British Gas vs local plumber for boiler install??

Mutton_Geoff

Your water pressure tests were fairly meaningless unless the testers also investigated how your house is supplied. Many old terrace houses are supplied from a single main so whilst your pressure/flow might have just been OK when they tested it, it could drop dramatically when your neighbour runs their kitchen tap (have you ever noticed this happen?).

In this case a new main would be needed which involves digging the road up etc. In this case, I'd be tempted to go for a new bog standard open vented system as quoted.

I think it's perfectly OK to call any number of heating "engineers" in to give you their advice and quote. You need a system to suit your needs and that includes the budget you're working to. I've never paid for anyone to come and quote for any work that needed doing in my places.

horsepills

EliteHeat wrote: »

I hope that you make it quite clear to any tradesmen that you ask to come around that it is advice that you are after.

This is not free and neither is their time.

Not sure what you're inferring by this.
I've made it pretty clear that I'm asking for a no-obligation quote - but the quote must be based upon recommendations they make after offering advice. Otherwise I (and a lot of other people, I suspect) wouldn't have a clue what to ask them to quote for.

Most tradesmen near me offer this free of charge. They wouldn't get much business otherwise!

horsepills

Mutton_Geoff wrote: »

Many old terrace houses are supplied from a single main so whilst your pressure/flow might have just been OK when they tested it, it could drop dramatically when your neighbour runs their kitchen tap (have you ever noticed this happen?).

Yes! Every morning - when the shower goes cold. :rolleyes:

Mutton_Geoff wrote: »

In this case a new main would be needed which involves digging the road up etc. In this case, I'd be tempted to go for a new bog standard open vented system as quoted.

Sorry for asking a dumb question, but is a "standard open vented system" the alternative to having a combi?

Mutton_Geoff

Sorry for asking a dumb question, but is a "standard open vented system" the alternative to having a combi?

Yes, although a combi boiler can feed an open vented system. The problem is combis require good water pressure (and flow!). Sounds like that will be a problem in your house and both your "engineers" were wrong assuming there was sufficient of both as you've just said your shower goes cold when a neighbour turns on their tap.

A combi system would be better as you'll get unlimited hot water when you need it and not be storing it (ie wasting energy) when you don't. It does however sound like you'll need an upgrade to your water main. Local water authorities often replace your pipe with a new blue pipe free of charge if there is any lead pipe in the feed to your house, else they charge up to a maximum (about £700-800) to re-lay the main supply. It's a fairly big job and will involve lifting floors etc to get from the mains pipe (could be on the other side of your road) and into (usually) your kitchen.

As it sounds like new combi=new water main, I may be tempted to go for the simpler option. If however you're planning a major rebuild in your house (extension etc) then the former would be better and carried out at the same time as the major works.

Here's a comparison of systems:
http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/CENTRAL_HEATING_SYS.htm

horsepills

Mutton_Geoff wrote: »

Sorry for asking a dumb question, but is a "standard open vented system" the alternative to having a combi?

Yes, although a combi boiler can feed an open vented system. The problem is combis require good water pressure (and flow!). Sounds like that will be a problem in your house and both your "engineers" were wrong assuming there was sufficient of both as you've just said your shower goes cold when a neighbour turns on their tap.

A combi system would be better as you'll get unlimited hot water when you need it and not be storing it (ie wasting energy) when you don't. It does however sound like you'll need an upgrade to your water main. Local water authorities often replace your pipe with a new blue pipe free of charge if there is any lead pipe in the feed to your house, else they charge up to a maximum (about £700-800) to re-lay the main supply. It's a fairly big job and will involve lifting floors etc to get from the mains pipe (could be on the other side of your road) and into (usually) your kitchen.

As it sounds like new combi=new water main, I may be tempted to go for the simpler option. If however you're planning a major rebuild in your house (extension etc) then the former would be better and carried out at the same time as the major works.

Here's a comparison of systems:
http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/CENTRAL_HEATING_SYS.htm

Thanks - much appreciated. We only plan to stay in the house for another 3 years or so, so will probably go for the simpler option