No boiler at the moment - help us make the right choice!

monty100

Since our Ideal Minimiser SE (13 yrs old) was condemned by BG on Thursday we have had 4 different gas engineers round to give us quotes. As the weekend begins we are totally bewildered and finding it hard to make a rational decision, especially as we have no hot water or central heating (but gas fire in front room and an electric shower).

We have 30 yr old micro bore piping set into concrete floors downstairs (between joists upstairs). Two or three radiators (out of 12) do not heat up at bottom. One master bathroom with electric shower. One ensuite with power shower atmo.

Option 1 - replace with another condensing boiler (WB) with filter etc, remove and flush all radiators, fit new valves and TRVs to all rads. Quotes around £2300-£2600. 2-3 days.

Option 2 - replace with system boiler (WB), remove and flush all radiators, fit new valves and TRVs to all rads. Quotes around £2300-£2600. Hope that micro bore pipe work can stand the pressure and that rads de-gunge well. 2-3 days

Option 3 - the 'full monty' - WB combi boiler, and all associated works, with installation of new piping (will need boxing) and new radiators all round, plus TRVS etc. Quotes £3750 - c £6000, and time frame quotes 3 days to 5+days.

Our main concern is the state of the microbore pipes and the integrity of the system. If it copes with a pressurised system without repiping Yay. If it doesn't then we would have to deal with that. We have to factor in that we have visitors coming from the US in 6 weeks, and that option 3 will also involve removing the power shower and then making bathroomy adaptations (which was going to be the next project before the boiler went!).

I know we have to make the final decision, but what do you experts out there think? (ps the system boiler option was only made by one of our 4 quotees and was a bit of a curve ball for us).

Thanks in advance. Off to find the corkscrew. Help!

plumb1_2

All boilers now are condensing. So both the heat only and system boilers will be condensing. (1&2)

As for 10mm microbore, it will withstand greater pressure better than 15mm pipe, as it has a thicker wall. If the 10mm pipes are in the floor, if installed correctly from day one. They will be either plastic coated, and should have been wrapped to prevent any corrosion and no joints below the floor.

Imo go for 1 or 2

Mankysteve

plumb1 wrote: »

All boilers now are condensing.

Indeed the difference is mainly around combi ie instant water & heating in one or system with a tank, which is either vented or unvented system.

How many room does your property have, How many bathrooms, showers ect. Do you want a power shower in the future
what boilers are they specing your for those prices?

monty100

Thanks plumb1 - its done 30 yrs, but re joints etc the manifold is actually in the hall in the concrete floor - as we discovered 13 yrs ago when a powerflush bunged it all up and we had to have it dug up! We also have 2 capped off pipes in concrete where wall was punched through between kitchen and dining room.

plumb1_2

monty100 wrote: »

Thanks plumb1 - its done 30 yrs, but re joints etc the manifold is actually in the hall in the concrete floor - as we discovered 13 yrs ago when a powerflush bunged it all up and we had to have it dug up! We also have 2 capped off pipes in concrete where wall was punched through between kitchen and dining room.

Ar, i bet its a old Yorkshire manifold.

Then i would just go for a heat only boiler. But i would advise my customer to have the system re-piped, using 10 or 15mm drops in plastic cladding. As long term you will will has issues with the manifold in the floor.
Once repiped , flush the system and fit a magnaclean or spirotec.

monty100

Mankysteve - boilers are WB 24ri opt 1, WB 30cdi opt 2 and wb34cdi opt 3. We are 4 bed, one main bathroom one en suite and mainly only 2 of us. 12 rads. We have a power shower at mo, plus one old electric one. We know existing power sh will need to come out if combi installed. No pref for cylinder vs non cylinder. Too many decisions!