Combi Boiler Instillation

[silliemillie]

I have a very old back boiler fire Central heating system.

Although it has served me well, there are some strange noises coming from it so was thinking of updating to a combi boiler before the old one gives up the ghost.

The one thing that's putting me off is the work involved, is it very disruptive? I have my house just how I want it including a new expensive carpet, have visions of them taking up the floors and carpets, please tell me they don't.

[gness]

Millie....I've had a couple of new boilers fitted with little disruption but I think there can sometimes be a problem with old pipes and radiators and new boilers.....

I did have a slight problem with underfloor leaks in this house but if you bump this up again in the morning one of the builders will answer I'm sure....x

[silliemillie]

Thank you Gness x

[Mosaic]

Our combi boiler was installed with a little disruption, but for me more important than them pulling up the carpets was the fact that nobody bothered to mention the pressure that a combi exerts on the rest of your plumbing - they were no sooner out the door than the kitchen flooded. Then the upstairs bathroom. 'Not our fault' they cried. And they left a leaky gas meter. 'They' being British Gas / Centrica. So it might be better to track down a good old-fashioned heating engineer to fix your back boiler.
In addition, they don't bother telling you that whilst you do indeed get hot water on demand, only one tap at a time may access it - OH seems to have an uncanny knack of filling a kettle when I'm in the shower, so I get a refreshing splurge of cold water.

[The Builder]

There's not a lot in a back boiler to go wrong, Millie, if it's a solid fuel one. More complicated if it's a gas fire/boiler.

Strange noises tend to be air gurgling in the system. Well worth having someone check it for you, before you decide.

All layouts are different. Conventionally, you'll have an immersion cylinder in an upstairs airing cupboard. This would be taken out, and the Combi fixed there.

As for disruption: you need to fill out a short questionnaire, Millie ;o)

Solid fuel or gas?
Immersion cylinder in airing cupboard?
House/bungalow?
Gravity system (very old) or a circulation pump with a roomstat on the wall?

[silliemillie]

Thanks so much for your answers, think I will keep the back boiler for as long as I can.

[silliemillie]

Builder - just in case I have to replace the answers are
Gas
Emersion
House
Room stat.

Many thanks

[BlueToffee]

Changed to a combi boiler in our old house about 12 years ago, the difference in efficiency and heating bills were a pleasure.

Having recently moved to a new, to us, house with a boiler that came out of the Ark, we have the plumber coming next week to replace it with a condensing combi boiler. Can't wait.

Believe me, what little disruption you'll get will be worth it in the long run.

[berniecuddles]

hi silliemillie had a new boiler fitted this year couple of terrific guys advertise in our local paper so we got them in couldn't have been two better people no mess no hassle in and out in a day just had to bend a few new pipes about under the boiler to fit it easy peasy no need to touch the carpets or anything else the only time there may be mess if you want it moved to another part of the house but just leave it where it is. do not use British gas i got the same job done £2300 cheaper with these guys plus i had 4 new rads put in as well

[atalanta]

I had this done earlier this year. Old boiler was downstairs, new one had to go upstairs. Most of the piping ahd to be changed, floors and carpets had to come up, some radiators had to be changed, and a new one added, disruption was the best part of a week, with no heating or hot water for that time - in January - and the whole thing cost me well over 3 thousand. And the shower is still dripping badly.
One big thing was where the condensing flue exits from the house. It is really important to get it in the right place. It can cause damage ( eg, a carport, ) or it can be damaged by weather.

[The Builder]

Ok Millie. I guess they would put the Combi in the airing cupboard. The flue should go out through the roof. Getting a gas supply up there might be disruptive. Nothing horrendous though.

Further disruption would depend on how sound the existing radiator system is.
Have someone quote and talk you through it when the time comes.

[silliemillie]

Thanks again for all you answers, very mixed bag, lots to think about.