Showers running from combi boiler...

9wizard9

Just seen a place we like, but one of the concerns I've got is that the showers appear to be mixer showers fed from the main hot and cold water supply. As far as I can tell there are no water tanks (hot or cold), so it will be relying on mains water pressure and hot water from the combi boiler.

My question:
Is it normal to run showers from a combi boiler - are modern boilers up to the job? From memories of my previous house, combi boilers were very sensitive to other taps running - any drop in mains pressure and the water would start to run cold.

Am trying to get the vendor's permission to turn on the water supply (house currently unoccupied) so we can test, but was eager to tap the knowledge of the experienced people on here.

Any ideas? Should I be concerned?

poppysarah

You'd need to know the power output of the boiler and probably give it a try.
You could ask a plumber if they think it's a powerful enough boiler to work well.

Water off? Gas might be too.

delmar39

Our current boilder isn't a combi and the shower pressure is awful. We're off to a new build in a couple of weeks (fingers crossed) and it's a combi boiler with showers feeding off this. I asked the same question as you to our builders and spoke directly to the plumber and he said that the shower pressure would be absolutely fine and it's perfectly normal to do this. Having a combi boiler means that you don't have to heat water seperately therefore you should save some money on bills. As long as they have a decent boiler you shouldn't have any problems according to the advice I received (and as my brother in law works for the small building firm who's building our house and I know all the 'lads' working on it, I trust their advice).

Colincbayley

There are some very good showers out there are the moment with thermostats to control the temp of the water via the combi.
If it is a modern property with an upto date boiler/shower I doubt you will have any problems.

But as they say, the proof of the pudding!! and all that...... So your best bet is to try it if you can.
( don't forget your soap and towel )

pie81

The shower in my previous place was fed off the mains and a combi boiler (it was a good new condensing combi boiler). It was great - excellent pressure and the hot water never ran out, like you can get with a tank.

If someone ran a tap or flushed the loo, the shower pressure did drop slightly but not much and you didn't get frozen or scalded.

loracan1

Can only speak from my own experience of shower coming off combi boiler - great water pressure and endless supply of hot water, if water is run off elsewhere it drops pressure but temperature is constant (old electric shower would run hot/cold). Downside is if boiler out of action no hot water.

LittleMissAspie

Like others have said really. We had a combi with no water tank in our last place and it was the best setup if you ask me. Never run out of hot water, didn't have a problem with shower pressure, well it might seem weak if you're used to a power shower or something, but it was stronger than our current electric shower.

You couldn't have the washing machine on or run the hot tap much. But that's no different to here. If our washing machine is on, our electric shower runs hot and cold.

9wizard9

Thanks for all the reassuring replies - I was hoping that boiler technology had improved (I think my last one was over 15 years old).

Definitely not going to get as far as exchange without trying out the boiler and water pressure, but it's good to know that this may not be a problem. I'm assuming the gas is on, as I'm pretty sure the heating was running when we went round. Presumably they've just switched off the water to prevent the risk of leaks when no-one's there.

Now just need to figure out if there's really enough storage space and try to work out what it's actually worth (I'm pretty sure it's overpriced at the moment, but very hard to judge as they've done a lot of work to improve it since the last sold price. I'll probably be back soon asking for second opinions on value :-)

Thanks for all your help...

princeofpounds

Jsut another experience - our combi does loads of great hot water, but if someone else runs a tap it can be an unpleasant experience!

Great for an individual or couple, wouldn't risk it with a family without better technology.

ariba10

With most Combi boilers there can be a drop in the flow rate if another tap is turned on.

But if the mixer valve on the shower is thermostatically controlled it will not affect the water temperature.

Wih mixers you get what you pay for.

mlz1413

My combi is years old, at least 15 yrs, and I chose a shower from that as my previous home, rented house (in same area), had a great shower from its combi. The pressure was completely useless and I had real problems with the combi.

But the pressure was so bad I noticed even the toilet wouldn't refill if a neighbour was using the water, bit of a bu$$er when someone ran their washing machine!. Called out anglian water and they agreed 6 people off an old lead main was the problem and they installed a new pipe upto my door. I got the rest installed through the house which wasn't a problem as the house was being completely renovated.

So do you know if this house share water pipes?
Would you be prepared to get your own spur from the mains?
Do you want a power shower? - if so also look into having a pump installed. Even with an electric shower this may need a pump & seperate fuse in board.