Is it worth putting in a Combi boiler to replace my system boiler

dominoman

I want to replace my boiler and I don't know whether to go for a Combi or a standard boiler.

I had wanted combi but the quotes are all around £4500 so now I am thinking again. To replace with a standard boiler would be much cheaper because the existing pipework can all be reused, but the problem is my tank and diverter valve are also very old, so I liked the chance to replace the lot.

My house is 4 bedroom, with 2 bathrooms (but one of those is electric shower so only one is fed from the boiler)

HappyMJ

dominoman wrote: »

I want to replace my boiler and I don't know whether to go for a Combi or a standard boiler.

I had wanted combi but the quotes are all around £4500 so now I am thinking again. To replace with a standard boiler would be much cheaper because the existing pipework can all be reused, but the problem is my tank and diverter valve are also very old, so I liked the chance to replace the lot.

My house is 4 bedroom, with 2 bathrooms (but one of those is electric shower so only one is fed from the boiler)

It's personal choice.

I prefer the smaller standard boiler with a hot water cylinder.

The advantages I like are....the hot water cylinder has an immersion element so in the event of boiler failure you still have hot water until you can get an engineer in to fix. The boiler can be fitted anywhere and timed to run for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening which is more efficient than having stop start operation throughout the day. The heat that does escape from the cylinder contributes to the heating of the house and in winter is not wasted. I have always got hot water faster from a cylinder than waiting for a combi to heat the water wasting less water. You can get combi's with a preheat function to prevent that but that makes them less efficient overall if you don't use much hot water. Standard boilers are smaller and quieter than combi's sized to meet the maximum demand. Hot water cylinders give a very high flow rate allowing the use of power showers and baths fill quickly. You may need to upgrade the gas supply pipe adding cost on to the installation if you choose a combi.

Combi's do have advantages....one being unlimited hot water and if you don't use much hot water you don't have heat losses from a cylinder.

My ultimate choice would be a storage combi. They have an integrated tank giving you lots of hot water on demand.

keith969

I've never wanted a combi boiler for precisely the reason that there is no hot water cylinder. If the combi goes wrong, then you have no hot water. Whereas with a hot water cylinder, if the boiler breaks down you can still use the immersion heater for hot water.

SuzieSue

I agree with the previous posts. Heating engineers kept advising me to change to a combi and I am glad that I didn't.

The only advantage to changing would be that I wouldn't have tanks in the loft, but the disadvantages outweigh that.

I have also heard that combis don't last as long as system boilers but I am not sure if that is true.

dominoman

Thanks. In that case I think I'll stick with my conventional boiler. It should be much much cheaper than switching to combi, even if I have to replace some parts in the old water tank cupboard.

keith969

SuzieSue wrote: »

The only advantage to changing would be that I wouldn't have tanks in the loft, but the disadvantages outweigh that.

Actually you don't need tanks in the loft if you don't have a combi boiler - I have a pressurised unvented system that has a hot water cylinder but runs at mains pressure. Just as well, as I have no loft...

SuzieSue

keith969 wrote: »

Actually you don't need tanks in the loft if you don't have a combi boiler - I have a pressurised unvented system that has a hot water cylinder but runs at mains pressure. Just as well, as I have no loft...

Thanks, yes. I have been thinking about getting a pressurised cylinder as my shower pressure isn't great, but I always worry about changing anything that I don't really have to as there are too many things that can go wrong.

That's another reason why I wouldn't change to a combi boiler and why I wouldn't have solar panels etc.

I just don't trust the skill of most workmen in the UK because we haven't invested in training for decades. There are some excellent tradesmen but they are few and far between and are impossible to get hold of as they are so busy.

Alias_Omega

I went from a Floor Standing System to a Combi, inc relocating the boiler to a new location, removing the hot water tank, cold water tank and making good all pipework. New gas from the meter to the boiler too. This included bricking up the old hole in the wall, and rendering inside. Also the installation of a new rad which we supplied.

The boiler was a Ideal Logic 30+ with 7 years warranty, magna-clean, filter...

£1850.... inc Vat.

(4 bedroom house, 1 lounge, study, kitchen, 2 bathrooms)


£4500...British Gas?

Silver-Surfer_2

Alias_Omega wrote: »

I went from a Floor Standing System to a Combi, inc relocating the boiler to a new location, removing the hot water tank, cold water tank and making good all pipework. New gas from the meter to the boiler too. This included bricking up the old hole in the wall, and rendering inside. Also the installation of a new rad which we supplied.

The boiler was a Ideal Logic 30+ with 7 years warranty, magna-clean, filter...

£1850.... inc Vat.

(4 bedroom house, 1 lounge, study, kitchen, 2 bathrooms)


£4500...British Gas?

Going to all that trouble, why didn't you fit a decent boiler?

southcoastrgi

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

Going to all that trouble, why didn't you fit a decent boiler?

Because then it wouldn't have been £1850

Alias_Omega

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

Going to all that trouble, why didn't you fit a decent boiler?

I do love people like this who post and run away.....

Any suggestions? The main purpose was to remove a floor standing ideal mexico heat only boiler. As we lived in a Dormer Bungalow, the cold water tank and upstairs shower were at the same height which meant that it wasnt very good, and a noisy pump was required. Having 4/5 bedrooms in the house meant that any water within the hot cylinder was gone after 2-3 people and would cause many arguements.... so hey presto... new combi boiler, magnaclean, a nest and were away in the land of unlimited hot water...and a 7 year warranty...

So that boiler...what is it? How much is it, and how long will it last? Im sure in 7-10 years a new Ideal Logic 30+ will be £1200 to supply & fit, maybe cheaper....with another 7 yr warranty...