New Central Heating System Help Please

Sarah1970

Hi All you heating experts.

I really need some help. We will shortly be looking at installing a complete central heating system into our house. The house is currently a 1 bedroomed, I bathroom that we will be converting into 2 bedroomed, I bath. There is currently a hot water cylinder in the bathroom that heats the water, however we are looking at going to a combi boiler. We will need the boiler to run 5 radiators (3 x double and 2 x single).

There are so many boilers out there with different specs and wattage etc - its a minefield to say the least, so please if anyone can recommend a boiler that would be sufficient to heat a small house with 5 rads I would be very grateful. I have recommend to get a Worcester Bosch Greenstar, but again there are loads of different ones to choose from. I am also looking at something that is very cheap to run but will still keep my house nice and cosy.

I've looked at mrcentralheating.com for a package and the prices seem to be very reasonable - again though there are loads of different boilers to choose from (HELP PLEASE!!)

Many thanks in advance

Sarah

Canucklehead

Good afternoon: Any combi would have enough output to meet your heating needs whereas domestic hot water output will vary dramatically. For example the minimum size combi my OH will install is 30 kW...anything lower will give a disappointing shower and take a long time to fill a bath. He installs Vaillant and Viessmann products as they both have stainless steel heat exchangers as opposed to aluminium found in many other brands eg. Worcester Bosch.: length of warranty should also be a consideration. Gas supply could require upsizing and your mains water pressure/flow rates should be measured to see if a combi is an option.
Take a look at this guide from the EST for more info on the specification and installation of gas central heating.
If you plan to purchase a boiler yourself, find a RGI first who will agree to install an appliance etc. supplied by you. We haven't had any dealings with online suppliers as the OH purchases his boilers from plumbers' merchants.

HTH

Canucklehead

jimexbox

I would take the advice of a competent CORGI qualified plumber. They will measure each room and give a list of suitable boilers adequate to heat your home. Its not clear from your post if you intend to fit the rads & boiler yourself. A friend did and could not get a CORGI plumber to sign off the work, for obvious reasons. So if and when he comes to sell his home, he will have serious problems as a solicitor will require a CORGI certificate for the work.

space_rider

I take calls for a heating company and I would never have a combi boiler. You can buy fan heaters etc but you can`t do anything if your hot water goes. At least with a condending boiler you still have your immersion heater. I know that you can boil a kettle for hot water but many people don`t know this. I had a woman complaining that she couldn`t bath her 4 week old baby because her hot water was only tepid.

allan673

ie just had a worcester 30si fitted 2 weeks ago, cant rate it highly enough.instant hot water is great and its a good flow rate.its also cleared up the airing cupboard as the tanks been removed from there and the loft.
i also have an electric shower should the boiler get a fault, but touch wood it wont.
my dads had a worcester combi for 10 years and its never had a fault.
ive also got 2 year worcester guarantee, i may take the worcester cover after 2 years as its competitive and good cover.
i recommend the worcester 30si or 30 cdi, ive also got the mt10rf wireless stat/programmer, its so simple to use too.
i paid £1850 for it fitted all in, also including 7 x trv's, and a magnaclean filter.

Sarah1970

Thanks guys for all your help.

I do intend having a corgi registered plumber to fit the boiler and the rads, although if we can supply it cheaper then we will (my hubby in the building trade so knows there are plenty of plumbers in our area that are willing to do that)

I definately don't want to be keeping the hot water cylinder though - as mentioned we are converting from a 1 bed, 1 bath to a 2 bed 1 bath and the hot water cylinder that is currently in the bathroom is taking up loads of valuable space and we need as much space as poss - hence the suggestion of a combi boiler but just need to know which one as there are loads to choose from with different BTU?? KW?? etc etc etc etc

Thanks again

jimexbox

Remember when you have a combi, I believe you can't have a pumped shower, so you will be limited to your mains water pressure. That put me off a combi straight away, my aqualisa shower is amazing.

hippadeemo

They tend to size combis based on the hot water requirement. Usually greater than 28kW boiler to have a good shower. My last flat had a Worcester Greenstar 28i junior which was fine for a bath or shower. It does mean they are less efficient when doing central heating only since they are oversized and thus not fully utilised.

allan673

28 or 30 kw will be ample, as stated by hippadeemo the kw is more for the hot water flow rate.
i recommend the worcester 30si or 30cdi.