Help with central heating system

Missymoo2

We moved into our house 3 years ago and still getting to grips with things as they left us with a lot of hidden problems.

I have always had a combi boiler as came from a 2 bed terrace, knew the system well and knew its quirks etc.

We have moved into a 3 storey house which has 2 bathrooms and separate toilet.

The central heating system is what I think is a system boiler which is now 5 years old. It looks like they swapped the boiler but left the old radiators so we have currently replaced most of them as they were bubbling and didn't want to chance a leak. So the boiler controls the heating and hot water seperately, the timer was ancient and temperamental so I had a nest installed - all good and I can control it.

This is where I am struggling, we have an Ideal logik boiler (I know they are not the best), then next to it is a big red contraption what I think is some form of expansion tank - these are in the ground floor in utility room which is underground.

On the top floor is the 2 bathrooms and in an airing cupboard is the hot water tank which is currently not holding enough hot water as I cannot top up my bath (i love a bath). There is an old immersion which I think is knackered as it trips out but don't use it.

In the loft there is a square water tank which is full of cold water but I am unsure if still connected/needed.

Would the fact we have the big red pressure thing mean it is still in use or not.

Sorry to be vague but I am really struggling to get my head around it. We are getting leaks everywhere due to poor maintenance and would like the tank gone if it is not needed.

I can provide pictures if needed.

Thanks

Missymoo2

Sorry forgot to mention that the house was built in 1979.

We also have a noisy pump that allows the showers to work better, probably due to the bathrooms being on the top floor. Also the house is very elevated and built into a hill but we don't have any issues with water pressure. Could the tank be something to do with the cold water to the property due to gravity rather than central heating?

Sorry for all the questions but we had another leak last night which we presumed was the roof (also needs replacement) as the guy who owned the house was regularly up there with his cannot spray foam we have been told. It turns out to be a fitting to the pipework connecting the pump to the showers not tightened properly so was weeping in the loft coming through to our bedroom.

Thanks again

Missymoo2

https://postimg.cc/gallery/3gevv2cy4/

southcoastrgi

It's not a system boiler it's a heat only boiler.
The big red thing is the expansion vessel for your heating.
Your heating is a sealed system.
The cold water storage tank is in deed still in use that is what feeds your hot water cylinder & possibly the cold water to the bathrooms.
If you have good mains flow & pressure you could get rid of the cylinder/pump/roof tank & fit an unvented cylinder.

Missymoo2

southcoastrgi wrote: »

It's not a system boiler it's a heat only boiler.
The big red thing is the expansion vessel for your heating.
Your heating is a sealed system.
The cold water storage tank is in deed still in use that is what feeds your hot water cylinder & possibly the cold water to the bathrooms.
If you have good mains flow & pressure you could get rid of the cylinder/pump/roof tank & fit an unvented cylinder.

Thank you so much for replying.

So if we we wanted a bigger hot water cylinder as this is too small we could replace with a different cylinder which would do away with the tank as long as the pressure is ok?
Would the fact they have fitted a pump in the first place suggest there was issues with the pressure? This supplies the 2 showers but is blooming noisy.

I would love to get rid of the loft tank as they make me nervous. I worked in emergency home repairs and too many insurance jobs from the tanks failing scares me too death:D

Thanks again

Undervalued

Missymoo2 wrote: »

Thank you so much for replying.

So if we we wanted a bigger hot water cylinder as this is too small we could replace with a different cylinder which would do away with the tank as long as the pressure is ok? Yes.

Would the fact they have fitted a pump in the first place suggest there was issues with the pressure? Probably not with the mains pressure. If the showers are upstairs the tank in the loft won't be high enough above them to give a decent hot water pressure. Hence the pump.

This supplies the 2 showers but is blooming noisy. It could probably be boxed with some sound insulation and mounted on rubber feet etc which would help to some extent

I would love to get rid of the loft tank as they make me nervous. I worked in emergency home repairs and too many insurance jobs from the tanks failing scares me too death:D Indeed!

Thanks again

My views in red above.

Missymoo2

Many thanks for all your help. I will get the water pressure checked and look further into a new cylinder.

knightstyle

http://www.sosplumbingandheating.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/sealed.gif
I think this explains what your system is.

knightstyle

http://www.sosplumbingandheating.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/sealed.gif

I think this is what you have.