Whether to convert to a combi boiler?

Muppet81

Thinking of changing my exisiting old traditional boiler for a combi boiler.
Could anyone give me an indication of what it would be likley to cost to convert. Obviously, I would employ a Corgi registered person to do this . The new one would go in the same place as the old one but I would like the old water tank and emersion heater removing.
I don't want to start the ball rolling then find it is out of my reach financialy.

Bob63

Combi boilers are wonderful - as much hot water as you want at mains pressure so you can get a good shower.

Some things to think about.....

If you have any old shower mixers at home, check if they can take the pressure of a combi. It may be that you need to replace them, adding to the cost of conversion.

If you use where the hot water tank is as an airing cupboard then you will get extra space when the hot water tank is removed, but will lose the source of heat in there, which some people like for towels, clothes etc. Consider fitting a small radiator in there if that is important.

Don't take the cold water tank out. Leave it in the loft once it is disconnected. It isn't doing anyone any harm, but it will have a thick layer of muddy crap at the bottom which will spill all over your carpets as you pull it down out of the loft. After 6 months when the tank has dried out then you can consider removing it.

We had a combi fitted five years ago and haven't regretted it. My mum converted in September and again doesn't regret it.

Mike

wayne

we had one fitted 8 years ago and had no trouble at all with it.best thing we,ve had done i my opinion.as for the cold water tank.you could let it dry out then remove it but it will be very heavy.let the work men take it out,if they,re ant good they wont make a mess.i put ours in the garden drilled some holes in the bottom filled it with soil and planted a small lavender bush in it.it looks wonderful now after 8 years and the smell wafting in to the house in the summer is great.:D

Muppet81

Thanks for those helpful comments. I do want to go aherad but don't want to start if I won't be able to afford it. Any indication of costs?

Canucklehead

Good morning: Costs would be variable and affected by a variety of factors eg. your location in the UK, specification of boiler and other system components, site requirements (upgrading of gas supply/water main if required, flueing, condensate disposal) quality of installation...to summarise... £1000 for a cowboy special to over £3000 for a top notch installation eg. Vaillant or Worcester Bosch boiler, TRVs, powerflush, installation of a 'Boilerbuddy' or 'Magnaclean', wireless programmable room thermostat, notification of installation to Building Control etc.

HTH

Canucklehead

Canucklehead

Aardvark_Heating wrote: »

Vaillant EcoTEC Pro 24 £700
Worcester Greenstar Junior 24i, again, around £700

Good afternoon: I'd spend a bit more, avoid the entry level boilers and go with the WB 27CDI http://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/index.php?fuseaction=product.home&con_id=231279 or the Vaillant Ecotech Plus 824 http://www.vaillant.co.uk/installers/High_efficiency_boilers/Combination/ecotec-plus-combination/ See prices here... http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/boiler_prices.aspx If choosing between the two manufacturers I'd select Vaillant as their boilers have stainless steel heat exchangers vs. aluminium in the WBs

HTH

Canucklehead

George_Bray

Muppet81 wrote: »

Thinking of changing my exisiting old traditional boiler for a combi boiler.
Could anyone give me an indication of what it would be likley to cost to convert.

I've now removed the original text /suggestions which were here. I hoped they were of value but obviously not, as I received no thanks, which was conspicuous by its absence. Remnants of the original text can still be seen below, as quotes in other members messages.

Regards
George

amcluesent

I asked my plumber about this (he was fitting a chrome towel rail for me). His advice that a combi with old (> 15 year) pipes and radiators could create problems in opening pin-holes and corrosion returning after such long use as an open(?) system. (NB The boiler/pump was replaced some 5 years back)

Muppet81

What a wealth of advice. Thank you all so much.

My reason for changing probably does not justify the expense. I want to get rid of the emersion heater and gain a useful storage space.

The boiler is pretty old but it does work fine. The radiators and pipework are OLD! They were in when I bought the house over 25 yrs ago so could well cause some of the problems highlighted in your posts.

I think I may well hang fire and wait till the boiler HAS to be changed and then take the associated problems as they happen.

Thanks again to MSE and this forum. Sound advice is always to hand. :A

country_sport

When i changed to a combi i keep the old hot water tank as a backup just in case. Glad i did.

Canucklehead

Hi

Just curious . How do you work that system? Are you saying you have a cylinder of water and tank in roof, just sitting there full of water doing nothing , waiting for the combi to break down?

Corgi Guy.