How much work to change from conventional boilet to combi boiler

[bernardgreen]

Get what works best for you.

How does the person know what works best without actually installing both.

Sales talk is seldom a basis for making the right decision.

 

[denso13]

How does the person know what works best without actually installing both.

By doing some research which has started on here. Get a few quotes, quiz the installers, ask friends and neighbours. Just like buying anything else really.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I have an old, relatively small, combi in a large house and don't have any problems. Get what works best for you.

Combis are a one box solution to providing both CH and HW, much more complex internally than a heat only boiler, so much more to go wrong, where a gas safe engineer is needed to fix it and a more complex fix, than a heat only where more of the parts liable to fail, are external and become potentially a DIY fix.

 

[denso13]

Combis are a one box solution to providing both CH and HW, much more complex internally than a heat only boiler, so much more to go wrong, where a gas safe engineer is needed to fix it and a more complex fix, than a heat only where more of the parts liable to fail, are external and become potentially a DIY fix.

Nice long warranty, even 12 years, on the boiler and everything is then covered.

 

[bernardgreen]

Nice long warranty, even 12 years, on the boiler and everything is then covered

Read the small print to learn how the warranty can be voided.

 

[denso13]

Read the small print to learn how the warranty can be voided.

Just make sure it isn't. It isn't difficult.

 

[fixitflav]

Nice long warranty, even 12 years, on the boiler and everything is then covered.

For 12 years. No comfort if it fails after that

 

[denso13]

For 12 years. No comfort if it fails after that

Repair plans are available if anyone is concerned that much.

 

[bernardgreen]

The bottom line that the OP might be interested in is this quote from a heating engineer ( industrial systems )

"" The complexity of a combi boiler compared to the simplicity of a heat only boiler has to be taken into account. The average time to diagnose and return to service for a defective combi boiler is significantly longer than the average time to diagnose and return to service for a heat only boiler ""

The source is an internal company document which discusses the merits of district heating systems for new housing schemes

( "waste" heat from industrial activity being used to heat other buildings )

 

[denso13]

The average time to diagnose and return to service for a defective combi boiler is significantly longer than the average time to diagnose and return to service for a heat only boiler

I disagree with that. Combis have more "bits" yes, but still, usually, a simple fix if required.

 

[fixitflav]

Repair plans are available if anyone is concerned that much.

A rip-off for any domestic appliances IMO. And you're still less likely to need it with a heat-only boikler + cylinder system.

 

[denso13]

And you're still less likely to need it with a heat-only boikler + cylinder system.

So what? I've only ever said that the OP should get what is best for them. Others seem to be arguing against a combi at all costs. Sometimes they are the best option, sometimes they aren't.

 

[bernardgreen]

Others seem to be arguing against a combi at all costs.

The opposite is the people who seem to be arguing in favour of a combi.

Some times a combi is the best option ( profit ) for the installer.

Sometimes they are the best option, sometimes they aren't.

I agree. Sometimes a combi is the best option for the customer.

 

[Rodders53]

Bear in mind that once fossil-fueled boilers are banned even on replacement installs you will need a HW tank, somewhere, to go with the heat pump CH "boiler" you have to install.

So it may be better to invest in a good HW tank now and keep the existing system boiler if it is only the tank that is a problem.

(Oops. Wrong forum. This isn't the money saving one )

 

[denso13]

The opposite is the people who seem to be arguing in favour of a combi.

Who is?

Some times a combi is the best option ( profit ) for the installer.

And sometimes it isn't. Horses for courses.