Should I replace my (possibly 20 y/o) Ideal Mexico 2 boiler with a modern combi?

SuzieSue

ButtersUK wrote: »

Following on from the above ...I also have an old Ideal Classic (23 yrs old) which still works, but won't last for ever. I also have a conventional HW cylinder etc.


I'm a bit concerned about the hot water side of the combi mentioned .... I would get 36kw and have superb cold water pressure and flow and have just had a 28mm gas supply fitted to the boiler site.


But remain concerned what happens during showering when another tap is opened elsewhere in the house. (I would fit a 22mm cold supply direct to the boiler, bypassing the 15mm rising main to the rest of the house and would also tee off the aforementioned 22mm supply off to feed the [two] Mira thermostatic shower mixers.)


My other concern is pressurising the existing microbore heating pipework feeding the (13) rads .... it's currently gravity (obviously) and I'm afraid I might create the odd leak in the microbore if I pressurise it.

I also have a 22 year old Ideal Classic. I haven't had any problems for the last 5 years, but my neighbour who has exactly the same boiler has had to had the fan changed and the solenoid.

Why do you want to change to a combi when the time comes? I intend to get a regular boiler and keep my HW cylinder so that I can use the immersion heater if the boiler ever breaks down.

And your concern about leaks is very valid. I wouldn't want to risk pressurising the system for that very reason.

southcoastrgi

ButtersUK wrote: »

Following on from the above ...I also have an old Ideal Classic (23 yrs old) which still works, but won't last for ever. I also have a conventional HW cylinder etc.


I'm a bit concerned about the hot water side of the combi mentioned .... I would get 36kw and have superb cold water pressure and flow and have just had a 28mm gas supply fitted to the boiler site.


But remain concerned what happens during showering when another tap is opened elsewhere in the house. (I would fit a 22mm cold supply direct to the boiler, bypassing the 15mm rising main to the rest of the house and would also tee off the aforementioned 22mm supply off to feed the [two] Mira thermostatic shower mixers.)


My other concern is pressurising the existing microbore heating pipework feeding the (13) rads .... it's currently gravity (obviously) and I'm afraid I might create the odd leak in the microbore if I pressurise it.

Then look at the Eco RF that has 10 yrs warentee & you could use it open vented on the heating side

markin

Fitting TVR's on the rads would solve the problem of not having a T valve, but it would be good idea to fit the T-valve anyway.

ButtersUK

Apologies to Suzie and S.Coast for delayed response - forgot to request notifications.


What has prompted the desire for a combi? Fair question - I have had a life long dislike of them but recently became aware of Intergas and one or two enthusiastic proponents had make me look again (including my regular gas man who attended an Intergas course following my suggestion and came away much enthused).


But more deliberation has reistated my doubts regarding a combi for all the usual, well known, reasons.



I have since installed a dedicated 22mm water supply, direct from the 25mm MDPE incoming main, to the airing cupboard (which is also where the new 28mm gas supply has been routed to and capped off) thinking that both would be beneficial to either a combi sited in the airing cupboard OR to supply a new boiler and indirect unvented cylinder in the airing cupboard.


My cold water main supply is 4 bar and over 30 litres per minute flow.



Yes a replacement conventional/heat only boiler is still an option (and retain the vented cylinder) .... or stick an Intergas combi in the airing cupboard (either the ECO RF or, maybe, the Extreme as it has slightly better HW flow.


Lots of people who have a view on these things favour the unvented route ... using a simple heat only boiler ... and maybe keep the expansion tank in the loft and stick to a gravity fed boiler rather than pressurise the (23 year old 10mm copper microbore heating circuit).


To be honest I'm more concerned that I'm not troubled by the issue of running a shower and having it disturbed by a tap or toilet stealing flow from it ... which is what I fear if a combi is fitted - maybe a 35kw Intergas Extreme is powerful enough to avoid this? Maybe it's not?


Hopefully/presumably an unvented cylinder would overcome the issue entirely - but I'm inexperienced with unvented and fear the unknown.


Lots of options ...........