Combi OR Conventional

jabba21

An age old question i know, but every circumstance is different.
Our conventional boiler is near the end of it's natural life (16 years), we have the choice of

a) replace like with like in current downstairs utility room location, the hot water cylinder (yellow foam insulation) i hope would be ok for a few more years yet, so new boiler, magnetic filter, also water pump and valves to be thorough. This would cause minimal disruption, just building a new boiler cupboard at my leisure. (approx 2500-£3000).

b) rip it all out and replacing with a combi sited in the upstairs spare bedroom, so freeing up a little loft storage and an airing cupboard, so run new 22/28mm pipe, rip out the old tanks etc and fit a combi & magnetic filter (approx 4500-£5000). A lot more disruption and also extra expense to rework the spare bedroom.

Just me and my wife in a 2 bed terrace, no kids now or ever, mostly using and electric shower, time for baths is a rare treat. I iunderstand the pros and cons of both systems, I am not so sure the extra 2k plus redoing a room is worth it, but your opinions may sway me. Thanks in advance.

RelievedSheff

Having had both systems we much prefer having a combi.

Neil_Jones

A combi will take up less space and traditionally get stuck on the kitchen wall and will serve hot water and heating from the one appliance. Anything that goes wrong tends to be inside the appliance. Go through as much hot water as you need.

Hot water cylinders are generally good at taking up an obscene amount of space and have more things to go wrong and given half a chance will leak everywhere. Hot water availability generally limited.

You may find combis are generally preferred over hot water cylinders when it comes to selling the house in years to come, since they're generally reliable and take up one segment of a wall in the kitchen, not an entire attic space.

Browntoa

If multiple demands on hot wat for bathrooms , showers and kitchen etc then conventional with megaflo tank.

As only you 2 I would suggest Combi is adequate in your case

coffeehound

Whichever you choose, have it feed a mixer shower rather than use electric.

matelodave

we've had both and IMO I much prefer a combi. Releases space (we put ours in the airing cupboard in place of the hot water tank and gained a whole cupboard space in the kitchen)and I reckon they are more economical.

jk0

Hmm. I've got a combi, but I would rather have a conventional boiler, as I have no airing cupboard now.


BTW, don't you guys find your combis get furred up?

staggered

I prefer a combi - no hanging around for water to heat up and you only heat the water you need.

A new boiler costs around £900 btw - I've had a conventional boiler replaced with a combi boiler, all pipework etc. for £1500 all in (Corgi-registered fitter, not a cowboy before anyone asks). I know everyone's system and house layout is different but even so those prices seem very high ...

btr30

My preference would be to keep the cylinder, which then has the option of an immersion heater back up to provide hot water requirements in the event of a boiler failure in future.
If boiler is to be moved to another location, pipes, flues, power supply will also have to be moved, which may be a lot of disruption for little benefit.

jabba21

Hi, thanks all for your replies, plenty of food for thought. Happy Money Saving... ;-)

Talldave

I'd stick with conventional but put it in the loft if you want to gain space in the house.