combi/megaflow dilemma

[Gypsy]

Tale of woe is as follows:

i) we live in 3 storey house: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom (with shower and bath); 10 radiators.

ii) we hired a plumber on recommendation of a posh bathroom shop to install a new suite bought from them, with continental high pressure mixer taps on bath and shower. Plumber also recommended and fitted a new floor-standing Potterton Kingfisher HF boiler. And to improve water pressure - which was fine for the previous bathroom (though it didn't have a shower) - he fitted a pump to which everything is connected: basin, bath and shower.

iii) the pump is unbelievably noisy and bedrooms are next door & above - like sleeping next to a concrete mixer which goes off every time someone turns a tap on;

iv) variety of plumbers/heating engineers through the door since to opine on best solution - which is megaflow (if it's a plumber) or combi (if it's an HE). We're told both solutions would allow us to dispense with pump and improve water pressure.

v) HE also says boiler is too small for house. Recommends replacing with a combi-boiler - either Baxi Max Flow or Vaillant Aquaplus.

What is the best thing to do? Really don't want to rip out brand new boiler, cylinder and pump but can't live with noise and want decent pressure and not the adequate but disappointing pressure we get without the pump. There are only two of us at the moment so not overly bothered about the combi problem of running two taps at once - but aware this can be a problem. Don't want a megaflow that runs out of hot water in a few minutes. We are in central London and believe the mains pressure is good.

Also, is there a market for second hand, nearly new boilers still under guarantee?

Thanks so much - all suggestions gratefully received.

 

[ChrisR]

You quite obviously need a Vaxi Megaflombi with an auxilliary 5 bar gate valve pump. For that you'd need the cellar and the attic but yours are too far apart so you'll have to move. Sorry.

 

[oilman]

If you can get rid of the pump, and put up with the adequate, and be dissapointed, life will be much less of a problem. Anything else is 1) going to cost you a lot of money, 2) cost you a lot of money, 3) cost you a lot of money.

 

[bripl]

get the plumber back speak to him about your concerns and try to work out your differences.pumps can be noisey but you can reduce the noise you could alter the pipework,pump for a solution no need to throw out a good boiler to replace with a combi which WILL give you problems as well as a megaflow.

 

[ChrisR]

Well you did say ALL suggestions

Lets start with the pump, what make is it - Salamander, Stuart Turneretc and how "big" - 2 bar, 4 bar or what? Does the pump supply the whole house? How is the pump mounted, is it on the floor or a wall bracket, and what is it actually sitting on.

Your dilemma is really very common - every solution has drawbacks.

What is your mains pressure? You oought to know - every visiting plumber should have measured it. If not, shoot them all and phone Thames Water to askl what they would expect the pressure to be on your manor. Generally in London it isn't great, unless you're at the bottom of a hill. Your flow should similarly have been measured - if not then feed bodies (above) to rats. Turn on your MAINS taps like the kitchen cold tap, and garden tap, and measure the floe in litres per minute at each while they're all/both on. Then add to give a total flow figure.

Because - eg, if you currently have a 4 bar shower pump, and 2 bar mains, you'll be ****ed off all the way from the bank if you have a Megaflo fitted. And if you only have 14 litres/minute, you will curse any combi, which will often sit there thirsty.
Yes there is a market for newish boilers, but, I hate to say, not like yours, even though yours will outlast about 3 combis.

 

[bripl]

may i add at least 3 combis