Ask The Trades - Print Page

Ask The Trades
https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Plumbing Questions >> To combi or not to combi.... https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1183396627 Message started by londonman on Jul 2^nd, 2007, 6:17pm

Title: To combi or not to combi....
Post by londonman on Jul 2^nd, 2007, 6:17pm

...that is the question. It's a replacement system in a smallish black&white that is being upgraded to the latest insulation specs etc. Floor area approx. 120sq m in total (ie 60 sqm per floor). One family bathroom and two en-suites proposed.

If I went for a larger oil-fired boiler should it cope with the demands ? Just exactly what does happen if say, someone was running the bath at the same time as someone else taking a shower and someone else was filling the kitchen sink?

Title: Re: To combi or not to combi....
Post by chtechie on Jul 2^nd, 2007, 8:18pm

I think you've answered your own question - Even the best combi boilers have a limited flow rate - In the winter flow rate will drop because the mains supply is colder - Some combi's do have a small storage tank which goes some way to dealing with the problem. But then if you've got a pad with 3 bathrooms, a wife & teenagers you could connect to the local power station cooling towers and still run out of hot water (if they take after my lot).

Title: Re: To combi or not to combi....
Post by londonman on Jul 2^nd, 2007, 8:28pm

Well...there's only me and the missus and we both prefer showers so it would probably do for us but I'm not sure what the 'man on the Clapham omnibus thinks' especially when it comes to reselling the property.

Title: Re: To combi or not to combi....
Post by thescruff on Jul 2^nd, 2007, 8:55pm

If it was my own house I would fit an air source unit and a pair of solar panels.

www.3rdrockenergy.co.uk

Title: Re: To combi or not to combi....
Post by londonman on Jul 19^th, 2007, 9:47pm

thescruff wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2007, 8:55pm:

If it was my own house I would fit an air source unit

www.3rdrockenergy.co.uk

I like the idea having had the idea of a ground source heat pump whacked on the head when I realised how large an area of the garden needed to be dug up....

But aren't the air source units noisy?

Title: Re: To combi or not to combi....
Post by thescruff on Jul 19^th, 2007, 9:55pm

Not at all. you could sit in the garden and not hear it

Title: Re: To combi or not to combi....
Post by eds dad on Jul 19^th, 2007, 11:15pm

Scruff hi

I'm having a new CH system put in my new extension and want a unvented cylinder for a 4 bed two shower 1 bath house would a 180 cylinder be adequate ?
Also do you have any comments on Vallient ecotec 630 , Viesmann vitodens 200 or would you recommend a Buderus 600??

Every plumber offers a different make saying something derogatary about the last make.

Also I'm struggling where to put my flue terminal , my original spot on the gable end which is about 500mm above and 250mm away from my neighbours hip roof has been questioned. Would building control give a suitable spot or could I fit a verticle flue with a spinning disperser?

Any assitance would be very much appreciated.

Ta