New boiler placement

phil24_7

My current boiler is situated upstairs in my en-suite. It is probably approaching 20 years old, is noisy and temperamental so needs replacing.

I was planning on replacing it when I redo my kitchen (in probably a year or twos time) and relocating it to the corner where all the pipes run upstairs.

I also have the options of putting upstairs in my unused attic (possibly with a hot water tank fed by my solar panels) or downstairs in my cellar (which is ground level in the garden) or even in my garage (which is on the side of the dinning room, just behind the kitchen).

What are the pros and cons of each, and what would you recommend?

Regards
Phil

southcoastrgi

If you have existing solar panels feeding a cylinder as opposed to PV panels & if your water pressure is good enough I'd go for a unvented cylinder, personally I hate boilers in lofts, putting it in the basement could have issues with the condense pipe & flue, in the garage you will need a way to get the pupework back to the house, most things are doable abet at a price

prosaver

I would put it in the loft .. but the installer might say u cant as its a hard job for him.. dont listen to him , they tried that on with my brother in law.

EssexExile

In the garage, easy to get at, whatever noise (or mess when it gets old) it makes doesn't matter. Why put it in the loft where the boiler man doesn't want to go - he'll charge more or just not turn up.

thescouselander

Putting it in the loft doesn't sound like a good idea as the boiler will need to be accessed occasionally. A lot of boilers have the controls on the boiler itself but even if you have a remote setup you'll still need to check the system pressure occasionally and top up if necessary.

Putting it up in the loft is going to make all that impractical unless you've got easy access.

SuzieSue

I would always have it in the kitchen or preferably in a utility room as it is easy to reach if it needs re-pressurising.

phil24_7

southcoastrgi wrote: »

If you have existing solar panels feeding a cylinder as opposed to PV panels & if your water pressure is good enough I'd go for a unvented cylinder, personally I hate boilers in lofts, putting it in the basement could have issues with the condense pipe & flue, in the garage you will need a way to get the pupework back to the house, most things are doable abet at a price

I do not currently have a cylinder but I am seriously considering adding one as most of my solar is not used due to both me and my wife working full time! I would use it to heat the cylinder and then this would feed through the boiler (hence the idea of putting it in the loft as there is plenty of room). The loft is large with a good loft hatch/ladder, the boiler and tank could be mounted close to the loft hatch, above the bathroom/en-suite and likewise the kitchen and I would board out this area for easy access.

I think a flue and a condensate pipe could be accommodated in the cellar as the house is on a slope and the drains pass under the cellar/extension and down through the garden. The flue could exit to the side of the property, through the back or even under my raised deck (depending on the regulations).

The garage is my least favourite idea as running pipework to this would be the hardest and least practical. It is attached but to come straight through the wall would mean pipework coming through the walls in the dining room and taking it down through the floor would mean a very long run for pipework.

The kitchen is the most obvious choice as it is right next to water main but it is difficult to get the gas to as I would need to run it behind my fitted kitchen units and up through the boxed in corner as currently the gas pipes and the central heating flow and return run up through another room!

phil24_7

EssexExile wrote: »

In the garage, easy to get at, whatever noise (or mess when it gets old) it makes doesn't matter. Why put it in the loft where the boiler man doesn't want to go - he'll charge more or just not turn up.

I have 2 or 3 boiler men that are friends of the family so this wont be an issue. If it was then there are plenty more plumbers out there vying for work!

robatwork

So many boilers are in kitchens, and all it does is take away valuable storage. I don't know why we don't put boilers in bathrooms. I think it's just tradition, as is so much that's wrong about house design here in general.

EssexExile

phil24_7 wrote: »

....there are plenty more plumbers out there vying for work!

I wish it was like that around here, getting a good plumber is not easy. As you have boiler man friends, ask them where to put the boiler.

SuzieSue

phil24_7 wrote: »

If it was then there are plenty more plumbers out there vying for work!

Yes, but are they any good? The good ones are booked up for weeks ahead.