Separate boilers for heating and water

CarrieVS

I'm an FTB currently looking at houses. I've just been to see one which as a whole I love, but I'm a bit scared by the boiler setup as I don't really know enough to understand whether it's something I should be put off by or not.

Apologies for limited information as I was quite surprised and didn't really know what questions to ask. I'd greatly appreciate any insights the good folk of MSE might have, or advice on what questions I should be asking about this before I proceed any further.

Downstairs is a boiler that I didn't ask much about but I presume it runs the central heating (which is stated on the advert to be gas.)

Upstairs is another appliance which was described initially as "the boiler" and when I commented that I'd already seen a boiler downstairs the seller said this one was for the hot water. He said he wasn't entirely certain about it himself ( ! It was the owner-occupier showing me round, you'd think he would know...) but he believes it's a tank, and says you can get unlimited hot water on demand.

To my disgrace I didn't confirm what powered this device but I have an impression it's electric. It doesn't look like what I'm used to a hot water tank looking like (a cylinder with hard insulation material around it), nor a typical boiler (white box, usually with rounded edges): this was a big grey metal box that completely filled the space it was in (not something needing ventilation, I deduce.) I'm afraid I've forgotten the brand name that was on it.

I'm familiar with combi boilers, and with traditional boilers that fill a hot water tank which may have an immersion heater fitted to top up the hot water if needed. The chap's description didn't make it sound like the latter, and as I say it didn't look typical.

If it's relevant, the house was first sold in 2001 (I presume it was built shortly before it was sold.) I didn't ask if the boilers had ever been replaced.

Is a separate electric boiler for the hot water something anyone else has run across? How efficient is it likely to be? Are there any downsides to it or things I should be aware of? What did I ought to be asking about it? How easy is it likely to be to change this setup to a more normal one if I should want to?

Thank you very much in advance.

Cakeguts

Was there a fan on the outside wall in about the same place as the upstairs thing?

CarrieVS

Cakeguts wrote: »

Was there a fan on the outside wall in about the same place as the upstairs thing?

It's not by an outer wall. There's also no sign of any sort of flue or vent coming out on the roof in what would seem to be the right place.

danlewi2

is the property on rightmove?

pinkteapot

OP - it's perfectly reasonable to ring the EA and say "I was a bit confused on the viewing. I haven't seen a hot water system like the one the owner showed me before - please can you ask them what type of hot water system they have?"

You can then look it up and get more info, or ask about here or on the DIY board. Unless the Rightmove listing says what sort of system it is, it might be hard for us to guess at it... And people might think they know but be wrong as we can't see what you saw.

hazyjo

Is it a townhouse? I had something similar which I'm afraid I have absolutely no hope of explaining to you lol.


There was a combi-boiler in the kitchen, and a tank-thingy on the top floor (four storey house). It was something that either did something to help the flow of water or allowed the heat to get through the whole house.


God, I'm useless lol. Never understood it at all.

CarrieVS

danlewi2 wrote: »

is the property on rightmove?

It is, but it doesn't say anything about the hot water system, only that the property has gas central heating. I'm not entirely comfortable with posting the link as it essentially gives you all my potential future address. (It's not that I think any of you are murderers, but you know how it is.)

hazyjo wrote: »

Is it a townhouse? I had something similar which I'm afraid I have absolutely no hope of explaining to you lol.


There was a combi-boiler in the kitchen, and a tank-thingy on the top floor (four storey house). It was something that either did something to help the flow of water or allowed the heat to get through the whole house.

Fairly small two-storey three-bed semi: if what you describe is for the purpose of getting water up several floors and round a presumably larger house, I can't see this property would need it.

danlewi2

haha i thought it might say something that is all - definitely query with the EA.

davidmcn

Maybe view again but bring along someone who knows one end of a heating system from the other?

CarrieVS

davidmcn wrote: »

Maybe view again but bring along someone who knows one end of a heating system from the other?

As I said, I think it's a separate electric heating system for the hot water. I don't think I know anyone who would specifically know anything about that sort of system, e.g. whether it's efficient, whether it could be changed to the kind of setup I'm used to, etc. I was hoping someone might be able to give me some insight on that.

pinklady21

Possibly it is a hot water tank (or thermal store). The downstairs boiler heats water, some of which goes to the radiators and circulates round heating them up, and some of which goes to the tank to be stored until a hot tap is turned on, and heh presto hot water appears!
If it is a hot water tank, it may even have a separate electric element inside it (an immersion heater) that would heat up hot water when it is switched on, without having to use the "downstairs" boiler.

Agree with others, if you are not sure - ask the agent to find out. Let us know how you get on, I am intrigued!