Combination or conventional boiler

ivfmummy

My boilers packed up and I am considering a combination boiler but just wanted to canvass opinion. In the summer the top of the house gets very hot which would be an advantage. We are a family of 3.

Thanks for your help.

Cardew

There are several threads on the combi v conventional boiler debate and opinions are divided.

I have both(the combi in an annex) and for me personally it is a no contest - the copious supply of hot water from a Hot water tank wins every time, and my wife would not like to lose her airing cupboard.

MillicentBystander

Agreed. Conventional boiler every day of the week for me. The main problem with combis (apart from the fact they don't tend to last as long as conventional boilers and often need more maintenance) is that it's putting all your eggs in one basket - the hot water tank/immersion no longer exists and should your boiler go kaput the only source of hot water is your kettle. Not ideal.

DigForVictory

We've a combi & while all the eggs are in one basket, it's a smaller footprint & in the rare emergencies, we really find out who our friends are...
Which may sound really odd, but I quite enjoy.

DragonQ

I've had both and far prefer the traditional boiler with tank. Waiting 2 minutes for hot water is not fun, even if it might slightly reduce gas usage.

daveyjp

If you are waiting two minutes for hot water a combi should not have been specified. So your blame is with the specifier not the product.

Same for OP. They need a good RGI to visit and advise what is best for their particular property and requirements.

DragonQ

daveyjp wrote: »

If you are waiting two minutes for hot water a combi should not have been specified. So your blame is with the specifier not the product.

Wasn't my choice, I rent.

How long should it normally take?

HappyMJ

DragonQ wrote: »

Wasn't my choice, I rent.

How long should it normally take?

60-90 seconds. It probably felt like 2 minutes. A watched pot never boils.

daveyjp

Just for you I have tested ours. Boiler in kitchen, upstairs bathroom. 23 seconds for hot water to flow.

Landlords don't have to live with whatever they fit, so they fit the cheapest. I have suffered bad boilers in holiday cottages for the same reason!

DragonQ

HappyMJ wrote: »

60-90 seconds. It probably felt like 2 minutes. A watched pot never boils.

I usually turn the tap on, then go turn on my home cinema system and choose some music to play. The water is never hot by the time I get back. The length of time doesn't concern me as much as the total waste of water by running it for those 2 minutes (or whatever it may be). I don't have a garden either so it's not like I can use that water to water the plants or anything.

DragonQ

Just tested it - took 1m50s to get hot.