combi/shower, desperate parent

sean wiles · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:25 pm Post Subject: combi/shower, desperate parent

the 16 year old regular type boiler (with hot tank in the airing cupboard, and mains feed i.e. no cold tank) in mydaughters top floor flat (3rd floor) is giving trouble, and the shower is very weak indeed. If I buy a new combi will the low shower pressure problems go away, or could it be a blockage to the shower as the pressure FEELS good in the kitchen (only by holding my hand over the taps!) please help, my daughter cant wash her long hair at home!! and I haven't got a clue about all this .The boiler was broke when she moved in , so I dont know how long the shower has been gutless.

Softus · Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:39 am Post Subject:

Which boiler, which cylinder, and which shower?

Nige F · Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:33 am Post Subject:

Rented? owned?.......mains cold to taps and a hot cylinder.......means there must be a cold tank for the cylinder

with a regular boiler as you said................look @ getting a Venturi shower .............costs less than a combi......or even overhaul the existing shower when we know what it is

sean wiles · Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 9:57 pm Post Subject:

thanks Nige, guess you are right, apparently there is a cold tank on the roof! so I guess this is why shower is nbg but there is good pressure in kitchen (mains fed?)
I've been told, fit a pump to shower or a combi boiler which is mains fed, but will need lotsa work to plumb in, AND"flippin eck"! £1500.......

sean wiles · Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:02 pm Post Subject:

oh, and sorry Softus, I dont know.....the boiler might be "valliant"???the tank is round and full of water (!) and the shower is a dribbly thing from hell.......

Softus · Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:49 pm Post Subject:

sean wiles wrote:

thanks Nige, guess you are right, apparently there is a cold tank on the roof! so I guess this is why shower is nbg...

Wrong guess - I don't know how many floors there are above your daughter's flat, but there being a cold storage tank/cistern at the top of the block means that the pressure ought to be good, not bad.

Quote:

I've been told, fit a pump to shower or a combi boiler which is mains fed, but will need lotsa work to plumb in, AND"flippin eck"! 1500.......

Fitting a shower pump will not cost anywhere that amount. However, you should check out whether or not you need the freeholder's permission.

sean wiles wrote:

the boiler might be "valliant"??the tank is round and full of water (!) and the shower is a dribbly thing from hell.......

Is this really the most specific you can get?

sean wiles · Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 5:51 pm Post Subject:

shes on the top floor! which I spose means low pressure from a tank only a few feet above.......
anyway, looks like we might go for a new combi boiler (ouch! £1500) which should give good shower pressure (mains fed) and be reliable for a few years. (the current boiler is 16 years old so may be unreliable in the future?)

anybody wanna comment?

Softus · Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:24 pm Post Subject:

sean wiles wrote:

shes on the top floor! which I spose means low pressure from a tank only a few feet above.......

No lower than the pressure in the average house.

Quote:

anyway, looks like we might go for a new combi boiler (ouch! £1500) which should give good shower pressure (mains fed) and be reliable for a few years. (the current boiler is 16 years old so may be unreliable in the future?)

anybody wanna comment?

My comment is that (a) you seem to be unable to provide the make and model of your boiler, and (b) you seem to be making your mind up about replacing the boiler without basing your decision upon anything in this topic. Wherever you're getting your advice from, I suggest you stick with it rather than flit around spreading sparse information and seeking half-ars*d advice.