Boiler Confusion

costingbunny_2

Hi
I am looking to put an offer on a house but cannot work out the heating system. The vendor has stated that he put in a new boiler (not sure when but think about 4 yrs ago). I asked if it was a condensor and he said yes. On exploring the loft there is a water tank? The vendor says this is so the water can be heated separated to the radiators? This sounds odd to me? There is a remote control for the heating and water in the lounge area. Any ideas?
Ta

tim_n

You can have a condensing boiler on a water tank - one of my flats has a standard boiler, but shares a water tank with downstairs who has a condensing boiler. His is fed by my tank.

Does it have a cyclinder? You can't fail to notice one of those and it may have an immersion heater.

I'm not a heating engineer btw, I'm sure someone'll be along who is though...?

penrhyn

All modern gas boilers are condensors, there are heat only boilers which give hot water using hot and cold tanks, and combination boilers which provide instant hot water.
Sounds if you have the former.

Canucklehead

costingbunny wrote: »

Hi
I am looking to put an offer on a house but cannot work out the heating system. The vendor has stated that he put in a new boiler (not sure when but think about 4 yrs ago). I asked if it was a condensor and he said yes. On exploring the loft there is a water tank? The vendor says this is so the water can be heated separated to the radiators? This sounds odd to me? There is a remote control for the heating and water in the lounge area. Any ideas?
Ta

Hi: advice is available here.

costingbunny_2

penrhyn wrote: »

All modern gas boilers are condensors, there are heat only boilers which give hot water using hot and cold tanks, and combination boilers which provide instant hot water.
Sounds if you have the former.

Thanks! Is that a good or bad thing? sorry for questions but I've already asked the vendor and feel a div asking again when he has explained it to me!

penrhyn

If you use very little hot water then a combi is probably best, however if several people are all drawing off hot water at the same time or you are trying to fill a bath a combi may struggle.
Having a hot water tank means you have a plenty of hot water available, also most will have an immersion heater as a backup.

macman

To put it another way, all modern boilers are condensers, but not all are combi's.
I'd be more concerned about the make and model than whether it is a combi or conventional boiler.
You can test the flow rate at the bath or shower to see if it matches your requirements.

Pincher

Provided you have a gas central heating condensing boiler, connected to radiators, that's the main thing sorted.

Some people worry about leaks from the loft.
I had a cold water tank leak years ago.
Had to change the bathroom ceiling, which was bulging from water. A few plaster boards, skim, a little electrical work.
New tank and plumbing connection. Not so bad.

The upsetting thing was, After paying building insurance for years, The payout was about the same as that year's premium!