Combi or condenser?

Gloomendoom

Alex1983 wrote: »

Keep it, it’s bulletproof. I would say apart from the initial pcb problem they had, which was rectified with a modified pcb they are one of the most realiable boilers I’ve ever worked on.

Do they still make them?

We are running a Potterton of early 1970's vintage but are aware that it won't go on for ever.

Alex1983

I think they stopped making the suprima’s around the early 2000, there are some parts obsolete but most models still have the fan, gas valve, pcb and heat exchanger still available. They are also around 80% efficience.

b56c

SuzieSue wrote: »

Don't you have an immersion heater?

No, no immersion.

SuzieSue

b56c wrote: »

No, no immersion.

So you have a hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard but it doesn't have an immersion heater? I didn't think it was possible to have one without an immersion heater.

b56c

SuzieSue wrote: »

So you have a hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard but it doesn't have an immersion heater? I didn't think it was possible to have one without an immersion heater.

That’s my belief. Will check tonight. Maybe I’ve had one all along and wasn’t aware of it.

Alex1983

Pretty common to have a hot water tank and the immersion plug is capped.

SuzieSue

Alex1983 wrote: »

Pretty common to have a hot water tank and the immersion plug is capped.

Does that mean that it can't be put back into service?

SuzieSue

Alex1983 wrote: »

Pretty common to have a hot water tank and the immersion plug is capped.

Do you know of any storage combis which have an immersion heater or where you can retro fit one?

DaftyDuck

I'm pretty sure there is no way to retrofit immersion heating elements to any of the storage combi boilers. I use them in rentals, and asked the two plumbers I know and respect for backup ideas. We went through options, and by far the most versatile and economic was to have a second, electric, shower in each bathroom. There's a shower cubicle with combi hot water (and the Vaillant 938 I discussed elsewhere can power two showers, at least more powerfully than the electric showers, which are both pretty powerful themselves), and a bath, combi to the taps, obviously, but with electric shower over. The shower hose is long enough to reach the sink so, should there be a boiler fault, showers and sink hot water are uninterrupted.

Kitchen hot backup has to be kettle but, given there's a dishwasher, that's unlikely to be a major problem.

It's easy to plumb in a separate small tank with immersion.... BUT... In a rental this increases complexity and confusion, needing isolation from the main system when not needed, someone to switch it on and off, plus added paperwork and annual checking... Just not sensible. In my case, the additional cost of wiring and fitting showers was minimal, and the flexibility maximised.

SuzieSue

DaftyDuck wrote: »

I'm pretty sure there is no way to retrofit immersion heating elements to any of the storage combi boilers. I use them in rentals, and asked the two plumbers I know and respect for backup ideas. We went through options, and by far the most versatile and economic was to have a second, electric, shower in each bathroom. There's a shower cubicle with combi hot water (and the Vaillant 938 I discussed elsewhere can power two showers, at least more powerfully than the electric showers, which are both pretty powerful themselves), and a bath, combi to the taps, obviously, but with electric shower over. The shower hose is long enough to reach the sink so, should there be a boiler fault, showers and sink hot water are uninterrupted.

Kitchen hot backup has to be kettle but, given there's a dishwasher, that's unlikely to be a major problem.

It's easy to plumb in a separate small tank with immersion.... BUT... In a rental this increases complexity and confusion, needing isolation from the main system when not needed, someone to switch it on and off, plus added paperwork and annual checking... Just not sensible. In my case, the additional cost of wiring and fitting showers was minimal, and the flexibility maximised.

Yes, an electric shower would be a good backup, but the electricians I have asked have all said that it would be too disruptive to get a suitable cable up to the 2nd floor.

We currently have a Powermax HE which is storage combi and it was possible to have a immersion heater although it was put in by the builders and so they installed one without.

I can't believe that all storage combis don't come with immersion heaters as standard especially as some can be used with solar panels.