We have had our Worcestor 9.24 electronic combi boiler for about 17 years now, its getting a bit long in the tooth and British Gas have told us repairs may be difficult in future as they have stopped making parts for our boiler.
We have 8 radiators (extended 3 bed semi) on between 7am and 9am, then 4pm to 10pm.
Our hot water demand is pretty sporadic, but tends to be 5:30am-9am and 6pm-10pm (we have an electric shower but this may change - we're planning improvements/extensions to the house).
Given the uncertainty in the energy market, I dont want to go with an all-in-one appliance as we have now. I want to keep using gas for now, so a gas boiler is a must, but I want some other means of providing domestic hot water outside the boiler - and obviously a small boiler is easier to change for an alternative heat source if required in future.
I have been reading about thermal stores - I never knew these existed until today - is it just like a normal cylinder in reverse? So all the heating water fills the cylinder and theres a coil of mains pressure water inside? I was wondering if these systems could be fitted with a 3kw immersion heater for top-up hot water when required - given that the electric heat would first be applied to the primary boiler water - would this work?
Also, do thermal stores have the facility to fit, say, a 10kw heating element in them to provide all of the house heating, should gas become impractical or expensive?
And moving from our old combi boiler to a thermal store system with a new efficient boiler - would we likely see an increase or decrease in our gas bills?
So many questions! Thanks in advance for your time. Any links or information appreciated.
We have 8 radiators (extended 3 bed semi) on between 7am and 9am, then 4pm to 10pm.
Our hot water demand is pretty sporadic, but tends to be 5:30am-9am and 6pm-10pm (we have an electric shower but this may change - we're planning improvements/extensions to the house).
Given the uncertainty in the energy market, I dont want to go with an all-in-one appliance as we have now. I want to keep using gas for now, so a gas boiler is a must, but I want some other means of providing domestic hot water outside the boiler - and obviously a small boiler is easier to change for an alternative heat source if required in future.
I have been reading about thermal stores - I never knew these existed until today - is it just like a normal cylinder in reverse? So all the heating water fills the cylinder and theres a coil of mains pressure water inside? I was wondering if these systems could be fitted with a 3kw immersion heater for top-up hot water when required - given that the electric heat would first be applied to the primary boiler water - would this work?
Also, do thermal stores have the facility to fit, say, a 10kw heating element in them to provide all of the house heating, should gas become impractical or expensive?
And moving from our old combi boiler to a thermal store system with a new efficient boiler - would we likely see an increase or decrease in our gas bills?
So many questions! Thanks in advance for your time. Any links or information appreciated.
