Any reason not to go for a combi boiler?

[Rustychain]

I currently have a traditional vented system. I'm replacing the old, tired boiler on the grounds of greater efficiency. I'm planning to go for a combi, unless there are any good grounds not to?

If it helps I live in a 3 bedroom semi with one bathroom (shower over bath). We may get a 4th bedroom in time.

Cheers

 

[keego]

This one is really down to individual choice, personally I prefer a conventional system over a combi system because you always have some form of back up with it. If your boiler packs up you still have hot water from the immersion heater, whereas with a combi when it packs up you have nothing, another plus point is if the water is turned off to your area unexpectedly you still have enough water in the storage tank to last you 24 hours if your careful.
One piece of advice I always give customers who are thinking of changing to a combi system is to get an electric shower fitted.

 

[easybuy]

Keego why fit an electric shower?

 

[ChrisR]

He's a pessimist . Combis fail. But then so do electric showers!

 

[bengasman]

A good model combi that is installed properly and maintained has very little chance of failing. A conventional boiler with various components spread through the house has a higher likelihood of developing problems, not to mention the higher cost of installation and operation. They used to have open vent systems and tanks and cylinders on the continent, but did away with them decades ago. You could ask the question: is the whole of Europe nuts for changing to combis or are we suffering from stick-in-the-mud-mentality?

 

[JohnD]

but "even" combis do fail. What do you think a typical life is? Five years? Ten?

If you have a cylinder with an immersion heater; or an electric shower, you can get by in reasonable comfort for those few days or weeks before you have it mended or have a new one installed.

The UK is different from some European countries in having more houses than flats, mostly with a loft and a water tank. And less water mains pressure and flow.

 

[Nixt]

A good model combi that is installed properly and maintained has very little chance of failing. A conventional boiler with various components spread through the house has a higher likelihood of developing problems, not to mention the higher cost of installation and operation. They used to have open vent systems and tanks and cylinders on the continent, but did away with them decades ago. You could ask the question: is the whole of Europe nuts for changing to combis or are we suffering from stick-in-the-mud-mentality?

The switch away from tanks in Southern Europe co-incided with the switch away from district heating and water heaters, and as most of these properties are flats the combi is the main option. The tradional open vent autonomous system (UK style) has never seriously existed in many parts of Europe.

 

[keego]

A good model combi that is installed properly and maintained has very little chance of failing.

A good model combi that is installed properly and maintained has every chance of failing.

A conventional boiler with various components spread through the house has a higher likelihood of developing problems, not to mention the higher cost of installation and operation.

A conventional system is no more likely to fail than a combi.
The OP already has a conventional system fitted so it would be more expensive to convert it.

They used to have open vent systems and tanks and cylinders on the continent, but did away with them decades ago. You could ask the question: is the whole of Europe nuts for changing to combis or are we suffering from stick-in-the-mud-mentality?

The whole of Europe is nuts!

 

[mikej2005]

I converted a traditional CH system to a combi-based system in my previous house (which was a 3-bed semi) and never regretted it.

I did, however, decide to keep the existing electric shower and that proved useful on a number of occasions because the combi was a Baxi Bahama - a combi which is now known to have had a few 'issues' !

If you do go for a combi, then (as with any kind of boiler) make sure your current system is properly flushed and cleaned out first and also search the forum for advice on the better combi manufacturers. I've gone for a Worcester Bosch 37CDi in my current house (4-bed detached) which has been a vast improvement on my experience with the Baxi. You'd probably get away with a less powerful combi though, depending on your hot water requirements.

My gas bills are currently around half what they were this time last year with the ancient floorstanding boiler I had previously - it'll be interesting to see if this holds over the colder winter months.

 

[Rustychain]

Thanks for all the responses.

We had a Vokera combi (already fitted) in our last house which worked very well. That was except for when the diaphragm went and a local plumber charged me £80 to replace it (a bit annoying when the part only cost £2.73 and he took five days to do the job, but that's another story).

I'm glad to hear there are no particular issues with combis. Looking forward to reclaiming some of my attic!

As for brands, I'm very interested in Bosch or Vaillant (recently recommended in Which?).

 

[simond]

My brother got a few issues of 'Which' the other day as part of a 'try before you buy' promotion.

When I was a nipper my parents subscribed for a few years and I used to enjoy reading about the exhaustive tests and accelerated wear they put the products through.

The 2007 version is more like my wife's Good Housekeeping. Couldn't really see that they do anything technical or challenging to test products, they just regurgitate manufacturer specs. Had to wonder if they ever actually tested anything?

Might explain how they rated Baxi Group stuff highly though