Megaflows and Boilers

cornerstone13

Hi, we are going to change the configuration of our bathrooms as part of an extension and we are on the learning curve of megaflows and boilers - would be grateful for any advice on our particular scenario as follows:

- House is 20 years old detached, four bed, 2 bath. Children have left home, now just two of us.
- Original E rated conventional gas boiler (Potterton) sited in utility room on external wall. Water storage tank in loft, immersion tank in airing cupboard on first floor. Heating by radiators.
- New family bathroom will have a shower over the bath; new en suite will have shower only, no bath. Other extension work (ie new areas to heat) involves creation of new bedroom above utility and doubling the size of the dining room on the ground floor.
- Water pressure 'normal', not particulary brilliant but certainly adequate for current needs

We would prefer practicality and economy over, say, an all singing and dancing shower that does the washing up as well (iykwim). Until recently, we'd never even heard of Megaflow. We would like a means of having hot water on demand rather than stored, as they do on the continent. We've read through the excellent Bath Academy guides as recommended elsewhere on this forum by Canucklehead.

Is a combi boiler the best way to go
Is a Megaflow system 'necessary'
What else should we take into consideration
Any "idiot's guide" web sites that you could refer us to

Many thanks

sooz

As there are only two of you, do you want to both be able to use the showers at the same time?

If not, I can't see why you'd need a megaflow. Just get a combi condensing boiler & have instant hot water.

I am not a plumber, but chose to have a combi for same house/bathroom combination, with young children. It worked fine, and we didn't have any hot water issues at all.

However, if you lose the storage tank, you will probably lose the airing cupboard. More space, but less clothes drying

Karins

I had the same dilemma recently when my hot water cylinder started leaking and couldn't decide what to do as my boiler is over 25 years old.
Had a few suggestions from people on here about combi boiler might not be sufficient when we sold the house on if a bigger family etc but in the end we went for what would suit how we live now.
I had the hot water cylinder replaced and when the boiler finally gives up the ghost we will have a system boiler.
My reasoning for this was if the boiler broke down (and I understand boilers these days last less time) then I can mange with a couple of fires for heating but I just can't hack the idea of no hot water. With my cylinder replaced I have the back up immersion so can at least wash in hot water.
As this set up doesn't give me sufficient pressure for a decent shower we had a digital pumped shower fitted and its great.
We dont spend long in it but 3 of us shower and we have never run out of water yet.
The hot water is on for an hour or so morning and evening and remains hot enough for use throughout the rest of the day.
All down to personal choice really

gas4you

For a megaflo to work properly and to get your moneys worth, you will need at least 20 l/m flow and at least 3.5 Bar cold mains pressure.

The cold supply to it will need to be 22mm and all the cold supply's to the showers will need to be plumbed back to the megaflo to make them a 'balanced' supply.

It your instance, it sounds like a 30-35Kw combi would cope easily with your hot water needs.

cornerstone13

Thanks for your responses - sounds like the Megaflow system would be a lot of extra work for not much gain.

We'll probably go for the combi boiler and agree with Karins, it's what we'd like now rather than how it would suit whoever might follow us into the house in 10 years or so.

British Gas are doing £400 off combi boilers so might contact them to come and have a look, at least we'd have an idea of the cost although we'd get it done as part of the building work

ziggyman99

Don't bother with BG - expensive. I could charge you £3500 and take off £400. Or I could just charge you £2500 like any normal heating engineer would...