A new boiler suitable for running a really good shower.

[gillb]

Hi - this is my first question, so I hope someone can help.

I need to replace an old boiler in a small terraced house. Space is an issue so a combi seems like a good idea... but how do I get the best possible shower? I currently have a standard boiler with a pump on the shower - very noisy. The whole of the plumbing is being ripped out so any option is viable. How do you all feel about megaflows - is the cost justified just to run one shower? Should I stick with a standard boiler and move the tanks into the loft (is that do-able?)?

Help!!

Thanks.

 

[bengasman]

Worcester 37 CDI. Provided your watermains coming in is a large enough size, you need 2 hands to hold the shower head. Enough power to run 2 showers at the same time if need be

 

[gillb]

I didn't think you could get that much pressure without a pump? Sounds great. Thanks so much for your help.

 

[muggles]

Consider purchasing a shower designed for a combi, the Mira Combiforce is a fantastic shower on combi boilers

 

[jlacd]

We have a Vokera (28i, I think) combi. Reasonably compact, and no problem heating enough water for 2 showers. One at a time, and the pressure's enough to flay your skin off...... but that depends on your mains pressure. If the mains pressure is good enough, no need for a pump - the boiler will do the heating no probs.

 

[gillb]

Well that one seems a lot cheaper than the Worcester... but how do I check my mains pressure? The house is a Victorian terrace in Wimbledon... I don't hold out much hope for new mains pipes!

 

[jlacd]

Well that one seems a lot cheaper than the Worcester... but how do I check my mains pressure? The house is a Victorian terrace in Wimbledon... I don't hold out much hope for new mains pipes!

Your water company should be able to provide you with this information, although I hear they do things differently in Englandshire.

If you turn your kitchen cold water tap on full tilt, what's the flow like? In all probability, that'll be your rising main pressure.

You need some hills around you for a decent head

 

[bengasman]

We have a Vokera (28i, I think) combi. Reasonably compact, and no problem heating enough water for 2 showers. One at a time.

Looking at it that way, you could say it has enough capacity for 17 showers, 1 at a time.
A bit like saying it will be 19 degrees tomorrow; 8 in the morning and 11 in the afternoon.

 

[gas4you]

See FAQ's for measuring flow rate.

For a large combi you will need around 18 litres/min incoming cold mains to get your monies worth from a big combi.

Look at the Vaillant 837 or the Broag 39C.

You also need to check you have access to the gas pipe from the boiler to the meter to be able to upgrade it when using a large combi.

 

[jlacd]

We have a Vokera (28i, I think) combi. Reasonably compact, and no problem heating enough water for 2 showers. One at a time.

Looking at it that way, you could say it has enough capacity for 17 showers, 1 at a time.
A bit like saying it will be 19 degrees tomorrow; 8 in the morning and 11 in the afternoon.

Oh yeah... I was a bit pisht last night, that should really read "for 2 showers at one time." Thanks for pointing that out!

 

[Pheedbak]

Well that one seems a lot cheaper than the Worcester... but how do I check my mains pressure? The house is a Victorian terrace in Wimbledon... I don't hold out much hope for new mains pipes!

Out of interest who are you using for your work? As im in Putney is would be good to get a recommendation .. if they work out

ta
Phil

 

[JohnD]

put a bucket under the cold tap in the kitchen, see how long it takes to fill up and see how many litres per minute that is.

That's the maximum you can hope to get out of your combi shower (you can't add a pump) or an unvented store as you are limited to what the water main delivers to your house .

It will probably be less than you can get out of your tank/cylinder/pump installation. Try the bucket test there as well.

 

[BigBurner]

In a small terraced house the combi is the only real choice. Cylinders is a real daft idea. If mainly showers and the odd bath then the Broag 30C is great and well priced. If the cold mains are poor get them uprated. Have a dedicated 22mm pipe from the stoptap to the combi cold inlet.

 

[JohnD]

I like cylinders

if you already have one, you have an excellent source of hot water that's capable of filling a bath faster than a combi. And of course you only need a 10kW boiler (for a small house) instead of a 30kW one.

most small terraced houses already have a cylinder, so they have room.

 

[BigBurner]

I like cylinders

You and reality relating to a small terraced house are at odds. Combis can do even two bathrooms these days and fill baths fast enough. It is not 1975 anymore. We don't need school boiler houses in people's homes.

If you have good mains pressure a quality combi should the first choice in any house. The plus points of a combi are well known.

As to 10kW, combis modulate down to well below 10kW, so not an issue.

You shouldn't have likes, you should be realistic and objective.