New boiler help!

unclebulgaria

keystone wrote: »

Putting a rocket up it is an interesting expression and is worth preserving for posterity. But yes I guess essentially that is a very good description.

You can use an external pump with your existing arrangement. With a power shower the pump is in the unit in the shower with you (got some earplugs? ). An external pump is a more elegant (in all senses of the word) solution.

My own view - which others will, no doubt, disagree with is that combis are only suitable for flats and small houses. When you say efficienbt do you means efficiency of use or efficiency of production?

I'd say a plumber with some electrical savvy. There will be some piping alterations so that you give the pump separate feeds from all other drawoffs.

No run it off whatever you like via a fused spur.

Cheers

Couldn't put it better. Although I have fitted a Worcester 440CDi into a property with 7 students and its manages very easily, 2 showers, bath and two small loo's with basins. Incoming mains water was amazing so that helps lots.

Hoof_Hearted

I am not an expert by any means, but can't you increase the water pressure with a Megaflo type device. This should improve pressure thought the premises.

keystone

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

I am not an expert by any means, but can't you increase the water pressure with a Megaflo type device. This should improve pressure thought the premises.

An unvented cylinder works off mains pressure. Mains pressure is whatever the wter company supplies it at. Putting in an unvented cylinder will not enable you to increase the pressure in the property by a single millibar. Sorry. In any case it would also be at enormous expense compared with just pumping the existing supplies to the shower. Trying to be MSE aren't we?

Cheers

siross

Hi guys, quick update.

United Utilities came out and helped me locate the stop tap which was hidden behind a wooden fascia behind the washer! Very strange.

But anyway, the water pressure is now much, much higher now that I've turned it up to the max.

My choice now is between a combi boiler and a shower pump, I am still very, very confused.

Thanks,

Simon

macman

Why do you need to replace a perfectly good conventional Vaillant with a combi, when all you need is a shower pump?
Do you actually want a combi?

siross

It's not a Vaillant boiler, if it was I wouldn't want to replace it.

The boiler is a 7 year old Ideal branded one fitted by British Gas, it doesn't have a great reputation to say the least.

If stick with the current boiler I will need a pump at circa £400 plus I will also need a boiler cover plan which is roughly £12 a month over 5 years (the warranty of the Vaillant) that's £720 and over 7 years (the warranty of the Alpha boiler) that's £1008.

Granted they're 5 and 7 year paybacks for those amounts but it's still a fair amount of money.

Would a combi boiler literally help me in no other way other than boosting the hot water pressure upstairs? I was led to believe the heating will be better as well..

Thanks,

Simon

macman

An Ideal does put a different complexion on it, but you don't 'need' a boiler cover plan at all, just an annual service and a local independent GSR RGI.
The heating will not be 'better' with a combi. A combi can produce either hot water or heat, not both at the same time. When you turn the hot tap on, the diverter valve diverts all the output to the hot water flow. You will also be unable to use 2 bathrooms simultaneously, if this is relevant.
If you must have hot water on demand, then of course a combi is the way to go. Otherwise there are few advantages other than the space saving gained by having no hot water tank-again, if relevant.
Combis are rated by their hot water output, so any combi is adequate to power your central heating.

siross

So there's no real advantages of a combi over a hot water tank other than hot water on demand and extra space? You'll have to forgive me, all that I've been told recently is that combi boilers are the way to go...

We only have 1 (very small) bathroom and 7 radiators (very old radiators) across the house. And the kitchen obviously.

I might put the money into new, better convecting (and looking) radiators.

macman

Yes, we hear that a lot on here, installers seem to prefer them. That doesn't mean they they're necessarily better for you. Ask the potential installers what the benefits are of each system.
Combis are popular in flats and smaller properties because of the space saving, less pipework, etc.

siross

OK, I don't need to make the decision, at least I don't think.

I'm going to sort the bathroom in the next couple of weeks, both a pump and combi boiler option will work off the mains so there won't be any intrusive work required if we install a new bathroom now...

Simon