Combi, Megaflow or Cylinder - CONFUSED!

gnats_chuff

Sounds like a combi would do the job fine - any of the main brands like Baxi or Vaillant will see you right and you get the benefit that most plumbers (Sorry, Heating engineers...) will be able to fix it when it goes wrong. The longer the manufacturer guarantee, the better. Don't be fooled by cheap offers from BG or homeserve, you always pay in the end.

C_Mababejive

Shaanbles wrote: »

I'm only replacing the Baxi as I actually want to move it into the garage - I agree I boilers should last for many more years than 8! It just seems cost effective to put a new energy efficient one rather than keep this one.

So are you saying combis use more energy than cylinder boilers? Now you know why I'm so confused!!

I'm not surprised your confused.

What needs to happen is that the right appliance needs to be installed which has the ability to meet your heating and hot water needs both practically and aspirationally.

Efficiency..well we hear that word used so much but what are we really talking about? A Manufacturer might say,,may boiler model X is 98% efficient but what do they mean?

Of course as an end consumer,you dont want to hear all that stuff so to keep it simple..

If your existing combi provides all the hot water you could hope for then ;
a) have it refitted elsewhere if its economical to do so
b)have a new model fitted if you want to upgrade

If however you aspire to lashings of hot water to fill your bath,run a super power shower and wash the dishes/run the hot fill washing machine etc etc at the same time,then you could be entering high efficiency system boiler and cylinder territory.


Assuming you just want a new combi then the front runners seem to be Vaillant,Worcester and i also keep hearing very good things about Remaha.

Vaillant,for example,have a very good,informative website with a homeowners section..

http://www.vaillant.co.uk/

C_Mababejive

gas4you wrote: »

Combi's need and use a greater volume of gas when they come on for hot water, but are still over all, more efficient due to only heating the water you will actually use.

If your current Baxi is 24Kw or 28Kw, then look at having a 35Kw or bigger combi fitted.

Indeed,and they are getting bigger..!

There are a good spread of people who have such appliances which cannot reach their maximum potential simply because the network cannot supply enough gas to feed them.

Shaanbles

OK so the only thing I've definitely decided is that it will be a combi; the megaflow option adds on about £1000 and as now have to replace some guttering (another problem!) I don't have the funds!

Got two more guys coming today & tomorrow to quote and then I'll make a final decision - will probably be the make of boiler the fitter I choose has most experience in!

Thanks for all your comments