New Boiler in Loft, different ideas

DavidJonas

We intend to extend the house next year, double storey on the side. The boiler is in the garage right now so that will have to go. It's an old system anyway, with hot water tank etc, and we want a combi condenser.

Anyhow, I thought the loft would be a good place. The airing cupboard has the cylinder and that is under the rest of the gubbins in the loft. Get rid of the cylinder, gives us more space in the cupboard, boiler in the loft means no noise on the landing etc.

We have had two plumbers look so far and confusingly they both propose different solutions. The gas runs to cupboard under the stairs and straight through the wall into the garage. So this needs to go to the loft.

#1 says there is a pipe going there on the current setup he can use, carrying water at the moment. But that can be used for gas too. Boiler will go on chimney breast, vent through the roof.

#2 says much better to run gas pipe up outside of house, into roof from there, keep boiler close to that side of the house, on a panel. Condensate to go into gutter for now, not ideal but maybe address during extension. He says better that the gas pipe does not have too many twists and turns.

Who is right? Is #2 just trying to make it a quicker job?

Can't install boiler when extending really as garage will be demolished and dug up for foundations. That's where the boiler is now.

To complicate matters the chimney breast is currently unsupported, prior owner just knocked it all out below, left it one brick up from the loft floor, supported on a length of wood and some bricks. Need to get this properly supported first.

Myser

There have been a few threads on here recently about people having to wait a minute or so for hot water from a combi boiler in the loft due to long pipework.

Some people have the boiler in a small shed-type brick enclosure built next to the house.

penrhyn

People that I know with Combis have to keep an eye on the boiler pressure gauge and once in a while let a little water in via the filling loop, shirley if the bad boy is in the attic its a tad inconvenient.

Myser

penrhyn wrote: »

People that I know with Combis have to keep an eye on the boiler pressure gauge and once in a while let a little water in via the filling loop, shirley if the bad boy is in the attic its a tad inconvenient.

This isn't an issue as you can have the filling loop fitted at a lower level with a gauge. You may have to factor in a slight pressure difference between the secondary gauge and the boiler gauge due to the height differential.

DavidJonas

Myser wrote: »

There have been a few threads on here recently about people having to wait a minute or so for hot water from a combi boiler in the loft due to long pipework.

Some people have the boiler in a small shed-type brick enclosure built next to the house.

Yes, that is a concern, but we do anyway. The hot water tank is a long way from the kitchen.

The outhouse is an interesting idea. Can't see where it would fit into out extension plans though, but thanks for the tip.

DavidJonas

penrhyn wrote: »

People that I know with Combis have to keep an eye on the boiler pressure gauge and once in a while let a little water in via the filling loop, shirley if the bad boy is in the attic its a tad inconvenient.

Fortunately the attic is accessible, high, boarded, well lit. Not so worried about this.

I am interested whether the opinion of #2 was valid though. Is it a problem to have too many twists and turns in the gas pipe? Surely, the gas will flow regardless. It must endure a lot of twists and turns to get here from the North Sea!

Does it being outside matter? Would the gas not perhaps shrink in the cold weather and expand on a hot day? Would this alter the gas pressure?

southcoastrgi

1. how do you know a combi is suitable ? it won't run more than one or at the very max two outlets at the same time.
2. any boiler fitted in the loft is a PITA are you sure there is nowhere else.
3.yes it matters a great deal how long the gas pipe run is & how many bends it has.
4. get rid of plumber No 1 because he hasn't got a clue, under no circumstances can you use a water pipe to run gas in the same way you can't use a gas pipe to carry water.
5. you need an RGI not a plumber.
6. in a normal domestic situation the warming up & cooling down of the gas pipe won't make any difference.

DavidJonas

Thanks for your reply.

1.
If it supplies decent hot water to the shower and the bath that will do us. Not necessarily at the same time. Presumably can get one with a decent flow rate?

2.
It's difficult. We are semi detached and going to extend to the other side. So that rules out two sides of the house really, leaving front and back. Could go into the airing cupboard I guess but that still means getting gas nearly to the loft, many of the same issues.

3.
Ok, thanks. Maybe outside house is better then.

4.
Ok so the pipe can't be used for a different purpose? That shoots down #1 as you say.

The whole thing is only an issue because the current boiler is on the wall of the house in the garage and the garage, as planned, is going to be ripped down, foundations dug, drainage changed, etc. Perhaps I am overthinking it.

Maybe the best way is to incorporate the boiler into the plans and just live without heating and hot water for the duration. Not easy with young kids but maybe with cold showers for us and baths at friends houses we can get a better result.

Mr_Ted

;)To put it simply, DON'T or NEVER install a boiler in a loft, it is a problem for sooooooooooooooo many reasons;)

Hoof_Hearted

We have a boiler in the loft. No problem at all, but there is good head height. I thought there were rules that the gas pipe had to travel outside if possible rather than through the house. Stand to be corrected.

wallbash

Mr_Ted wrote: »

;)To put it simply, DON'T or NEVER install a boiler in a loft, it is a problem for sooooooooooooooo many reasons;)

Put a boiler in the loft over thirty years ago , NEVER had any problems ( sold the house to B.I.L , who rents it out)

Suggest Mr Ted tells us why we are wrong???????