Combi or System Boiler?

han_nah95_2

Hi
We are in the process of buying a 1960's 3 bedroom house with no central heating system but has a immersion heater and water tank. 
Would you prefer a combi or system boiler? 
Also - if we were to have a system boiler and keep the water tank - how easy is it to move the tank? It is currently on the landing but could you move it somewhere else? What would you need to take into consideration? 
Thank you 

Cardew

There have been literally hundreds of posts on the relative merits/demerits of a combi or a system boiler. I am firmly in the system boiler camp; parlicularly with a non-vented(i.e. pressurised) system.

The complexity of moving a tank will largely depend on its new position. It will involve new pipes to the cold water tank, and the various hot water outlets as well as changing the electrical supply.

Hasbeen

han_nah95_2 said:

Hi
We are in the process of buying a 1960's 3 bedroom house with no central heating system but has a immersion heater and water tank. 
Would you prefer a combi or system boiler? 
Also - if we were to have a system boiler and keep the water tank - how easy is it to move the tank? It is currently on the landing but could you move it somewhere else? What would you need to take into consideration? 
Thank you 

Your water tank is in the attic. This feeds cold water to your hot water cylinder which currently is heated by the immersion heater.
The advantage of system boilers is that in larger properties 2-3 and more bathrooms, the hot water supply is more. Big hot water cylinders.

Combi boilers have the advantage of instant hot water, but the rate is reduced and some people complain it takes to long to fill a hot bath. But no hot water cylinder gives more space.

You say the hot water cylinder is on the landing? is it in a cupboard? If on outside wall a new boiler could be installed there rather than taking up space in kitchen. 

I have a system boiler but for smaller properties I would go for a combi.

But as Cardew states there are many discussions. And also speak to any installer that you get for quotes for their advice.

Talldave

If you can get the gas supply to the loft, I'm a fan of a system boiler in the loft - everything's out the way.  And lashings of hot water without waiting forever for a combi boiler to power up.

macman

Not enough info. How many bathrooms/shower-rooms? How many residents?

han_nah95_2

macman said:

Not enough info. How many bathrooms/shower-rooms? How many residents?

There is 1 bathroom and 2 residents in a 3 bedroom house. 

han_nah95_2

Hasbeen said:

han_nah95_2 said:

Hi
We are in the process of buying a 1960's 3 bedroom house with no central heating system but has a immersion heater and water tank. 
Would you prefer a combi or system boiler? 
Also - if we were to have a system boiler and keep the water tank - how easy is it to move the tank? It is currently on the landing but could you move it somewhere else? What would you need to take into consideration? 
Thank you 

Your water tank is in the attic. This feeds cold water to your hot water cylinder which currently is heated by the immersion heater.
The advantage of system boilers is that in larger properties 2-3 and more bathrooms, the hot water supply is more. Big hot water cylinders.

Combi boilers have the advantage of instant hot water, but the rate is reduced and some people complain it takes to long to fill a hot bath. But no hot water cylinder gives more space.

You say the hot water cylinder is on the landing? is it in a cupboard? If on outside wall a new boiler could be installed there rather than taking up space in kitchen. 

I have a system boiler but for smaller properties I would go for a combi.

But as Cardew states there are many discussions. And also speak to any installer that you get for quotes for their advice.

The water tank is in the attic and the hot water cylinder is on the landing in a cupboard - apologies i've been using the wrong context haha! 
Unfortunately not on a outside wall! 
There is a large cupboard on the outside wall in the kitchen which is where we were hoping to put the boiler, just wanted to max our space on the landing. 

matelodave

We've had both and my preference is for a combi. The hot water may come out a bit slower but you'll never run out like you can with a cylinder. I guess a system boiler is a bit less complex than a combi, so there's probably fewer bits to go wrong but in the end it's down to personal preference.

We are now all electric and have a hot water cylinder once again which is OK but I prefer to heat the water as I use it rather than heat it every day just in case.

Talldave

If you're on a water meter think carefully about a combi. We were living in a flat where the system boiler died and was replaced by the landlord with a combi. Gas consumption went down but water consumption rocketed as we spent so long running the hot taps waiting for hot water. As a result total bill costs increased. That was in a flat with short pipe runs. It'll be worse in a house. I loathe combis, have suffered a few and all angered me!

macman

But you have to flush the cold water standing in the pipework out, regardless of the boiler type. A modern combi should reach working temp in just a few seconds, so the water cost is tiny. 
Sounds like an install issue on that particular boiler.

Talldave

macman said:

But you have to flush the cold water standing in the pipework out, regardless of the boiler type. A modern combi should reach working temp in just a few seconds, so the water cost is tiny. 
Sounds like an install issue on that particular boiler.

I hear what you say but cannot see what install issue could cause water to be heated slowly? Tap went on, boiler fired up, water flowed, 30s later something vaguely warm is arriving at the tap.