Replacing boiler?

taram_2

Been in my new house nearly 2 months now, and finding it difficult to get my head around the boiler, previously lived in a new-ish house (built sometime in 2000's), with a combi boiler.

It's a heat only boiler from 1983 according to the paperwork, with a cold water tank in the attic and a hot water tank upstairs. What I am having trouble with is choosing the right timings so we always have hot water, we are always running out. I am loathe to put it on a few hours a day as I feel it is a waste since there is only 2 of us, but does it actually cost that much? Would I be better off getting a new combi boiler?

captainhindsight_2

Maybe try some lagging/insulation on the hot water tank to help keep it up to temperature.

Well a boiler that age is going to need replacing some time and you prob would be better with a combi boiler.

In the next couple of weeks there is a new cashback scheme coming which should pay £1k if you install a boiler + one other energy saving measure (list of measures not released yet) and if you do that work with in 12 months of moving in you get an extra £500.

So even if it does not need replacing today, it probably will in a couple of years time and this is an opportunity to get £1,500 back which may not be around when it does break down.

Also with a new boiler you will also save plenty in your space heating aswell as your water heating.

footyguy

taram wrote: »

Been in my new house nearly 2 months now, and finding it difficult to get my head around the boiler, previously lived in a new-ish house (built sometime in 2000's), with a combi boiler.

It's a heat only boiler from 1983 according to the paperwork, with a cold water tank in the attic and a hot water tank upstairs. What I am having trouble with is choosing the right timings so we always have hot water, we are always running out. I am loathe to put it on a few hours a day as I feel it is a waste since there is only 2 of us, but does it actually cost that much? Would I be better off getting a new combi boiler?

Heating up the odd tank of water you may not use is a lot less than the cost of a new boiler, that's for sure.

And most heat lost from a tankful of unused hot water usually is gainfuly used keeping the house warm anyway (even if additional heat is needed to jeep it at a more comfortable temperature)

CashStrapped

As you have just moved in, are you planning to renovate and extend in the future? If so, it may be best to wait and plan any boiler replacement when/if you make major changes.

With regard to your current set-up:

1)Work out how the system is set-up and what controls you have.

Do you just have a boiler temperature control (controls the hot water temperature).

Or do you also have a room thermostat (shuts of the central heating pump when room warms to set level).

You may also have a hot water tank thermostat, again this shuts off the hot water to the tank once it is at the required set temperature.

- Find out if you have any of these controls.

Next look at how insulated the tank is - this will determine how quickly the water cools whilst stored and unused.

If it has a loose jacket (usually red), ensure it is tightly fitted and in good condition. If it has a green foam covering, even better.

With regard to operation and best use. This depends on the controls you have and the insulation.

In a best case scenario. In winter, the boiler will heat the tank whenever the central heating is on at the same time. So this is most likely to be whenever you are in. So if you have a tank thermostat, ensure this is set to a comfortable hot water temperature.

If you do not have a tank thermostat, then you may want to try to use the main boiler temperature control to find a compromise. Too high and your radiators get nice and warm, but the tank water will get very hot. Too low and you radiators will be slightly warm but the tank will take forever to heat up.

So, in winter, you should find that the tank heats up whenever the central heating is on. A old tank may take 30-50mins to warm up (depending on main hot water temp).

If you are not using central heating yet, ensure the hot water starts heating the tank at least 1hr before you need it.

You should not worry about not using all the hot water if your tank is well insulated, as that is the point in the storage tank. It should still stay pretty hot for the whole day.


Even an old system can be operated quite efficiently, as long as you take the time to understand how it works. Take time to experiment how it works and what the controls do!

Good luck!