Talk to me about heating please 🙏

[Renovirgin2018]

We have just moved in to our renovation project and I am feeling totally overwhelmed 😫 First thing to do, I think, is remove the back boiler and upgrade the central heating system (the pipes going in to the rads look like thick wires, they are small). So what should I be looking for combi wise and heating wise? Are the standard rads a thing of the past? Please help!!x

how many people will live in the house? How many bathrooms/showers?

How old is it?

What size?

Are the downstairs floors wood or concrete?

Why do you assume a combi?

Thanks @pigletjohn

It's a 1930s 3 bed semi, with a front sitting room and we will knock through the back sitting room in to the kitchen, making a large family space. 1 bathroom, 1 shower ensuite in loft conversion plus 1 wc. Wooden floors throughout.

I assumed a combi was the best upgrade from a back boiler. I am happy to be corrected.

You'd probably do better with an unvented cylinder. It will be able to fill the bath quicker, and provided you have enough incoming flow from the watermain, will be able to give a good shower that doesn't fluctuate when someone turns taps on and off.

Your existing pipe is quite likely half-inch iron which might be leaking by now, so laying a new, larger plastic pipe out to the pavement will make a big improvement. If the pipe is lead, ask the water company to test your drinking water for lead content. Do that now. There may be a lead replacement subsidy or other assistance, such as free connection.

As you have wooden floors and are doing a refurb, you can easily put your new pipes under the floors. I expect you'll also be rewiring. If you don't mind the effort you can clean out the void and insulate between the ground-floor joists as well. This will make it more comfortable and reduce energy costs.

Bear this in mind when you look at the floors. Preferably have a recommended local carpenter in to take them up and screw down the new or renovated floors in such a way that it can easily be taken up. Plumbers tend to hack floors around with chainsaws and nail the bits back so they creak.

Thank you so much for the advice @pigletjohn

Also @Renovirgin2018 beware of a combi depending on the area you live in. We had a lovely combi installed in 2017, we have had to have the heat (induction?) plate replaced 3 times! The water in our area is full of limescale and scales the plate up until the hot water fails!

We had a normal boiler and hot water tank with no issues for 15 years.

We now have to have a water softener fitted at a cost of £1000 on top of the cost of the very expensive boiler two years ago.

It's my believe that a heat-only boiler and a cylinder will last longer and go wrong less often than a combi of equivalent quality, though opinions differ.

I've only had mine 11 years, and it hasn't gone wrong yet.

@PigletJohn

If only I had known that before I had the Combi put in. I know now.

Thanks @Tinty but luckily we are in a soft water area.x

Is there a particular model you recommend @pigletjohn? Would save me alot of leg work 😊

the three brands that keep coming top on "Which" are Vaillant, Viessmann and Worcester-Bosch.

If you read the reports you will also see which are the awful ones.

Gasmen will never agree on anything.

I'd suggest looking on the makers' websites to see if they have an Approved Installer near you. You will often get a longer warranty if you use one.

People seem to be happier with a local independent than a big company. You have a better chance of getting the work done by the owner, and of him/her being more experienced. You can look on the gas-safe register and companies house to see how long s/he's been in business, and that s/he doesn't have a history of going bust.

The recommendation advertising websites, that traders pay to be listed on, are a poor source. Personal recommendation from someone you know locally is better.

Good gasmen are very busy in winter, so wait for the warmer weather.

Mine is a Viessmann but I'm sure plenty of people are happy with the other major brands.