Advice needed - buying house with boiler in loft

[Claudia1234]

Hi all

This is my first post, glad to have found this forum.

I am in the process of purchasing a property (SE England) and I have some concerns regarding the installation of the boiler.

The property has recently been renovated and the owner has decided to instal the combi boiler in the loft (for lack of space in the kitchen, I think). I have heard mixed reviews on boilers in lofts so I am a bit worried and even considering withdrawing the offer! :(

I would really appreciate your views/experience/advice on the following:

1. In terms of compliance with current regulations, what are the key things I need to make sure that have been put in place (e.g. ladder, railings, etc)?
2. In terms of actual functioning and maintenance of the boiler, what are the key things that I need to look out for or ask questions about (e.g. location of controls, cladding of pipes, etc)?
3. Finally, what is your experience with a boiler in the loft? I am particularly concerned about problems with the frosting of pipes in the winter. Is there a way to avoid this problem altogether?

1. Anything else that you think I should be aware of.

Many thanks in advance for your replies.

Claudia

My boiler is in my loft conversion - in a cupboard in the bathroom. I find it very convenient to have it there, but I guess you're talking about an unconverted loft?

We had one in our last house - in an unconverted loft. It was fine. It didn't cause any problems when we sold the house either (7 years back) so as long as it was installed correctly I don't see this as an issue.

Hi MummytoMog - yes, it's an unconverted loft.

HortenMarket - how many times a year did you have to go up there? Did you have any issues with pressure? Was your loft boarded?

Thanks!

Ask where the pressure is topped up from and ask how often it needs topping up. It's a pain to climb into the loft everytine this needs doing

Check pipes are lagged and frost protected

If the flue runs vertically check that it is supported adequately

I never went up there! Other half did, but I don't remember him going up more than a couple of times a year. The loft was partially boarded and it was a terraced house so didn't get really cold up there so I can't remember if the pipes were lagged. Pressure was crap in that house though (but I hate combi boilers, but that is another thread).

If it is correctly installed by a gas safe registered engineer it should be OK.
There must be a loft ladder
it must be boarded in the area where the boiler is
and there must be a proper light (not a torch)

All these are so that it is easy and safe to get access to the boiler and work on it.

It is not an ideal location and would be a last resort because it is hard to get to when maintenance work is required or it is replaced. Some homes have them in the garage.

We've put ours in the loft but the pressure gauge and top up taps are im the bathroom so no need to go up at all. we live in a bungalow so in terms if defrosting pipes if needed it's a lot easier

Ours used to be in the garage and it was AWFUL.

Ours in going in our new loft conversion in a cupboard next to the bathroom - it was the preferred option by our plumber. I would want good access.

We moved ours into the loft a few yrs ago. It has been a nightmare ever since and every winter I'm up and down to sort it out.
Be wary, huge mistake on our part!

Ours is in the loft over the kitchen extension. It was there when we bought it, and it's fine. There is a good ladder, lighting and all boarded. I have had to go up about once a year to reset it. It isn't as handy as the kitchen but I have space for more cupboards! No idea about pressure as we have pumps foe shower and bath upstairs but I am not sure that that's because of the boiler's location.

Loft is perfect place for a boiler as it is out of the way - never understand why people have those big ugly things in the kitchen!

We had our new boiler fitted up there, no issues.

Mummytomog what was the problem with the garage? Our last one was in there?

Thank you all for your honest replies.

Penguinplease - what issues have you had with yours? Are you going to move it or fix it somehow?

Main issue is that the boiler has a preset freeze protection that kicks in when it's very cold outside. It then attempts to bring the loft temp up and over rides anything we do on the thermostat. So I have to go up and turn it off or open the loft hatch and let the hot air rise up to fool it. At it's worst it has brought the inside house temp up to 36 degrees. It's not my idea of fun trekking up there with the spiders to turn it on and off constantly!
It's annoying. Cost £6k to move it up there, no chance of moving it anywhere else but it's been a constant nightmare.

Penguinplease - i think I remember reading your story in another post. I am sorry you are having such a hard time, especially after having spent so much money. Is this a fault of the boiler? I mean, it would make much more sense if it were possible to regulate the freeze protection remotely, like you do with the thermostat. I am no expert though....

It constantly ticked over on frost protection and cost us a fortune by coming on randomly all winter. It also wasn't much fun defrosting the stupid condensate pipe in the snow.

Sadly I've had lots of people look at it in an attempt to override the settings but it's all internal and permanent to the boiler. Only option is to move it again which is out of the question.
If only British gas hadn't given us such bad advice!

Thanks for sharing penguinplease. Would it not be possible to get a new boiler which lets you control the freeze protection? Or are all boilers built in the same way? Would cladding the pipes help?
I am still undecided, I have had problems with brand new boilers in the past (and they were in the kitchen) so I am quite sensitive to the issue.

Sherbetips - is your new boiler in an unconverted loft? Do you have any tips on maintenance?

My parents have just moved house and needed a new combi boiler fitting (bungelow). Dad is very very handy and did a lot of research. He spoke to several gas fitters and eventually had it fitted by my much trusted fitter. All the fitters recommended the boiler be located in the loft.

Apparently the gravity helps with the water temperature in terms of how quickly your taps warm up. Parents bought a really good remote system, had a good loft hatch and ladder installed (for themselves and the fitter). No problems. I'm sure there was also some mention of it being safer in terms of CO leakages but I might have imagined that!

I'm not sure why this would be such a worry to you. Even if the system is very problematic, that is just a fact of life with home owning. Having boilers located anywhere doesn't mean they won't be hugely problematic (I know this!)

Who knows? Not really in any position to spend £££ on something that only might solve the problem having only recently paid off the finance for the current one.
I'm an expert on the workings of my own boiler now! Think it's best left as that , better the devil you know

Familyguyfan - thank you so much for sharing your experience with me. I totally agree with you, had so many problems with my brand new boiler fitted in the kitchen (gas vaulve melted for no reason apparently!!)

Penguinplease - I know what you mean, hope you have a trouble free winter!

I think you are being way too over cautious to think about withdrawing an offer cos the boiler is in the loft. Last 3 houses we've owned had boiler in the loft. No issues. When they were serviced heating engineers never batted an eyelid. Totally normal.

I had my boiler moved to the loft 12 years ago, it made total sense to.