boiler suggestions - non condensing and flu

[ETAF]

i put a post here about replacing a boiler
//www.diynot.com/forums/plumbing/gas-bolier-with-pump.322276/

However, i'm still looking into a solution, as I just think for the small house we have the solution just will look untidy and hoped someone else may have a view

1) its a 3 bedroom small house needing 6 rads
2) been quoted for a 12kw worcester boiler - pressurised or non-pressurised

the boiler is wall mounted , and the issues are ,

a) because they are condensing, i need to have a pipe across an down a wall to a drain - which will look very untidy
can you get non-condensing boilers
b) the flu has to come out the top , and so the boiler will take up a lot more room height wise
c) the pressurised system needs an additional water pipe alos now going across the wall
all this makes it untidy
if i don't have the pressurised system - then i need a pump fitted - which i may be able to get under the floor above - other wise that will be alongside the boiler and again i just feel it will all look very untidy - having seen an installation , they just don't seem to be all enclosed any more like the servo warm boiler we have

before i order the installation , i just want to be 100% sure i only have these options available and to have an untidy looking installation

thanks for all your advice

 

[Dan Robinson]

because they are condensing, i need to have a pipe across an down a wall to a drain - which will look very untidy
can you get non-condensing boilers

Tough.

 

[denso13]

an untidy looking installation

There are different ways of doing things. Get a good installer and untidiness shouldn't be an issue.

 

[ETAF]

thanks

Tough.

so i have no other options on a boiler other than condensing

and only have a flu out the top - nothing that is vented from the back of the boiler
so i can keep the boiler high on the wall

 

[ETAF]

had 3 people look at it and give a quote now ,no one seems to be to helpful on the tidyness as its a factor of the boiler -

just asked for British gas to quote - as they have glowworm boilers which seem to have a back vent

i was told worcester have a back vent - until i looked at there information and talked to tech dept - so very cynical now

this should not be so difficult

 

[dcawkwell]

a) because they are condensing, i need to have a pipe across an down a wall to a drain - which will look very untidy
can you get non-condensing boilers

Just because the old boiler is where it is. It doesn't mean
a new boiler has to be there. In the kitchen replacing
a kitchen cupboard is perfectly possible and you always
have drains close by in a kitchen.

b) the flu has to come out the top , and so the boiler will take up a lot more room height wise

No. Flue can come straight out the back on a glow worm flexicom so
you don't see any flue. It will fit in a kitchen cupboard.


c) the pressurised system needs an additional water pipe alos now going across the wall
all this makes it untidy

No. The filling loop can fill the system up from anywhere in the house
like in the tank cupboard.

if i don't have the pressurised system - then i need a pump fitted - which i may be able to get under the floor above - other wise that will be alongside the boiler and again i just feel it will all look very untidy - having seen an installation , they just don't seem to be all enclosed any more like the servo warm boiler we have

No a system boiler has the pump inside.

You need an installer who can suggest better options to you.

 

[denso13]

Yes, was going to suggest the Glowworm Flexicom-cx

 

[muggles]

You'll probably find British Gas to be expensive. Glowworm Flexicom boilers have a rear exit flue, and any registered installer can install one of these for you so you just need to ask them to quote for that. It's virtually impossible to even get a non-condensing boiler, and even harder to get an exemption to the building regulations that require you to have a condensing boiler.

The installation can all look very tidy if you get the right installer. Don't put a pump under the floor, it's just daft, again this can be tidy if you get the right installer. Why don't you want to pressurise the system?

 

[ETAF]

thanks for those replies

Unfortunately its a very tiny house and I don't think the kitchen will work - as the outside wall has a leantoo on it and the installers i did have around - said the flu could not go there , and asked them all to look for alternative positions around the house

interesting for a pressurised system they can go anywhere - we have a downstairs bathroom with a rad in - so can they just connect the cold to that pipe work as they run together under the bath.

theres no water supply upstairs and we do not have a tank cupboard
this just supplies central heating - hotwater is supplied from another boiler in the bathroom

but like the idea of the glowwarm - strange no one out of the 5 people i have talked to and the three installers + one person to repair the boiler , specialist who keeps old boilers going mentioned one

any recommendations of an installer in the leatherhead , surrey area

 

[ETAF]

crossed posts

Why don't you want to pressurise the system?

no reason, other than the extra pipe to the boiler and also my other half was told they do not heat the house well

plus the size of the boiler is longer - so we lose a shelf on the wall and deeper so may lose light from a window

did not know about the building regulations on condensing boilers

 

[muggles]

You can't simply run the radiator into your downstairs bathroom radiator, it needs to be connected to the main 22mm flow and returns. If they're under your bathroom floor you could probably use them, otherwise they'll need running in from elsewhere.

Your other half has been misinformed on pressurised systems not heating the house as well, they are equally effective and should suffer far less issues with air and corrosion.

A Flexicom is 700mm high, probably not too different from your current boiler.

 

[ETAF]

A Flexicom is 700mm high, probably not too different from your current boiler.

exactly the same and a lot smaller in width - so not having to allow 200mm gap on the ceiling , it should be the same height

re 22mm - no that is not near and current water - although it must run downstairs and should be able to run a connection under the floor boards -

I have two people from the glowworm recommended installers - both responded to emails - so i can go a bit more prepared now with what is possible

thanks

 

[dcawkwell]

thanks for those replies

Unfortunately its a very tiny house and I don't think the kitchen will work - as the outside wall has a leantoo on it and the installers i did have around - said the flu could not go there , and asked them all to look for alternative positions around the house

interesting for a pressurised system they can go anywhere - we have a downstairs bathroom with a rad in - so can they just connect the cold to that pipe work as they run together under the bath.

-----
Yes anywhere. The most likely place is the tank cupboard you have central
heating pipe and cold main in there. But if you don't have a tank cupboard
bathroom is just as good as you have water and central heating pipes.
-----------------

theres no water supply upstairs and we do not have a tank cupboard
this just supplies central heating - hotwater is supplied from another boiler in the bathroom
-------
You need to get rid of the other boiler and install a combi.
---------------

but like the idea of the glowwarm - strange no one out of the 5 people i have talked to and the three installers + one person to repair the boiler , specialist who keeps old boilers going mentioned one
----------
Post pictures and we'll tell you where one can go.
Although I don't normally suggest it. In the loft with flue through roof.
--------------

any recommendations of an installer in the leatherhead , surrey area
--------
Tell us the quotes and prices you've had.
----------

 

[ETAF]

bathroom is just as good as you have water and central heating pipes.

Only the small rad pipes - they spur off from an upstairs bedroom and then go down the wall of the kitchen and then through the wall and along the bath
would be great to do that - not sure how the 22mm would get there without a lot of upheaval in the kitchen
as i say a very small house

--- front room ---
-- stairs - front door ---
-- dining room - walk through to kitchen --
-- kitchen ---
-- bathroom ----
only water is in kitchen and bathroom

the boiler pipes go from boiler up to 1st floor - no water there at all
then down under stairs to the 2 rads - front room and dining room

Although I don't normally suggest it. In the loft with flue through roof.

yep, I had that in my OLD large house, but the cost was extensive to do that and they said 4-5K to get water up there and would take 4-5 days

Quotes so far
3.5K - didn't want the job
2.5K - not very accommodating - almost take it or leave attitude, and wanted full payment before work commenced
2.4K -
1.9K - seen there workmanship - and the most accommodating

but noone suggested the bathroom could be changed without a lot of cost

 

[dcawkwell]

Non condensing boiler on ebay. £500.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Baxi-Main...ng_Air&var=&hash=item33774a35e7#ht_5067wt_872

Easy swap to replace the existing boiler in the same location.
Not as economical as a condensing boiler but easy swap.
Not legal to do by current building regulations but you'll find an
installer who won't care and just do it.