Will boiler replacement be straightforward?[Conventional to combi]

quatro

In the property I hope to buy there is a wall hung conventional Ideal boiler on a kitchen wall which is about 20 yrs old, and it's bulky.
Is it quite straightforward [and therefore wouldn't involve too much in labour charges] to keep it in the same place but replace it with a newer slimmer model conventional model - or would changing over to a combi boiler be just as simple?

Thanks - dont know lots about boilers, just that I've had 2 worcester/bosch combi's before and they were excellent.

RedOnRed

If you have a conventional boiler I wouldn't convert to a combi. One of the main selling features of a combi is the space saving aspect ie, you do away with a cylinder and the tanks in the loft, but if you've already got those there's no point.

In my view you can't beat a conventional boiler with the speed of being able to run a bath nicely or add a shower.

We had a Worcester Bosch 28HE conventional system boiler installed last April and it's been great so far.

quatro

I would like to do away with the cylinder and tanks in the loft preferably - and gain a large space in the airing cupboard.....but open to both options at the moment.

alanobrien

If you need the space then a combi is the way to go just be aware of there limitations in terms of hot water flow rate and no back up facility i.e. tank with heater.

On the plus side it should be more cost effective to run that your old boiler.

dennyboy

Hi Quatro, I have just switched from conventional system to Combi (Vaillant boiler) it is great, instant hot water and you only pay for what you use. Plus loads more room in the cupboard, and loft. I bought the boiler myself (plus flue and stat) and the plumber converted it for me. took 3 days.

Just been discussing this on a thread today http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=1451508#post1451508

penrhyn

Combi boilers have more accociated pipework that conventional boilers as they are providing hot water as well as CH.
i.e. 1 Cold Water in, 2 hot water out, 3 CH in, 4 CH out, 5 Gas supply. 6 Condensate Drain, 7 Over Pressure Blow off.

When we had ours replace we also needed a larger bore gas pipe from the meter.

economiser

If you switch to a combi make sure you have good mains water pressure. Otherwise you may find that there is insufficient water available to supply hot water to more than one outlet at a time. If you are having a shower and a tap (hot or cold) is turned on somewhere else in the house you hot shower can suddenly become cold. Do any of your neighbours have a combi? It might be worth having a chat before you decide.