Boiler relocation - where too!?

b830ag2

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone out there had any similar experience of my quandary, or atleast expert knowledge in order to provide advice, as I am in need of help!

In summary, I am trying to decide whether to relocate my boiler during it’s replacement in the next few weeks...and if so…where too…

My current boiler (standard, heat only, vented system, >10yrs old) needs replacing. It is currently located in the kitchen, wall-mounted and boxed in by veneered chipboard ‘cupboard’. Flue is straight through the outside wall to the drive.

One plumber who gave me a quote suggested I change the system to a sealed system and get a combi boiler. This suggestion has appeal because it means we can get rid of the hot water cylinder, and the two feeder/header tanks in the loft. So I think I am sold on this suggestion. He also suggested that I situate the new boiler in the airing cupboard upstairs, where the current hot water cylinder is. This does have it’s merits as this would create more space in the kitchen and would allow a new radiator to be put in where the current boiler is located. Currently the kitchen does not have a radiator and is very cold in the winter (extension, 3 external walls, 2 of which with BIG single glazed wooden framed windows in), as currently there is no space for one to go! However….I am concerned about locating it in a bedroom. Currently the bedroom with the airing cupboard is not inhabited, my son (4) and daughter (1) are in another room, but I guess one day we may decide to move one of them in there…and it may disturb their sleep.

The only other option, I think, is putting it in the ‘utility’ room. This is a small 4’x4’ room adjacent to the kitchen, with the washing machine and tumble dryer in, however this would also involve extensive work to re direct gas and water piping. If the boiler stayed in the kitchen or went in the airing cupboard upstairs, then the pipe re-work would be relatively minimal as they are currently situated above/below one another.

So……does anyone have any opinion’s on what I should do? Any advice would be gratefully received…..

Thanks,
Andy.

Myrtle

Personally I wouldn't put it in the bedroom as boilers can be very noisy and I'd be worried about carbon monoxide (although obviously you can get monitors cheaply these days). I'd put it in the utility and pay the extra.

Ours is in the cellar.

ormus

modern combi boilers are commonly RS types. (room sealed).
ie all burning/waste is cut off from the room. its only open to the outside intake and flue.
hence you dont even need an air vent in the same room.

WestonDave

We moved ours to the downstairs toilet - sits in a cupboard on the wall above the cistern (which is in a cupboard type unit so the two cupboards appear to match). Makes good use of otherwise dead space - but we are lucky in having solid internal walls to hang it on.

Canucklehead

b830ag2 wrote: »

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone out there had any similar experience of my quandary, or atleast expert knowledge in order to provide advice, as I am in need of help!

In summary, I am trying to decide whether to relocate my boiler during it’s replacement in the next few weeks...and if so…where too…

My current boiler (standard, heat only, vented system, >10yrs old) needs replacing. It is currently located in the kitchen, wall-mounted and boxed in by veneered chipboard ‘cupboard’. Flue is straight through the outside wall to the drive.

One plumber who gave me a quote suggested I change the system to a sealed system and get a combi boiler. This suggestion has appeal because it means we can get rid of the hot water cylinder, and the two feeder/header tanks in the loft. So I think I am sold on this suggestion. He also suggested that I situate the new boiler in the airing cupboard upstairs, where the current hot water cylinder is. This does have it’s merits as this would create more space in the kitchen and would allow a new radiator to be put in where the current boiler is located. Currently the kitchen does not have a radiator and is very cold in the winter (extension, 3 external walls, 2 of which with BIG single glazed wooden framed windows in), as currently there is no space for one to go! However….I am concerned about locating it in a bedroom. Currently the bedroom with the airing cupboard is not inhabited, my son (4) and daughter (1) are in another room, but I guess one day we may decide to move one of them in there…and it may disturb their sleep.

The only other option, I think, is putting it in the ‘utility’ room. This is a small 4’x4’ room adjacent to the kitchen, with the washing machine and tumble dryer in, however this would also involve extensive work to re direct gas and water piping. If the boiler stayed in the kitchen or went in the airing cupboard upstairs, then the pipe re-work would be relatively minimal as they are currently situated above/below one another.

So……does anyone have any opinion’s on what I should do? Any advice would be gratefully received…..

Thanks,
Andy.

Good morning: it depends on what is more important to you , freeing up space in the kitchen and heating the room or spending less money. The bedroom should be the choice of last resort as some combis can be quite loud,usually the lower end of the market.The Vaillant Ecotec Plus 831 and Viessmann Vitdoens 200 series combis are quiet.

HTH

Canucklehead

carly

following on from this q....
does a boiler have to go on an outside wall.? I would like to free up space in my kitchen when I relace my current boiler but the best location for me would be in my airing cupboard which is in the centre of the house at the top of the stairs..

Canucklehead

carly wrote: »

following on from this q....
does a boiler have to go on an outside wall.? I would like to free up space in my kitchen when I relace my current boiler but the best location for me would be in my airing cupboard which is in the centre of the house at the top of the stairs..

Good afternoon: No, it doesn't but the location of the boiler depends on many factors: see more here.

HTH

Canucklehead

b830ag2

Hi all,

Thanks for the advice!

I have decided (cost permitting), to relocate the boiler position to within our small utility room.
There seems to be quite a lot of advice/thought upon NOT locating the boiler within a bedroom cupboard, and after a lot of thought I tend to agree. So the options remaining are the utility room or to keep the existing location within the kitchen.

Considering the utility does have adequate space for it, and relocation would free up space in the kitchen and allow the introduction of a new radiator, I think I am going to go for relocation. It may cost a bit more, but seeing as the boiler is going to be in place for (fingers crossed) another 15 years, we might as well bite the bullet and do it now whilst the system is undergoing maintenance/upheaval.

HOWEVER! …I am now trying to decide whether the update the system to a sealed system, with combi boiler.

We currently have a vented system with a heat only boiler. One plumber that has quoted has recommended we get a combi boiler and change to a sealed system. This does have it’s merits….instant hot water, no storage cylinder, no tanks in the loft. Although there are a few potential disadvantages also, and I was hoping someone might be able to offer advice?

We have a 4-bed semi, 1928 construction, solid brick walls. Currently 11 radiators throughout, 6 upstairs, 5 downstairs. I want to add one downstairs (kitchen), because it gets really cold compared to the rest of downstairs, which in turn is generally colder than upstairs too, which gets quite warm. There is one bathroom (shower and bath and sink for hot water) and one WC room (small sink). We also have one sink in the kitchen. Our current standard condensing boiler is rated at 18kW. We have been quoted for a combi condensing boiler, rated at 24kW, with hot water flow rates of 11.5 l/min @35deg.

My concerns are;

Boiler size
Although 24kW is larger than the current 18kW boiler, a combi would also have to cope with the hot water heating. Add the fact I would like to add a radiator to the kitchen, I am concerned that 24kW would not be enough for my system

Boiler hot water flow
The 11.5 l/min rating at +35deg…..is this enough for three sinks, a bath and a shower? I’ve no idea…
The bath would never be running at the same time as the shower, but it may be that one or two of the sinks may require use at the same time the bath is running

Boiler expansion tank
Is the in-built 10 litre expansion tank sufficient for a 4-bed system, comprising 11 or 12 radiators?

System leakage
Has anyone out there ever upgraded from a vented system to a sealed system? What are the risks of getting a system leak following conversion to higher pressure system?

Shower pressure
We currently have a thermostatic shower driven by a separate pump. I am aware that this pump would have to be removed for a sealed system and the shower should be linked directly to the pressurised hot and cold supplies. Will we still get good pressure through the shower in a sealed system?

I think that’s it.

I’m going to get a free quote from British Gas and maybe NPower too. I think they will come in with ridiculous quotes, but atleast there will be the opportunity to quiz them on my concerns and get their opinion for free.

Thanks,
Andy.

EliteHeat

A 24Kw combi will not give you a flow rate of 11.5 lpm with a raise in temp of 35 degrees, it will give you 9.8 lpm.

I would not recommend a boiler of this size for anything other than a 1 bedroom flat, maybe not even then. It will struggle in the winter to give a half decent rate of hot water.

If you really want a combi and your water pressure / flow rate justify it, then get at least a 31Kw one, and make sure the gas line is upgraded to allow it to work properly.

andrew-b

b830ag2 wrote: »

I’m going to get a free quote from British Gas and maybe NPower too. I think they will come in with ridiculous quotes, but atleast there will be the opportunity to quiz them on my concerns and get their opinion for free.

Don't know about npower (suspect may be same though), but you'll be wasting your time getting BG in. They send a "salesman" not someone with much knowledge of boilers! I caught the one they sent me out with a few technical questions that he was completely clueless on! Though TBH the guy they sent us was a bit of an insult to salesmen! He spent ages in the toilet (couldn't help but hear he was making a personal call on his mobile in there!), had a non-working printer that left him helpless and making multiple calls to try sort it. He was going to have to go away and come back (by then i was getting fed up!) so I lent a printer cable before he could even give me a quote. Gave the quote on the spot..and then there was the claim that i needed a new hot water cylinder based on tapping it gently with a finger and claiming to hear "chalk" in it. He wouldn't quote without cylinder...i had 3 other quotes made by proper heating engineers..not one of them mentioned the cylinder being a problem - 3 years later still not a problem. Then the priced about £2k above everyone else....which was after their "discounts" ..where i had limited time to take up the discount else i'd "miss out". Despite telling him the price was £2k too much he said "well it's ok because you can get it on credit" mmm ok still more than £2k too much!!! I took my printer cable back and sent him packing within about 30 seconds. A total farce!

Seriously just cancel the appointment with BG ..you won't regret it!

bockster

hi there,
nobody has mentioned the loft, if you have a loft? have you considered this? there are requirements when installing in the loft though.
bockster