Reliable Combi boiler...or ones to avoid

jennifernil

Yes, I too have been considering that!

I just looked at the guidelines again.....I missed the bit before where it said extended flues over 4 metres should not be considered. I think then that changing the flue to exit at the rear of the building, which would be about 4.8-5 metres is also a non starter?

This then only leaves us with moving the boiler to the other bedroom, which would mean huge disruption and expense. The gas supply would need to be re-routed, also some of the CH pipework.

There is absolutely no crawl-space as the floor is only about 10cm above the concrete solum(?), and all the floors are laminate, which would need to be taken up so the floor itself could be lifted for access.

maintenanceman

Go For a Biasi. They work everytime. Highly recommended

southcoastrgi

maintenanceman wrote: »

Go For a Biasi. They work everytime. Highly recommended

you are of course taking the p1ss :eek:

maintenanceman

Nope as far I can see thay are the best economical boilers and highly recomned them for thier customer sercice and excellent service.. Course I am taking the !!!!!

daveyjp

jennifernil wrote: »

Yes, I too have been considering that!

I just looked at the guidelines again.....I missed the bit before where it said extended flues over 4 metres should not be considered. I think then that changing the flue to exit at the rear of the building, which would be about 4.8-5 metres is also a non starter?

This then only leaves us with moving the boiler to the other bedroom, which would mean huge disruption and expense. The gas supply would need to be re-routed, also some of the CH pipework.

There is absolutely no crawl-space as the floor is only about 10cm above the concrete solum(?), and all the floors are laminate, which would need to be taken up so the floor itself could be lifted for access.

When you aren't used to doing a job its easy to think the job you want doing will be a nightmare. From my experience decent tradesmen have been it, seen it, done it and are able to do the job whatever is thrown at them.

In the grand scheme of things the mess and inconvenience last a few days, the benefits will last for years.

jennifernil

Normally I would agree with that, but unfortunately, it is a rather difficult situation.

The flat is, shall we say "very compact". The present boiler position is I would say, the only sensible one, it is tucked into a built-in cupboard in what is used as a study, but is otherwise a small single bedroom.

To the rear are 2 other bedrooms, another small single, and a small double. There is very little external wall space in the single, so a boiler could only go in the main bedroom.

This room is already pretty tight on space. With a standard double bed in it, there is only just enough room to be able to walk round the bed and have a bedside cabinet either side and a bookcase opposite the end of the bed.

To stick a boiler on the outer wall in one corner, which presumably would need to have a cupboard built round it, is going to seriously affect the available space in the only semi-decent sized bedroom in the flat. If the room was bigger, it would not be such a problem.

I would assume that is why the boiler is where it is now.

This assessment thing is supposed to work out whether the likely cost saving of having a condensing boiler, over the life of the boiler, compared to the additional costs in installing it, make it a sensible proposal. Since relocating the boiler to this other room scores 1060 points, it is deemed to be uneconomical according to what it says. Current gas bills are only £30 to £35 per month, including cooking, so the possible savings on the bill are not huge.

Having seen under the floor, when some work was done in the bathroom, we know that the floor joists actually sit directly on the concrete below, so to re-pipe the gas supply and sort out the heating pipes to the radiators and water pipes to the bathrooms, a large area of the floor in the bedroom would need to be taken up, and the floor in the hall cupboard, which would involve also lifting all the laminate to get to the actual floorboards. Other rooms might be involved too. Not something you want to be doing unless it is absolutely essential!

If it was possible to fit a condensing boiler in the present position, this would be ideal, but we are uncertain on the rules regarding the flue wall terminal as it presently discharges directly towards the adjacent pavement.

The condensate would need to be pumped almost 4 metres horizontally to drain into the pipe from the kitchen above, which runs in (another) duct in this room.

So even fitting a consensing boiler in the present position scores 1010 points as both an extended internal flue and condensate pump would be required.

Are plume diverters classed as part of the flue pipe, or would it be permitted to have a vertical one on the front of the building? And how close to adjacent windows are they allowed to be? Where would I go to get the answers to these questions?

We have just had 2 different gas safe installers round to quote. Both automatically proposed condensing boilers fitted in the existing position, but could not answer the question re the flue terminal position. They seemed to know little or nothing about this assessment procedure.

They were however happy to also quote for a non-condensing boiler.

How can they do that if they do not complete the assessment?

BTW....it's not our flat, it belongs to our daughter, and as a single lass, despite it being "compact", it is ideal in size for her. She just doesn't really want to spoil her bedroom by putting a boiler in it if there is another option.

southcoastrgi

bottom of page 1

http://www.a1gassafe.co.uk/pdf/TECHNICAL_BULLETIN_231.pdf

assesment guide

http://www.idhee.org.uk/ExceptionsGuide.pdf

jennifernil

Thanks, that is similar to what I have read elsewhere.

I am however still not certain what would or would not comply with the regulations!

As seen from outside,having had a quick look this morning, the current terminal is just above the top of the window height of the room where the boiler is situated, but only about 1.2 metres above the pavement level. If you lean over the fence, you could probably touch it, so it's about 1.2 metres from the pavement horizontally.

To the left of it there is the window about 1 metre away, and above that window are windows in the floor above, and then windows in the flats above that.

The plume could be diverted upwards, away from the pavement, but would this constitute a nuisance to the windows higher up. And would the diverter be thought of as a "vertical extended flue", which are apparently not permitted on the front of the building?

Are the regulations laid down by Building Control (we are in Scotland) ? I could phone them, but previous experience tells me getting a straight answer from them will not be easy!

Mr_Ted

jennifernil wrote: »

1 - How can they do that if they do not complete the assessment?

2 - BTW....it's not our flat, it belongs to our daughter, and as a single lass, despite it being "compact", it is ideal in size for her. She just doesn't really want to spoil her bedroom by putting a boiler in it if there is another option.

1 - This is a huge problem, IMHO, in the industry, there IS legislation, but very few adhere to it, how they are getting away with it is beyond me!
In your situation I think it essential to prevent any possible comebacks, were you to fit a condensing boiler, given the situation you describe, that you do have someone who can do the PROPER assessment that can, if necessary, act as proof that the right process has been adhered to, and the right type of installation is carried out for the location described!

2 - Re this, it has not been asked or mentioned, but could be relevant, this IS NOT a landlord owned property is it?

jennifernil

No she is an owner/occupier, but SHE will be looking to rent out the property in the very near future.

This is why she is looking to replace the current 12 year old boiler, rather than spend money on a repair and then have something else go wrong.

She wants to get a decent, reliable boiler so that future tenants will not be left without heating/hot water.