Help- Replace Hot water cylinder on old boiler or replace Boiler

krissy08

Hello everyone,

I hope someone can help me make an informed decision. I have lived just over two years in a house which has it's original boiler from 2001.The Boiler a Potterton Suprima 40.

The boiler has been relatively problem-free but with the last 8 months- I had a problem with the fault light blinking on amber for a while, then had to do a call out as it failed to heat water, then some months later, the controls went bust and that was replaced and working fine.

In a separate issue- the hot water cylinder ( a Santon Premier invented) was tripping off the general electricity fuse box and after a call out, I have been told the cylinder has a leak- cost of fitting a new one is £1350 and I was advised the boiler is fine.

Should I proceed with this replacement or will it be more efficient in the long term to switch to a Combi boiler now. I should mention, the engineer prefers this boiler to the new combis and I just want to be sure his opinion is the right one. I would hate for the boiler to pack up by winter or in a year then the cost of the cylinder replacement would be lost anyway. I would prefer to spend more but wisely if I have to. I hope someone experienced can help- think what would you do ?

Hope this makes sense

Thanks in advance.

macman

Is the property even suitable for a combi? How many occupants/bedrooms/bathrooms? Do you have sufficient flow rate?
A combi is no more efficient than a conventional boiler, although any modern boiler of either type will be condensing, so more efficient .But it could take you 20 years or more to recover that in gas savings
Your RGI sounds like he is giving you honest advice. If the boiler did need eventual replacement, you haven't wasted the cost of the cylinder, as you'd just replace the Potterton with a conventional boiler.
Pottertons are built like tanks. As long as parts are still available, it should have years left yet.

AndyPK

I was in a very similar situation.


Good price on the tank. I was quoted 1500+


A combi should cost ~2500. Worth getting a quote.


If you can afford a combi without a silly loan, it really should be considered. You wouldn't want to have to fit a combi in 3 years time and bin that £1350 tank would you ? ?

AndyPK

Is the tank really leaking though????


When an unvented cylinder leaks, you usually know about it from the amount of water coming out! Not a minor electricity trip!

krissy08

AndyPK wrote: »

Is the tank really leaking though????


When an unvented cylinder leaks, you usually know about it from the amount of water coming out! Not a minor electricity trip!

I have had two quotes the second guy quoted £1650. They both say it is leaking.

krissy08

macman wrote: »

Is the property even suitable for a combi? How many occupants/bedrooms/bathrooms? Do you have sufficient flow rate?
A combi is no more efficient than a conventional boiler, although any modern boiler of either type will be condensing, so more efficient .But it could take you 20 years or more to recover that in gas savings
Your RGI sounds like he is giving you honest advice. If the boiler did need eventual replacement, you haven't wasted the cost of the cylinder, as you'd just replace the Potterton with a conventional boiler.
Pottertons are built like tanks. As long as parts are still available, it should have years left yet.

4 bedroom, 3 toilets (one with a bath , another with an en-suite and a downstairs cloakroom)

macman

WC doesn't matter, since it needs no hot water...remember that with a combi you cannot run a bath and a shower simultaneously.

Mister_G

Yep, I'd agree with @macman, a combi would struggle. I'd replace the cylinder.

AndyPK

when my cylinder was leaking water was coming out the ceiling below!
They are mains pressure!