Sticking with conventional vented CH / HW system

[mrkjd]

A lot of folks on this forum are debating the pros/cons of unvented / combi systems. We have a 20 yr old conventional vented system in our 4 bed semi that needs a serious upgrading but like a lot of older properties (ours is a 100 yrs old) we have c**p flow rates / pressure.

I realise we can get the mains supply upgraded to 25mm plastic pipe etc but I was wondering if there isn't life in the old vented systems yet in terms of economy etc. How would a modern boiler and seperate HW Tank compare with an unvented system? Surely there are modern boilers which are highly efficent, heat water quickly etc?

So to all you old-timer-plumber types who hark back to the good old days of working in lofts breathing in rockwool dust, which modern boiler / hw tank / controller combinations would you recommend? I read something about a Valliant system that can all be linked to an advanced controller resulting in a highly flexible system.

Cheers

Kev

 

[Nixt]

Buderus 600R series. Standard HE boiler, large heat exchanger doesn't even have pump overrun and vented in-direct cylinder with high recovery coil. As for pressure it's only required on a shower (bath needs good flow rate only). There is even a vented cylinder made by Manchester Coppersmiths that has a mains fed (6ltr/min) shower coil built in to a standard cylinder. Otherwise use a shower pump.

 

[mrkjd]

Thanks for that advice. I've done a bit of looking around at that boiler and I like the wireless control integration and seems to have plenty of venting flexibility. I'm thinking of putting it in the cellar so that's useful.

I take it there are not so many options for Hot Water Cylinders then - any reputable make will suffice?

I don't really understand the advantages of a direct shower coil in the Manchester Coppersmiths option and have found little info on them on the web. Doe's it kick in automatically when you run the shower? 6 l/m doesn't sound that powerful either.

I hope I'm thinking along the right lines in sticking with a conventional system rather than an unvented or combi option. I just feel unvented are complex and recharging them a pain when "conventional" systems run for years with a minimum of maintenance. A large combi would suit us as a couple but a 4 bedroom / 2 bathroom house would appear to be at the upper end of a combi's capabiility and the advantages in larger houses diminish to some extent.

 

[tabs]

Look at a system boiler , either worcester or valliant. You have the advantage of still having enough HW to service 2 or more bathrooms in your cylunder but the system is unvented so you can get rid of your cold water storage and F&E tanks and the controls are all neatly integrated into the boiler.