Combi boiler reducing house value?

Richard_Webster

I don't think many people understand the distinctions so I wouldn't expect it to affect value.

However I wouldn't get rid of the hot water cylinder. If a lot of people are having showers etc you simply put the hot water on override and it heats the water enough to keep it hot enough in the cylinder.

Main reason for not having a cylinder is space and cost saving.

g_attrill

jennifernil wrote: »

If you have CH you would normally be heating your water with your boiler, not using an electric immersion heater. The electric one is just there as a back-up.

I was about to say... I have a "traditional" system with a 110 litre cylinder and it would do two deep & hot baths easily.

As mentioned, regardless just make sure the water heating is on and unless it's the worst boiler in the world it will heat up the cylinder quickly enough anyway.

Abbymoo

jennifernil wrote: »

If you have CH you would normally be heating your water with your boiler, not using an electric immersion heater. The electric one is just there as a back-up.

I meant when the tank runs out and you need more ASAP.

G_M

1) how long do you plan to stay there? If short term ( a year or two), then considering slae value is sensible. If longer term, just get whatever best suits your lifestyle.

2) You could put an electric shower in - then your combi boiler would only be supplying the bath (and sinks) and heating.

3) do you tend to bath or shower? If shower (which uses less water) then constantly maintaining a full cylinder of hot water which is rarely used in full, is uneconomic.

edit - just seen post above - yup! I misunderstood and have no knowledge of thermal stores!

espresso

Abbymoo wrote: »

For me a combi boiler is a must, I wouldn't want a normal cylinder at all, to me they're just awful! But then I do use a lot of hot water, there's nothing worse than your bath going cold when you're in there, engrossed in a good book and having to lie there shivering whilst the tank heats up again! Not to mention the cost of putting the immersion on in the first place. A normal cylinder would really be offputting and I'd pay more for a house with a combi boiler than a cylinder. Just my opinion

It is obvious that you and some other posters have not understood that the OP does not have a conventional hot water cylinder - it is a thermal store which works very differently!

The OP would be better getting the thermal store repaired/replaced, as it was obviously fitted in this property because a combi would be unsuitable.

Boilers should be fitted to suit the property and not the current owner. I would not want to buy the OP's house if a combi had been fitted.

Abbymoo wrote: »

I meant when the tank runs out and you need more ASAP.

A thermal store does not run out.

unclebulgaria

OP have you not considered repair as espresso has just pointed out?
There are very few major problems that can't be fixed on these thermal stores. If you could maybe give us a more detailed idea of the current problem we maybe able to give you a better option and save you a few bob.

Abbymoo

espresso wrote: »

It is obvious that you and some other posters have not understood that the OP does not have a conventional hot water cylinder - it is a thermal store which works very differently!

The OP would be better getting the thermal store repaired/replaced, as it was obviously fitted in this property because a combi would be unsuitable.

Boilers should be fitted to suit the property and not the current owner. I would not want to buy the OP's house if a combi had been fitted.



A thermal store does not run out.

Well slap my bum and call me Noreen, my bad.

G_M

Abbymoo wrote: »

Well slap my bum and call me Noreen, my bad.

Hey Noreen!

Roundabouts

espresso wrote: »

It is obvious that you and some other posters have not understood that the OP does not have a conventional hot water cylinder - it is a thermal store which works very differently!

The OP would be better getting the thermal store repaired/replaced, as it was obviously fitted in this property because a combi would be unsuitable.

Boilers should be fitted to suit the property and not the current owner. I would not want to buy the OP's house if a combi had been fitted.



A thermal store does not run out.

unclebulgaria wrote: »

OP have you not considered repair as espresso has just pointed out?
There are very few major problems that can't be fixed on these thermal stores. If you could maybe give us a more detailed idea of the current problem we maybe able to give you a better option and save you a few bob.

Many thanks for all the contributions. When the boiler/central heating system is switched on at the isolator switch the RCD trips in the consumer unit. I had British Gas around twice to try and repair it. They seemed a bit incompetent and incorrectly diagnosed a faulty heat pump. This was replaced but the problem persisted. Eventually they more or less gave and blamed it on my house wiring which to be honest seemed like a rather lame excuse because they couldn't do their job properly.

My house is only 10 years old so has modern wiring so I thought that it were rather unlikely that there was an issue with my house wiring. Anyway, I thought I'd better give them the benefit of the doubt and got an electrician (British Gas bafflingly couldn't send one of their own electricians). The electrician found that there was nothing wrong with the house wiring. Then he isolated the boiler and thermal store in turn and diagnosed the problem as being with the thermal store. So then he isolated each component on the thermal store in turn and tested it. He thought that there was something wrong with the boiler pump but that had already been replaced with a new pump by British Gas. So he could only conclude that there was an internal problem with the thermal store.

They don't make the thermal store anymore (i.e. Gledhill Boliermate II) and the later versions may be too big for my airing cupboard. Hence why he suggested a normal hot water cylinder or get rid of it completely and get a combi boiler.

I didn't know that thermal stores could be repaired internally rather than just externally, I'll have to look into that. Many thanks for reading.

espresso

Roundabouts wrote: »

They don't make the thermal store anymore (i.e. Gledhill Boliermate II) and the later versions may be too big for my airing cupboard. Hence why he suggested a normal hot water cylinder or get rid of it completely and get a combi boiler.

I didn't know that thermal stores could be repaired internally rather than just externally, I'll have to look into that. Many thanks for reading.

You need to find someone who knows about the Gledhill Boilermate II. Parts are available if you search on-line but you first need a diagnosis of what is causing your fault. There are two printed circuit boards located behind the front panel (pump drive and a delay timer) and these are prone to fail, however they can easily be repaired by simply replacing a few electrolytic capacitors. The right person will be able to repair it for you and that would be better than fitting a combi boiler.