Vaillant vs Main - new CH system, old house - confused!

[mysteryman]

You can consider a floor standing storage combi - a boiler and cylinder in one housing typically 600mm square, plus weather compensation for a thinking person such as yourself. Very easy to wire up!

The kitchen sink hot tap is usually the most frequent dhw drawoff, to be kept on the shortest possible pipe run.

 

[adlplumbing]

well main boiler do keep getting voted the best in corgi compertion
i come across them alot due to my work with land lords

 

[minniejp]

Quick update - have discussed the Vaillant (630) boiler with the plumber, and he can't think of a good reason to spend extra squids on getting the compatible uniSTOR cylinder...he still recommends a Main cylinder with the Vaillant boiler.

I assume I can't then use the whizzy Vaillant control centre etc, but am I being a boiler snob again - is there any reason why it would/wouldn't be better to get all Vaillant components? I'm all for saving money where it makes sense...!

Ta

Jennie

 

[Happyplumber]

personally in my home if i had to make a choice between the main and the vaillant then it would be a vaillant each time.Which exact model of main is he fitting the old band B type with copper heat exchanger or the new Main eco with aliminium heat exchanger

Neither of these boilers are as good as the vaillant ,with stainless steel He and robust reliable design,and yes i do fit main for landlords who need a cheap and cheerful combi which they expect to change when it becomes un economical to repair

The most important thing about the cylinder and controls is they are correctly designed and used can you ask your plumber what his intentions will be on zoneing the whole house and what kind of thermostats he will be using and what the set up will be

heatrae sadia make the megaflow,the santon cylinder and main cylinder all the cylinders with external expansion vessels are the same kit ie the santon premier and main cylinder are the same and come with 25 year warranty and industry standard insulation.


The unistor is pretty cylinder but i have never felt it justifies the extra cost and the santon is firm favourite

 

[minniejp]

Yes, we're definitely going with the Vaillant boiler after recommedations here, though I don't doubt the Main would do a good job too.

Thanks for the advice about the cylinder - that's what I was hoping to hear I think. The unistor IS pretty (!) but it's going to sit in a loft and hold hot water...a standard (Main/Santon) one will be just right I think.

Each floor (3) of the house will be zoned with a thermostat with all the controls next to the boiler in the kitchen, for ease of access. We'll have thermostatic valves on all the radiators and weather compensation. Does this sound right? I don't know what sort of thermostats will be used - what do I need to know about them to ask?! You're right, the whole system needs to work well together...I was just concentrating on the boiler and thinking the rest would take care of itself.

Thanks

Jennie

 

[Happyplumber]

If you are living in the house then it should be split into three zones using motorised valves and seperate programmble stats ,you need to discuss this with your plumber.

If he doesn't have clue then you need to call in someone who knows how to do this job properly .With zoneing many things can be achieved and areas which are not occupied do not need to be heated unnecessarily ,TRV's play a different role to proper heating zones

A heating system in property this size needs to be plannned and thought out properly,this will enable you to achieve ultimate efficiency and the boiler can condense properly

 

[minniejp]

OK, that's great thank you - it's really good to know the right questions to ask.

It's quite likely that they will do some or all of these things anyway - i know that the two main plumbers in the company spent a good long time sorting out the best way to do things, where to locate things etc. But I'm keen to make sure that the plumbers are good and that they are doing the best most efficient job. At least if I know what to look for and ask then a) I will feel more confident that our money is being spent wisely and b) they will suspect they can't pull the wool over my eyes (I don't think that's really an issue!!).

The plumber suggested the three separate programmable zones, and as you said, to allow us to turn off the top floor (rarely used) zone completely and heat the sleeping and living floors at different times. I realise they're different to radiator valves - I guess TRVs are just an added extra really if it's all zoned properly.

Thanks again

Jennie

 

[ianniann]

Each TRV is a zone, and are accepted as such by the regulations. However, they don't give you the ability to automatically program different settings at different times and they don't have the ability to control the boiler. You can manually turn them up or down but that still won't affect the boiler. They are best left to their intended purpose of maintaining an approximate temperature in that room when a separate programmer calls for heating in that zone. If you had sufficient fully programmable zones then you wouldn't need TRVs at all, but that's usually overkill.

 

[Happyplumber]

TRV's are good idea mainly for comfort especially if you have kids ,as for trv being zone valve i dont think so


I think you have an excellent set of professional plumbers who will be doing your heating system from what you are saying .Most tradesman are hardworking and conscientious and the lies we earn absolutely immense amounts of monies is not quite true,yes you can earn a decent living for doing a highly skilled job on the most expensive investment you will ever make in your life,one which over the years will only go up .

If you have any questions or are unsure of anything ask them i am sure they will explain things to you,unlike here where you have diyers and 6 week course wonder plumbers who probably know less then what a proper tradesman has forgotten will be making comments,on things which they have no skill in and just chancing it .

Good luck i am sure you are in good hands

 

[minniejp]

Ha, yes, they haven't started yet, but after getting all your good advice here I am much more comfortable that they are indeed the skilled plumbers I was hoping for - and they're very nice too, so that's good! Plus I now know a couple things to check with them and suggest, which can only lead to a better system in the end, if all avenues have been explored.

I had mostly been concerned about the false economy (or not) of installing a cheap and cheerful system, and I think that going for the happy medium seems best all round. Ideas on locating the cylinder have been useful too.

Always happy to hear any opinions, whilst remembering the proviso that some may be more valid/more experienced than others!!

Thanks all

Jennie