Replacing back boiler

Peter_Ward

Hi,
I was wondering if I could have advice on the following:-
We want to replace our back boiler which has a few issues and trying to work out what system would be best. 4 bedroom semi detached house with alleyway that was turned into an extension with kitchen. This area is freezing. We will be converting the garage to a home office an utility room so there will be one bathroom upstairs but one shower downstairs. 3 - 4 people in house. 4th is eldest daughter away at Uni. I was originally given advice on an unvented cylinder but the costs were quite high.Your comments are very much appreciated.

Browntoa

Unvented cylinder is going to give good hot water pressure and constant temperature so it's worth the extra.

Does the kitchen already have a radiator already ? Otherwise it's lack of insulation

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.


An unvented cylinder is excellent, but as you say expensive. Your mains water pressure needs to be sufficient.


An alternative would be a combi boiler, which I personally would not recommend for your size of property.


Don't be tempted to get a cheap boiler - invest £1 on the Which report on boilers and you can see boilers with a 10 year warranty.

coffeehound

Worth bearing in mind that unvented cylinders require a mandatory annual inspection by a suitably qualified plumber, too.

.

cubegame

We had a back boiler replacement using Boxt. Came in at just under £2500 cheaper than the next best quote.

The new boiler needed a long new pipe run from the meter around the outside of the house and under the boards of two rooms......all included in their price. The fact that they don't look at the situation until installation date means that they'll under-quote for complicated jobs.

FreeBear

Browntoa wrote: »

Does the kitchen already have a radiator already ? Otherwise it's lack of insulation

For a kitchen, it is worth considering a kickstrip (or plinth) heater - It requires some electrical work as well as some hassle moving units out to route the pipes. I've got one in my kitchen and consider it well worth the effort. A bit more expensive than a conventional radiator.

Cardew

coffeehound wrote: »

Worth bearing in mind that unvented cylinders require a mandatory annual inspection by a suitably qualified plumber, too.

.

From what source do you get that information? i.e. the 'mandatory' inspection.*


Plenty on this apparent 'myth' on-line. However understandably plumbers would encourage the practice.


I have just gone through all the paperwork for my Gledhill 'Stainlesslite' - installed 2016 - and there is nothing about a mandatory inspection being required; albeit it is recommended that it is serviced annually.


* As rented properties require a mandatory safety inspection, it might apply to an unvented cylinder - I haven't checked.

coffeehound

Cardew wrote: »

I have just gone through all the paperwork for my Gledhill 'Stainlesslite' - installed 2016 - and there is nothing about a mandatory inspection being required; albeit it is recommended that it is serviced annually.

One plumbing website says that G3 regs require servicing IAW manufacturer recommendations, and all recommend annual maintenance. I couldn’t see that in the G3 document but then it does call up a lot of references. One is BS EN 12897 Water supply - Specification for indirectly heated unvented (closed) storage water heaters, which includes testing requirements so it could be in that, but it isn’t available to read unless you buy it for £200. But yes I’m guilty of regurgitating that info without checking the source.

Peter_Ward

Kitchen only has an electric heater.