what type of shower can I have?

spirit

The current owner of a house I am about to buy sort of told me but i didn't write it down at the time (too much to remember, that's my excuse anyway!)

I can't remember if he said it is a combi boiler so I have to have an electric shower? the house does have a separate tank for hot water storage. So is it correct that I can't have a power shower with this type of boiler please?

macman

A combi does not require an electric shower, it depends on the boiler and shower position, pressure, and such factors.
A conventional combi does not however have a hot water storage tank-the hot water is produced on demand. So you really need to clarify what the existing system is.
A power shower is pumped off a hot water storage tank, so a combi is not suitable.

bosseyed

As above, I believe a power shower pumps water from the hot water storage tank - which you won't have with a combi boiler so thats a fail. However you don;t have to have electric, we have a combi boiler and a non electric shower. I think it depends on the pressure available in the system. Our boiler is located directly below the bathroom, so its not far to send the water which might be a factor in which shower will be best.

jennifernil

If there is a hot water tank then it is NOT a combi boiler. So you can fit a pumped/power shower I would think. I certainly would not have an electric (as in instantaneous water heating) shower.

If the cold water supply to the hot storage tank is high enough above the shower head, then you may not need to fit other than an ordinary thermoststic mixer shower.

jennifernil

Guys.....you are all missing what the OP said....."the house does have a separate tank for hot water storage"

macman

jennifernil wrote: »

Guys.....you are all missing what the OP said....."the house does have a separate tank for hot water storage"

But she also said 'I can't remember if he said it is a combi'. So somewhat ambiguous.

spirit

I had a rushed visit to the house this evening to meet a window fitter and didn't have time to look. I'll do that next time i'm there.

thank you everyone for their responses, it is appreciated :beer:

spirit

Hi,

I've been along to the house again today. The boiler is a Baxi solo 2. I've had a quick Google and it says it is a heat only boiler whatever that means?

So, shower wise, what can I have? Looking around and reading up a bit, it seems that electric showers don't seem that popular? At my current house I have a mixer shower. A power shower would be nice, but not essential.

jennifernil

The Solo 2 seems to be a conventional boiler, i.e. not a Combi. Did you see the hot water cylinder and the cold storage tank?

With a conventional boiler you can have whatever shower you like, but for a power shower there may be minimum quantity of stored water requirements, I really don't know much about power showers. Perhaps you should check that out first.

You will certainly want a thermostatic mixer shower as a minimum. I would say electric showers are a last resort, or handy with a Combi so you still have hot water even if the boiler fails.

With a conventional boiler and stored hot water, the HW cylinder is usually fitted with an electric immersion heater as a back-up.

Canucklehead

spirit wrote: »

Hi,

I've been along to the house again today. The boiler is a Baxi solo 2. I've had a quick Google and it says it is a heat only boiler whatever that means?

So, shower wise, what can I have? Looking around and reading up a bit, it seems that electric showers don't seem that popular? At my current house I have a mixer shower. A power shower would be nice, but not essential.

Good afternoon: try a Mira Platinum or Aqualisa Quartz Digital ...the OH fits both....otherwise electric e.g Aqualisa Quartz Electric or what you have now You haven't determined if the hot is from a vented cylinder (gravity fed)or unvented cylinder (i.e. at mains pressure)

HTH

Canucklehead

spirit

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good afternoon: try a Mira Platinum or Aqualisa Quartz Digital ...the OH fits both....otherwise electric e.g Aqualisa Quartz Electric or what you have now You haven't determined if the hot is from a vented cylinder (gravity fed)or unvented cylinder (i.e. at mains pressure)

HTH

Canucklehead

Eeek,vented or unvented, how would I find out which it is?

I like the sound of both the Mira and Aqualisa, I have a Mira Exel in this house and it has been a good one. Only ever replaced the cartridges once.

The set up seems to be the same as I have here with the hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard. I think the cold one in the loft as mine is here.

Tis all sounding good, thanks for your help and advice everyone. :T