Condensing boiler with water tank

Laura2468

Has anyone got one? Basically I've had someone come from Npower (through the government scheme) to survey my house for a new boiler, at the minute it's a very old back boiler, gas fire and water tank upstairs. He said about putting in a condensing boiler in kitchen, still keeping the tank (having a new one) been living here a few months, I'm only really used to combi boilers, are the condensing boilers any good?! He says they are really good energy efficient.

Hoping someone can give me advise! Thsbjs so much for reading.

Browntoa

I have a standalone condensing boiler and a maxflo hot water tank

Had combi at my old place and this is miles better , instant hot water all through the house at a good pressure unlike the combi

System

All boilers installed today are condensing boilers. Small homes tend to use combi boilers without a hot water storage tank. Larger houses favour a system boiler that provides CH and heats a hot water storage cylinder.

http://blog.superwarm.co.uk/combi-boiler-vs-system-boiler-which-is-the-right-choice-for-your-home/

Laura2468

Thanks for the link, good read!

Yes it's a system boiler, don't think I was explained to very well.

I just don't want to get a boiler and it break in a few years/cost me lots of money. I've got a really old back boiler so I gues anything newer is better?!

System

Laura2468 wrote: »

Thanks for the link, good read!

Yes it's a system boiler, don't think I was explained to very well.

I just don't want to get a boiler and it break in a few years/cost me lots of money. I've got a really old back boiler so I gues anything newer is better?!

Having had a boiler installed only last week, the boiler itself is only part of the equation/cost. To avoid problems, your installer needs to make sure that the new boiler is installed on a clean system. I had my system power flushed which took most of a day and used a lot of water. The installer also fitted an aerator valve and a magnetic filter. If there is no air in the system then the radiators etc will not rust, and sludge will not be created. Sludge blocks boiler valves and it is usually something that a warranty does not cover.

ctdctd

Unless you get the new boiler on a very good deal - you mentioned a grant - in my opinion, it is not worth replacing an existing working boiler until it breaks and cannot be economically fixed.

You might save 20% on your gas bills but the new boilers are far more complicated and any repairs can be very expensive outside warranty. They, depending on the make and your luck, don't seem to last as long as the old style back boilers either.

LoraN

Did you try to repair your combi boiler? I can describe your my experience, last month with had the issue with our water boiler. We had before tankless water heater, we choose them due to their many great benefits and many bits of advice from our neighbors. But it didn't work for us properly, this heater was in use only for 8 months and then broke. We know that only tankless water heaters - such as demand-type water heaters and tankless coil water heaters - avoid standby heat losses. Some storage water heater models have a heavily insulated tank, which significantly reduces standby heat losses and lower annual operating costs. But we decided to move to the condensing water heater. They have a lot of pros like a condensing water heater has been around for years and works well. And the Energy Star program certifies condensing high-efficiency gas water heaters, so it's possible to save energy and money. But you must check the energy factor of .62 to be considered in the Energy Star Program. It has low installation cost. That was our point of condensing. For us, the installation cost $1020, so it wasn't expensive. We used these boiler specialists: http://www.summitheatingco.com/boiler-repairs-denver/ but we're in Denver now, so it can't be a personal recommendation, just maybe to compare prices. But you must know that this condensing water heater has also cons. Regardless of the energy efficiency, a storage tank cycles on a regular basis to heat and reheat water to a preset a temperature. Whether you need it or not, energy is being used to heat the water. And a majority of the condensing water heaters take up precious space in a laundry room or mechanical room. But we have a lot of scope in the Denver house, so it wasn't a problem.
I heard a lot of pros about a solar water heater, but the installation is a bit high, and we don't have any experience with solar heaters in the neighborhood.

System

LoraN wrote: »

Did you try to repair your combi boiler? I can describe your my experience, last month with had the issue with our water boiler. We had before tankless water heater, we choose them due to their many great benefits and many bits of advice from our neighbors. But it didn't work for us properly, this heater was in use only for 8 months and then broke. We know that only tankless water heaters - such as demand-type water heaters and tankless coil water heaters - avoid standby heat losses. Some storage water heater models have a heavily insulated tank, which significantly reduces standby heat losses and lower annual operating costs. But we decided to move to the condensing water heater. They have a lot of pros like a condensing water heater has been around for years and works well. And the Energy Star program certifies condensing high-efficiency gas water heaters, so it's possible to save energy and money. But you must check the energy factor of .62 to be considered in the Energy Star Program. It has low installation cost. That was our point of condensing. For us, the installation cost $1020, so it wasn't expensive. We used these boiler specialists: http://www.summitheatingco.com/boiler-repairs-denver/ but we're in Denver now, so it can't be a personal recommendation, just maybe to compare prices. But you must know that this condensing water heater has also cons. Regardless of the energy efficiency, a storage tank cycles on a regular basis to heat and reheat water to a preset a temperature. Whether you need it or not, energy is being used to heat the water. And a majority of the condensing water heaters take up precious space in a laundry room or mechanical room. But we have a lot of scope in the Denver house, so it wasn't a problem.
I heard a lot of pros about a solar water heater, but the installation is a bit high, and we don't have any experience with solar heaters in the neighborhood.

@Lora I am sure President Trump will be extremely impressed if US companies start doing boiler installs/repairs in the U.K.? Will they commute daily?:rotfl:

Seriously, you make some good points that apply to heating systems around the World.

jbuchanangb

I decided to replace my 24 years old conventional boiler last year, and now have a condensing system boiler, which provides heating and hot water to the hot water storage tank. The storage tank is also equipped with solar heating and an immersion heater.

It may be the case that I would have been OK to keep the old boiler, with its permanently fixed warning sticker, and being advised every year by the service people that spare parts were like hen's teeth to obtain, and it may be the case that I will not live to recover the capital cost of the boiler in energy savings, although after 14 years with solar panels I think I have recovered that investment now.

All decisions about investing in new capital equipment have their pros and cons.