Separate boilers for heating and water

foxy-stoat

Without photos or link then we cant really help you - it could be an old system, boiler just takes care of the central heating then an electric boiler for the hot water.

ProDave

It sounds to me like an ordinary system boiler downstairs and a hot water tank upstairs. If so all perfectly normal. The immersion heater is there as standard as a backup in case the boiler fails so you can still heat some hot water.

Astonishing that the vendor does not have a clue.

Fred drift but as an electrician I was once given the spec to wire a loft conversion, is said "boiler" in an upstairs cupboard so I cabled accordingly. When the "boiler" arrived it was an off peak all electric hot water cylinder. Sometimes even the professionals don't know the difference between a boiler and a hot water tank.

pinkteapot

OP did say "It doesn't look like what I'm used to a hot water tank looking like (a cylinder with hard insulation material around it)" - and a traditional hot water tank also wouldn't provide hot water 'on demand'.

It could be a tankless hot water system (which does do hot water on demand and would look like a box)... Or something else entirely. Or it could still be a traditional system with an unusual tank.

OP's best bet is to ask the EA to ask the owner. If the owner really doesn't know and OP doesn't want to buy without knowing, send a plumber/heating engineer round to take a look.

xylophone

It sounds like the old Ascot type water heater (gas) or Sadia (electric)?

CarrieVS

The EA is going to ask about it for me, but the representative I'm dealing with says she thinks it's the same system as she had once, which is essentially a combi boiler that also stores hot water in a tank (I thought the distinguishing feature of combis was that they didn't?). She claimed it's efficient but then said when she had the boiler replaced she was told it wasn't (for a smallish property) and she had it taken out leaving just a combi boiler.

G_M

Sounds like she is as clueless as you!


Rely on your own inspection, and/or your own expert (or clued-up friend).


If all else fails, go and take photos and post them here for us, or on DIYnot.

CarrieVS

It is a system boiler.

EA still claims it's "really efficient" but my research suggests it may not be for a smallish house that will rarely have more than two occupants, and only has one bathroom. But the important thing is it's not some strange, non-standard setup.

Thank you all for your help and patience, apologies if this wasn't really the right place to ask about this.

G_M

As previously stated, ignore what the EA says as he is only concerned to reassure you and ensure the sale goes through.

t0rt0ise

CarrieVS wrote: »

The EA is going to ask about it for me, but the representative I'm dealing with says she thinks it's the same system as she had once, which is essentially a combi boiler that also stores hot water in a tank (I thought the distinguishing feature of combis was that they didn't?). She claimed it's efficient but then said when she had the boiler replaced she was told it wasn't (for a smallish property) and she had it taken out leaving just a combi boiler.

Just in case anyone elsecomes across this thread, there are such things as combi boilers with tanks. They are called Storage Combi Boilers.

getmore4less

Very common in the US to have water tank/heaters separate from the heating/cooling system.

these can be gas or electric and will look like a cylinder but metal clad.


unvented Cylinders can look similar.