Boilers, again. Talk to me about combi boilers with storage tanks!

[wendybird77]

I know it is thrilling, but I have to make a decision about what CH system to put in. I've had 3 plumbers tell me 3 different things and give me very different costs. The house is large end terrace, 3 beds, will have 1 bathroom (shower and bath). Eventually will likely have another shower room and would like to future proof for this. I want lots of hot water. DH and I take long showers to get away from our small children. Eventually we will have teenagers who take long showers. Whilst taking these long showers I don't want the water pressure and temperature to go all funny because someone flushes a toilet or turns on the washing machine or dishwasher. I don't want to run out of hot water because DH nipped into the shower before me.

I don't want an electric shower. We have one in the annex for emergencies when boiler breaks down.

Currently we have an old, closed system with conventional boiler with HW tank in our bedroom and cold storage in the loft. The boiler and the HW tank have to be moved no matter what system we choose. I am creating a cupboard for the boiler / tank / water softener - so space / size isn't too much of an issue.

Water flow is good from both hot and cold bath taps (28 L / min). Pressure is good.

Is a storage combi boiler the answer? Anyone have one and can report? Is a conventional boiler with a megaflo system what I want? I am so overwhelmed with expensive choices I can't get my head around it all!

Any help, experiences, other options are gratefully received.

digerd

was it freezing in your area last night?

does the condensate pipe run in an area where it could freeze?

did the dripping stop once the sun came up and it was a bit warmer?

Piglet
It was -5 last night outside on my wall. But had boiler in 2010 when we had a week of -10, and not had this happen.
No, the pipe from the boiler is in the garage, the boiler is on the outer wall facing north
The drip stopped after the boiler got going and there is no sun on that side.
Thanks for asking.
Hope it will be OK tomorrow as going out for 2.5 hours in the morning.

Wendy

I have the Viessmann Vitodens 100 Compact, which is extremely small and very simple (hence I think not much to go wrong). Like all Viessmanns, it has stainless steel internal parts which will not corrode (my other reason). The first model 100 about ten years ago was a new design for the UK market, and apparently not very reliable. I have the second version which is fine, and the latest one is said to be even better. Viessmann is a very large German boiler company and I am sure they put a lot of work into the improved design. You should get a 5-year parts and labour warranty on the whole boiler, and ten years on the heat exchanger.

it is not a combi but feeds a hot water cylinder. In my case I have a loft tank but doubtless it would feed a megaflo

With your good water flow, I think a Megaflo or similar would be a good solution, and can have an immersion heater so you will get hot water even if the boiler is out of action. A great advantage over a combi.

Thanks Piglet, I appreciate the advice. It is all so much to take in and I really don't want to get it wrong or waste money getting way more than I need!

Just wondering if you got any further with your boiler decision? I have had a Baxi Combi System with integral water storage for the last 10 years. I have quite a large house and using 2+ bathrooms. The system has just packed up and, like you, I have been told so many different things by various 'experts' - some of whom did not know that some combi boilers had hot water storage! I've been told that I should have had a systems boiler or megaflow system in the first place and that the Baxi was not the right boiler for my needs - the thing is, that until it packed up, it seemed to accommodate our needs just fine - apart from the fact that it was an old type boiler, so was not as economical as the new 'A' rated boilers. I am now faced with the decision of getting another system like the one I have; albeit with now an 'A' rated combi (in other words an improvement on what I had, or going the 'system' boiler/megaflow route. The difference, I'm told is that the combi gives instant hot water always, whereas the 'systems' boiler does not give that guarantee, but has a water tank - aghhh! Has anyone out there got a Glow Worm Ultracom2 35HE Store Combi?? This is a fairly new combi boiler with, not one but 2 storage tanks for hot water - seems really good - am I mad? Help would be much appreciated!

@wendybird77 I know this is an old thread but did you go for the 222F in the end? If so, what are your thoughts and experiences. I'm in a similar boat and this seems to be a perfect option for me also.