Is a combi boiler right for me

Is a combi boiler right for me

 

Okay, so we get asked this question a lot! Is a Combi boiler right for me?

 

In this blog, we will try and answer this question from all angles.

The biggest factor of all is, how good is your mains pressure?

As a Combi boiler or a combination boiler requires a minimum flow rate to operate to its full potential.

Combi boilers have become ever more popular in customers homes accros the UKand manufacturers such as Worcester Bosch and Vaillant.  Who have created larger output Combi boilers to cater for our need for increasing space within our home by removing tanks, cylinder and such like.

However, the only way a large output Combi boiler already Combi boiler for that matter to work effectively and efficiently it needs a good mains pressure!

 

You have questions? – Well lets give you some answers!

How do you check this? Is my pressure good enough? Can I check this myself?

Simply put, the best way is to use a weir gauge or flow up, which can be purchased from places like Screwfix and Toolstation.  What this tool will do is allow water into the cup and where the water level line lies that’s what your litres per minute (roughly speaking) will be and this will give you a good enough idea on whether you can have a combination boiler first and foremost and potentially what size?

Pressure is also a factor, you need correct pressure which also needs checking again tools for this can be found online or at your local plumbers merchants.

Once you have established whether the water pressure is good enough to support a combination boiler, you can then understand what you would like to achieve from it.  With some other factors you may want to consider.

Now if you already have or have had a combination boiler or Combi boiler and you’ve been happy with it.  No complaints.  Simply replace it with a boiler with the exact same output.  

For example:  Simply put, if you have a Worcester Bosch 30si Compact, get a 30KW combi boiler.

If there are issues you have with your combination boiler, such as, shower isn’t strong enough or powerful enough.  It may be time to look at a more powerful combi Boiler. The water pressure and flow rate that you have been making these choices as larger companies come with larger price tags.

When moving over to a Combi boiler, and you’re used to having a tank fed system, there are some additional things you need to consider.

 

Boiler location:

A combination boiler looks after both heating and hot water in one unit, hence the name combination, it combines the two.

This Boiler will be producing your Hot Water and sending it to your outlets.  How far away is that boiler from those outlets?

As loft installations have become all more popular.  How far away will that boiler be from your kitchen for example?  This can sometimes result in lengthy drops and wasted water.  Not to mention the frustration of having to wait.

Think of how far the boiler will be from where you need it most.

Lifestyle:

How many people will be using it?   What time of the day?  Will there be other things on at the same time that use the cold water, such as washing machine machines and dishwashers? How powerful do you want or need your shower to be?  

These are things you need to ask yourself as a Combi boiler or combination boiler may not be the right fit for you.  In the right situation, they’re fantastic.  In the wrong situation they can become very frustrating and very difficult to reverse once done.  Not to mention costly.

In instances where you need two things to run at the same time or you want that wow factor Bathroom to really make the use of that overhead large rainwater type shower to rain down on you like the adverts.  Then you may need to consider (water pressure providing) an unvented cylinder.  Which we cover on another blog.  

Something that always needs checking with a combination boiler is the gas supply pipework.

Most combination boilers need at minimum 22 mm of copper supply inlet.  With the larger Combi boilers you could even need 28 mm or even 35 mm depending on the run, fittings used and output of your boiler.

Cost:

If you’re replacing a combination boiler for another combination boiler or Combi boiler.  If your current installation is a good one and has all the adequate pipework and fixtures and fittings.  Then this shouldn’t be an overly expensive project.  Costs on this can be found on other blogs that we have produced.  But you’re already ahead of the game as a lot of the work should’ve been done for you.

If you are looking at replacing your existing heat, only boiler or system boiler or tank fed system.  Then costs can vary depending on all of the above and the work that’s involved.  There are an awful lot of things to consider with costs.  A good place to start is by having a train professional visit to look at all of the above and tailor make a package based on your needs, requirements and budget.  

This is where a site survey could save you a lot of frustrations down the line.  Allow you to understand the good and the bad of what a combi boiler can do for you.

Disruption:

Levels of disruption very much depend on what’s involved with your job.  With all the above considered are their additional pipes needed?  Larger gas supplies require required?  How does the flu leave the home?  Is this via a wall or by the roof?  Is scaffolding required?  Will this affect existing components within your home such as toilets and showers?  

A surveyor or site vist from a professional should be able to tell you if they visited but if you’re changing from one system to another there is bound to be disruption to your home.  Anyone taking this project on for you should be notifying you of such and protecting your home with the sheets, barriers and side areas where Waste can be left for collection.

Control:

The great thing about a Combi boiler is that you open the tap and the boiler should fire sending the perfect amount of hot water to your appliance or outlet.  If that’s all looked after all you need to worry about is when the heating will come on for you.

Now there is plenty of choice out there when it comes to controls, we urge you to do your research as to what could work best for you.

We have programmable wireless room thermostats, enabled thermostat such as Hive and Tado.

There is an awful lot of choice that to be honest with you would take up far more of this blog. The possibly needs to and warrants a brand-new blog or to explain this in better detail.  But we thought we’d pop a couple of links here to show you the most common we use.

To summarise:

If you are replacing a combination boiler that you have been happy with for many years.  Replacing it with a like for like is going to be the right fit for you.  For that, you could, dare we say it, should, just by a boiler online.  Find a good solution for you online without the necessary need for a Trade person to come and see you.  Just replace what you have with something similar and that should work.