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Combi or Conventional boiler?

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  • matelodave
    matelodave Posts: 9,076 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
     I guess you wont have a gravity system anymore it will be fully pumped so you'll need motorised valves and better controls. The rules changed a couple of years ago to require additional controls on replacement boiler installations. see here https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/718569/Boiler_Plus_Factsheet_v3.pdf
    Never under estimate the power of stupid people in large numbers
  • Talldave
    Talldave Posts: 2,002 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Arabanna said:
    I currently have a conventional heating system with a very old floor mounted Potterton boiler which is inefficient, and hence I am going to change it and qualify for a free new one under the government scheme.


    Should I get another conventional boiler or swap to a combi?


    My house has more than one bathroom.
    I have a tank which is heated by solar tubes in the summer hence I get this hot water for free.
    I have plenty of room for the tanks.
    From my understanding, if I go for a combi I will need to change all my pipes.
    I would like to put underfloor heating (off the central heating) in the kitchen when I re-do it.


    Which is more cost effective/ better/ more efficient?
    Thank you.
    Since you already have a tank with solar heating and more than one bathroom, I think it's a no-brainer to  stick with a conventional boiler. However, I will admit that having lived in a couple of properties with combis in the past I have a total loathing of them.
    On the one occasion in the past when I had to replace a large old Potterton hogging a large corner of the kitchen, I had the new boiler installed in the loft.  However, with your UFH plans I'm not sure where you'd place the manifold if the boiler was in the loft.
  • dcweather said:
    I know this thread is a couple of years old now but I am in an identical situation with a 30 year old Potterton Netaheat gravity/pumped system. Brilliant boiler but don't want it to die of old age before me in the middle of January!
    Some excellent and helpful replies on here. My preference would be a modern conventional open vent condensing boiler. Would there be any new regulations that would require modifications to the existing system?

    I've had a Potterton Myson Apollo boiler from new for the last 30 years. My experience is that it is as sound today as it was 30 years ago and my heating engineer has advised me to keep it as long as we can continue to source spare parts. In truth, the only spares I have needed over the lifetime of the boiler have been thermocouples (replaced every one or two years at minimal cost), Honeywell diverter valve and gas valve. The gas/electric usage may be slightly higher than modern more efficient boilers but we have solar panels which allow us to use an immersion heater in summer months and save gas accordingly.
    It's a no brainer really to continue with this boiler and I have seen neighbours and friends faced with hefty bills and call out charges on modern boilers notwithstanding the warranties which are offered on most. There are some interesting Youtube uploads from boiler installers who seem to frequently criticise even the popular makes such as Worcester Bosch and Vaillant!
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