Combi-boiler Vs System Boiler

dcweather

I'm trying to decide as well. I have an old and spectacularly good Potterton Netaheat conventional boiler that is possibly 30 years old serving 8 radiators in all, one which is rarely on in a spare room. All controlled with a self installed Tado/Alexa smart thermostat.. Only ever had a couple of relatively cheap electrical board problems and a couple of pumps. But it must fail soon and the availability of parts and finding somebody that understands it is getting harder. As we are approaching 70 I don't want to be left needing a new boiler in the middle of winter so am thinking of pre-empting a change. As there are just two of us I had naturally assumed a combi. We come from an era when we don't have showers every 5 mins like our grandchildren but have moved on a bit from Friday night once a week bath night! Baths are out of the question but we have a decent pumped walk in shower. We only need the hot water on for an hour, twice a day at the moment and it's always hot (which is great for a bit of washing up if not using the dishwasher) even with a cylinder with a jacket.
It will be nice to get rid of the raised storage tank in the loft. If I went for a system boiler would the new pressure tank go in the airing cupboard instead of the existing copper hot water tank? My main factor in choosing though is disruption to the decor in terms of pipework changes. Not sure existing pipes are that accessible. What do you think I should go for?

macman

cornfred wrote: »

Definitely not a combi boiler. Water tank with immersion, for emergency hot water, is cheapest way for water. I've got this and the water is only on for 2 hours 7am and 2 hours 7pm.

I assume you mean that the immersion heater is on 4 hours a day, not just the water?
Given the hours quoted, you are not on E7 metering, so your hot water will be costing approx 300% more than heating it with a gas boiler, as will your space heating, unless you have another fuel for that?

macman

If you go for a combi, then your power shower will have to be changed, as you can only run that from a tank.
Since you already have a tank, then the disruption caused by new or obsolete pipework is going to be similar whether you have a combi or a system boiler.