What sort of Central Heating Boiler

When we downsized a couple of years ago from a house with a header tank to the bungalow, it had  a Combi- boiler already installed.  My wife complained that the combi - boiler takes a bit longer to start to supply hot water to the taps, particularly for hand washing. I like it however, as I am only paying for the hot water being used at the time and not paying to keep a header tank continually heated. ---- If I have to replace this combi-boiler in the future it will be for another combi-boiler. 

Regards  K 

We replaced our old back boiler and tank in the loft and hot water cylinder 7years ago,with a condensing combi boiler(veisman),which is fine as long as you fit one near as possible to your taps,we have ours in the utility room which is just under the bathroom,and to the left of the kitchen so quite short pipe runs,as this time of year,when the heating is on hot water to the taps is quick,in the summer the heat exchanger needs to heat up before it heats the water,

some of our neighbours have fitted them in their lofts above the bathroom and kitchen,but the lofts have to be boarded and decent loft ladder for them to be serviced,

Ps make sure the central heating is flushed as the exchangers  can sludge up if not(ours is to be done again in the new year)  

We had our very old gas boiler and hot water tank taken out and replaced with a Combi boiler a few years ago. We use the shower, and only on rare occasions have a bath. We have been very pleased with our choice. We did replace all the radiators at the same time as they were a real mis match.

I replaced a 40 year old oil boiler with a new, non condensing one 17 years ago and chose not to have a combi.  

We replaced a very old combi  boiler last year. Much faster hot water delivery to the taps and radiators. We have electric showers so not affected by the boiler, we have a bath but don't use it. The bath used to take ages to fill with hot water so I presume it will be better.

We had a combi boiler fitter about 3 years ago and have found it fine.  It takes a little longer for the hot water to come through the tap (I think), but we have not found the difference that great.  We tend to be using less gas overall.  It seems to be more efficient and we are pleased with our choice.

David 

No good asking me, we had our glow worm installed in 1979 and still doing sterling work.  During last service the engineer said a new boiler would be just over 10% more efficient but modern but they tend to have more technical breakdowns.  Apart from bi annual service the only other problem has been to change electric timer.

I had a pre-heat system fitted to my combi-boiler, which in theory heats up the incoming cold water and whilst boiler not firing up, will use the exhaust gas of the pilot light to capture some heat.

Regrettably, I have to take their word for it and have no scientific evidence of its efficacy.

Our boiler is coming up on 30 years old, never had a thing wrong with it, a Potterton.  They don't make them like they used to!

We had a chat with our heating engineer and he said....hang on to it till it dies!

There is more to go wrong with a combi, plus no modern boiler apparently lasts as long as the old ones.  Yes, old ones are far less efficient, but it will take a long time to save the cost of a new boiler relying just on the new one using less gas.  The "new" one will probably need replaced before you break even.

When our one does need to be replaced we will stick with a system boiler ( HW storage etc) and probably keep the present system of stored CW too as, although the pressurised systems are good for showers, we prefer to have some water available should the mains go down.  Also, our old pipework might not stand up to a pressurised system.

Our daughter has a pressurised system with stored HW and it is very good, just not for us.

Would not have a combi, if it goes you have no HW, heating can be replaced, but not HW.  Electric showers are pretty feeble, we do not really want one.

I think, other than that, combis work in a small house, but if you have 2 bathrooms, or long pipe runs they are not so suitable.

We live in a 3bed house and the heating has been on for quite a few hours every day since this cold snap started ,so just to reasure myself of how much it is costing have this evening given duel fuel meter readings on line to our supplier, and we are £53.65 in credit on our £42 monthly payments