricted flow rates. For a Three bed house which might have kids I'd really suggest a traditional style system (If you have it, I guess you do).

Get a condensing boiler if you can afford it, they are far more efficient, bit dearer but far more efficient.

Chat the options over with your plumber and listen to what he says. If he's registered chances are he'll be OK.

Simple boiler replacement at a guess, we pay £1000 - 1500 London prices. Budget for £1200, but don't be surprised if you're advised to have a lot more work done than you think.

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

I recently fitted a Baxi 130 combi condensing boiler, my mate whose is a plumber (corgi, wags his tail and yaps a lot) got me some good discount, and did the final connections for me.

However, it still cost a grand for the boiler.

Beauty with the condensing boilers is that they are up to around 95% efficient, you can fit them in awkward places and use plastic flue with some, they can go in cupboards with no ventilation, but most important, for a combi they give loads of hot water on demand.

I would definately go for a combi condensing boiler, the Baxi130 gives about 13 litres a min at 35 degrees, depending on the inlet water temp, so it fills a bath pretty quick, almosts quick as a traditional system.

Only trouble you may get is dripping hot taps if you don't replace them as its on mains pressure, usually new washers do the trick

[Kiwi]

thanks guys for the info, i'll just have to see what they say. I have made appointments with about 5 plumbers so I should have a reasonable idea on likely costs and the general run down on what they all suggest.

[Cacker]

Hi,

I agree with ~DOG~ (oops unfortunate :() that a tank gives you back up, but i have always, personally, hated having a limited supply of constant hot water.

My previous house, i had installed a combi boiler, which provided on demand hot water.

tank
- finite amount of hot water, instant hot water at the tap, backup, not so efficient since you are keeping water hot at times when you don't need it. Tanks more efficient these days, but still, using energy when u dont need to.

combi
- no tank, endless supply of hot water, a delay in supply of hot water at the tap.

I prefer combis tbh. Less pipework, you have a little more space in the house due to lack of a tank, and you get endless piping hot water. I hate having to hurry my shower when someone else wants one and when the temperature starts dropping (due to cold going into tank to replace the hot you are using, thus reducing tanks temp).

If you already have a tank system, i don't see why you can't still have a combi. afaik the tank system in the roof is just to boost cold water pressure in low pressure areas and also give you a back up of cold water in case of cold water outage.

Chairs

Cacker

[~Dear Old Granny~]

I really meant that when the boiler packs up - Which it will occasionally, they all do, you have an electrical immersion heater in the water tank to give you hot water.

The one other thing is that during the summer time you can use cheapo electricity to heat your water tank and leave your combi off. That's me though - Scrooge.

P.S. Modern 'high recovery' water cylinders can reheat in 10 - 15 minutes, that's not much longer than the time it takes to fill a bath.

it's all swings and roundabouts, your plumbers will come and see your house, ask about your lifestyle and check the flow rate [not pressure] of your incoming main and advise you from there.

And there's nothing wrong with agreeing with me Cacker - As we all know I am saintly, full of the milk of human kindness and permanently right about everything. :nosmily alert:

[Kiwi]

weeey, hi Cacker long time no see :) Nice to see you still alive. ;)

Looks like i'm very limited with what I can have, two plumbers both said a roof flue going through the loft, one said combi in the loft, another said where our airing cub is now but with flue going up through loft.

Looking to be quite pricey but my main concern is safety, especially when we are considering kids in the future.