Combi boilers and power showers

Hi, I'm hoping for some viable ideas here.

I want to upgrade the boiler to something more efficient - I had a Vailant condenser in my last place and it was really efficient. The problem I have is that the family bathroom has a pumped thermostatic shower and a pumped hot water tap for the bath. There is a further shower room that also has a pumped shower. I am aware that you cannot connect these showers directly to a combi boiler. I really can't be bothered with the grief and expense of replacing showers (fitted behind tiles). So, how can I keep my power showers and also benefit from a combi boiler for the central heating?

Why upgrade your boiler? Is it very old and dangerous?

New boiler approx. £2000

Saving per year approx £100?

Taking twenty years to get your money back.


Andy

ensure the mains pressure and flow are up to a decent level, and put up with a bit of disruption!

HERTSDRAINAGE2010 said:

Why upgrade your boiler? Is it very old and dangerous?

New boiler approx. £2000

Saving per year approx £100?

Taking twenty years to get your money back.


Andy

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Because from the gas bill we've just had - it is massively inefficient compared with the gas usage of other family members whose homes are much older and less well insulated than ours. I'm fully aware of the costs involved and having had a very efficient condensing boiler in my old place, I would like to replace the current one. Any solutions would be helpful, thanks.

There`s no real difference on the heating side between a combi and a system boiler,it`s all on the H/W side.
Install a Condensing "system" boiler(not a combi),this should in theory just be a straight swap,with a few tweaks here and there.

christastic said:

Because from the gas bill we've just had - it is massively inefficient compared with the gas usage of other family members whose homes are much older and less well insulated than ours.

Click to expand...

Rather than wasting money on a new boiler, have decent controls installed/upgraded first.

While the old boiler will be less efficient than a new one, that is only part of the system - items such as room thermostats, TRVs etc. will make a big difference, and will be a fraction of the price of a new boiler.

If the systems water is rot then a powerflush,a filter, TRV's and a better programmer may be all you need.

An Ideal Classic SE was about 78-79% efficient wheres most new ones are 90.1%

Unless you have an open flued kingfisher, Back Boiler or Something like a Thorn Olympic, then Id keep what you already have.

Theres some p1llock round my way advertising a saving up to 50% on your gas bill if you fit a new boiler.

Complete balls

oph said:

If the systems water is rot then a powerflush,a filter, TRV's and a better programmer may be all you need.

An Ideal Classic SE was about 78-79% efficient wheres most new ones are 90.1%

Unless you have an open flued kingfisher, Back Boiler or Something like a Thorn Olympic, then Id keep what you already have.

Theres some p1llock round my way advertising a saving up to 50% on your gas bill if you fit a new boiler.

Complete balls

Click to expand...

OK, we have a roomstat in the dining room (not ideal as next to kitchen which means large variations in temperature) and TRVs fitted to all rads, except the towel rails in the bathrooms. The programmer is a UP2 dual channel - which I have now set to more sensible times etc having just found the instructions. The hot water tank is insulated and has a thermostat set at about 60C.

My post was prompted by the huge (£150) gas bill from British gas for a month's usage - not their best tariff but relates to a using 115 imperial units (3633kWh), which seems like a huge amount for an average 3 bed semi, particularly compared with other family members much larger and less well insulated houses.

The house is fully double glazed with good spec units. Not sure if the cavity walls have been done (surveyor wasn't that thorough) and the loft insulation could be better but isn't too bad. I'm not sure when the central heating system was last drained down and flushed through. Any suggestions gratefully received.

270mm minimum loft insulation.

Andy