Combi - to replace - or not, and what with?

[Graphite]

My current combi boiler is an Alpha CB24. Fitted about 7/8 years ago. The property is a large 5 bed dormer bungalow with currently a shower upstairs. We have 12 radiators.

Due to house modifications taking place the Alpha needs to be moved from 1 wall to an adjacent wall and the gas pipe currently in 15 mm pipe will be changed to 22 mm.

We will be adding another shower downstairs so could ideally do with a more powerful boiler to ensure both showers can be run without 'problems'

Would you suggest that it would be most cost effective to replace the boiler now? I'm sure we could cope with the old boiler for a while yet until it needs replacing but with the amount of work in moving it, it surely can't add much more to the cost to replace it with a more suitable unit (apart from the new boiler cost obviously )

We had a quote from a company to fit a Vaillant Eco Tec Plus 937 which was £2415! this seems a bit high considering I have seen the boilers on the internet priced at £1100 inc VAT and delivery! - Is there much more work to installing a new boiler than moving an old one? - I am confused - any advice would be much appreciated

Many Thanks

 

[GodKnows]

I understand your concerns on the price, the internet has alot to answer for! (Another topic for discussion). The job isn't just replacing a white box where the old one is or to be moved. If you want to have an efficient and correctly fitted boiler in such a large dwelling I suggest you get at least three quotes. Bearing in mind the system will have to be thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the new boiler and now condensing boilers can be quite problamatic if not installed correctly as per the MI's. Again, explain to the RGI that you intend to add another shower room or bathroom, this will greatly affect the boiler choice for your home, both for effectiveness and efficiency. Look at worcester Highflow 440 CDi on the internet, that would cope with two bathrooms fella. Hope all goes well with your build....

 

[Graphite]

Thanks...

I know the internet causes problems for everybody trying to make a living selling stuff face to face

The Vaillant option was proposed by a company working with the building firm we have in, in order to cope with the 2 showers and and an extra 3 rads that we were thinking of for the new part of the build - going with electric u/f heating now instead though so thought the old boiler might handle the remainder for a while anyway...

 

[David937]

I would suggest a system boiler with an unvented cylinder, if you don't have the space then the Vaillant ecoTEC+ 937 is a very good boiler.

Both options require at least 20 litres per minute incoming mains, IIRC the pressure has to be about at least 3.5 bar too.


We didn't have the space for an unvented cylinder so we have the 937 boiler, very impressive hot water performance and very quiet in operation.

 

[GodKnows]

Electric underfloor heating is cost effective up to a certain size, cost is a major issue, never think doing a "make-do for now," will remedy in the short term, as often the case, the cost to re-adjust everything in the future might be more than you think.....

 

[Bambergaspipe]

Combis are meant for small flats and at the most three bedroom houses, sorry, they can`t do more than that, hot water delivery wise, no matter what the ignorants may say. and don`t turn more than one hot water tap on

 

[Graphite]

Thanks for your comments David...

We like the shower performance of the mains pressure hot water from the combi and purchased a Mira 405 (I think) for our old shower room that was designed to work well with combis - can't fault it. It does drop a bit of water volume when you flush a toilet or run a tap elsewhere in the house though...

Performance was increased noticeably when we had the old lead mains water pipe replced with the modern large bore blue pipe - the garden tap filled a bucket in about 1/2 the time

 

[swidders]

An unvented cylinder will provide hot water at mains pressure.

 

[GodKnows]

BamberGP has a valid point, an unvented cylinder and a system boiler is a good option as well. Again david points out some requirements...

 

[Bambergaspipe]

Thanks for your comments David...

Don`t mention it.. Pr*ick..

 

[Bambergaspipe]

An unvented cylinder will provide hot water at mains pressure.

Genius..

 

[Graphite]

Thanks for your comments David...

Don`t mention it.. Pr*ick..

By David I meant David937 - Bambergaspipe are you David as well?

If I've upset you I appologise

 

[Graphite]

Electric underfloor heating is cost effective up to a certain size, cost is a major issue, never think doing a "make-do for now," will remedy in the short term, as often the case, the cost to re-adjust everything in the future might be more than you think.....

It's just we've got loads of other stuff going on at the mo... and delaying another potentially large outlay for a year or 2 might help LOL

 

[Graphite]

Combis are meant for small flats and at the most three bedroom houses, sorry, they can`t do more than that, hot water delivery wise, no matter what the ignorants may say. and don`t turn more than one hot water tap on

The guy (CORGI) who services my boiler reckons he has had installed a Combi that will run his 3 showers quite happily...

 

[Bambergaspipe]

If I've upset you I appologise

Sorry, I didn`t mean you, I apologise.