Boilers

[Confusedhousehunter]

We have a Vaillant boiler in our new house that we assumed to be a combi boiler. The hot water tank is still there and we thought it just hadn't been removed. We have now realised that it's still there as it's in use and the boiler is just for the heating.

Are we better off leaving it until it breaks down (as suggested by our surveyor) or should we replace it all with a combi?

Call Piglet John!

It depends how many bathrooms you've got.

Combis work best in houses with fewer bathrooms. If it's not causing you problems then why change it, unless it's on it's last legs and you need a new one!

combis mean reduced pressure and you are also stuffed for hot water if there's a power cut (hopefully an infrequent occurrence).

unless you need the space, leave it.

I planned on using the space as a linen cupboard but I guess having the hot water tank there would make it a better airing cupboard anyway?

what colour is the hot water cylinder?

Er blue/ grey

Fairly modern then, and no particular reason to change it. Conventional boilers are less complicated than combis, and have less to go wrong.

I expect the cylinder has (at least) oneone electric immersion heater, so can give you hot water even when the boiler is out of action.

P.s.

The gas boiler will heat the hot water cylinder, as well as heating the house.

It will be slightly more economical if you set the HW timer to run the boiler for about an hour in the morning and in the evening. With experience you will learn how long you need.

It will not give very forceful showers unless you have a tall house, but you can have a pumped shower if you want.

Thanks pigletjohn. I was going to ask if it would be more expensive to run.

slightly more economical than a combi, but you would only notice in summer.