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Original poster

Boiler in the loft

26 replies

SparkleTwinkleShine · 04/02/2020 21:42

Viewed a house and the system boiler has been removed from an airing cupboard and replaced with a combi boiler in the loft. There is no ladder to the loft fitted. This seems really odd to me and has put my off the house! How easy or difficult would it be to move it back down into the house?

Maybe one for @pigletjohn ?

OP posts:
PiecesofSixty · 04/02/2020 21:53

We moved a boiler from the kitchen into the loft. We do have a ladder though. It freed up much needed space in the kitchen.

The only time we need to access it is for its annual service - or VERY occasionally to top up the water pressure if we've needed to bleed the radiators.

What is your issue with it being in the loft? It was probably the hot water tank they removed from the airing cupboard and now you have that extra storage.

Original poster
SparkleTwinkleShine · 04/02/2020 22:03

The controls seem to be on a wireless control panel so I am concerned this won’t be reliable and I am worried about access for boiler services. And won’t the loft be too cold in winter for a boiler?

OP posts:
mildlymiffed · 04/02/2020 22:07

The house that I've just bought has the boiler in the loft. It didn't have a ladder. I just had one installed as well as having the rest of the loft boarded. If this is an option- why don't you just deduct this from any offer you'd be happy to make.

I don't think it's that unusual nowadays. Frees up space elsewhere in the house.

NigellaAwesome · 04/02/2020 22:11

I don't think there is any issue with the boiler being in the loft in terms of its functioning. Ours is in the loft and is fine.

The only issue is access, and it is easy enough to install ladders. If the house is otherwise good, then I wouldn't let it put you off.

PiecesofSixty · 04/02/2020 22:25

Our boiler has two setting dials: one for CH and one for HW. We have both set at eco.

On the wireless control panel we set the days of the week and times we want the CH to come on / go off and the temperature. We like ours at 18.5.

If we come home early we can use the wireless controller to switch the heating on for us. If we go on holiday we can put it in "holiday mode" to stop the pipes freezing. Keep the wireless controller in the living room you use the most. The only thing it'll need is new batteries once in a blue moon.

You don't need access to your boiler. Put in a loft ladder rather moving it.

It wouldn't have been installed in the loft if there was an issue with temperatures - hot or cold.

Kittypillar · 04/02/2020 22:35

Our boiler is in the attic and it hasn't caused any issues so far. We do have a ladder up to it, it would be easy enough to add that though. If that's the only thing putting you off the house, I would say not to worry.

Janleverton · 04/02/2020 22:37

Our boiler is in a cupboard outside! Used to be in an old fireplace in the kitchen. Fireplace was knocked out when we redid the kitchen and the boiler put in the stack outside. Not a problem in relation to it working.

mineofuselessinformation · 04/02/2020 22:38

You just need to make sure the vent pipe is adequately insulated so it doesn't freeze.

Doryhunky · 04/02/2020 22:40

I have this. The only issue is some firms won’t service it due to difficulty of access which means I have to pay more to get someone to do it.

titchy · 04/02/2020 22:42

Just put in a loft ladder Confused

PiecesofSixty · 04/02/2020 22:44

You could find out from the seller who services the boiler. We took over the maintenance contract when we moved in.

Do you like the rest of the house OP?

Bourdic · 04/02/2020 22:47

In the last year we had two problems with our boiler which we spotted very quickly because it’s in the airing cupboard in the bathroom. I’d never want one out of everyday sight

Original poster
SparkleTwinkleShine · 04/02/2020 22:55

@PiecesofSixty It has a lot of potential. I am coming to realise that my perfect house doesn’t exist in the area I want to move to so there are compromises to be made.

@bourdic This worries me!

OP posts:
BuzzShitbagBobbly · 04/02/2020 23:11

So you put in a lift ladder and make a note to shin up there once a month to check it.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 04/02/2020 23:12

(I mean, a lift ladder sounds way better than a loft ladder, but either will work!)

GrizzleyBear · 04/02/2020 23:16

Or you put in a loft ladder and CCTV to monitor your boiler.

Muchlywrong · 05/02/2020 02:36

The boiler should be a ok in the loft. Only thing you should be looking at, is making it accessible. As mildlymiffed says, boarding the loft and fitting a ladder is what most service engineers want for boilers in lofts. What you should be looking for is that the pipework is insulated and that a frost thermostat is also placed ideally next to the boiler and wired in.

PigletJohn · 05/02/2020 15:15

the mender should expect a permanently fixed loft ladder with handrail at the top; flooring and lighting.

If any of those were lacking and he was injured, his employer's insurers will say he took unnecessary risks when he sues them for compensation, and they will instruct workers not to attempt servicing or repairs.

i'm not keen on boilers in lofts. you might not go up there from one year to the next, especially when you get a bad leg, and will not notice unusual noises or smells, or small drips and leaks. Also, when the house is empty and the heating turned off, there is more risk of freezing. Modern boilers usually protect themselves against freezing by turning themselves on when they feel cold, but there will be some unheated pipes. Lofts can freeze in a single night in very cold weather.

Modern boilers can be very small, for example mine fits in a 400mm wide kitchen wall cupboard.

Original poster
SparkleTwinkleShine · 05/02/2020 18:45

Thanks for the replies.

@PigletJohn does permanently fixed include a ladder that retracts? Ideally we would replace the boiler and put it in a better place but it was only replaced two years ago so it seems madness to be paying out for a new one already. I have no idea why it’s been put up there. The house is big and it could have easily gone elsewhere it seems!

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 05/02/2020 18:52

Yes. fixed at the top so it can't move or fall away, but slides or folds down for use.

mrsfee · 05/02/2020 19:00

Our boiler is in the loft and, if I'm honest, I'd rather it wasn't. BUT, that's where it was when we bought the house and there's nowhere else for it to go! Unless I make a feature of it above the stairs...

A proper loft ladder is on our to do list, but the lack of one didn't stop our plumber trying to fix the old then fitting a new boiler at very short notice when the old one died last October.

The loft location means I can't check in on it easily (if it stops working) as I have a 3yo who wants to follow me up the ladder, but other than that I haven't had any problems.

Peachi82 · 05/02/2020 19:33

We are thinking about moving the boiler into the loft. It is currently in my son's bedroom (although he doesn't sleep in it yet) and I find it rather noisy. It would also free up one alcove in his room for a cupboard for toys or a second wardrobe in case we have another child and they share the room.

It is colder in the loft (as not heated), not sure if this would be a problem :-(

Malvinaa81 · 05/02/2020 20:03

Don't buy the house- too much hassle with servicing/access/repairs.

Original poster
SparkleTwinkleShine · 07/02/2020 07:54

I’ve now been told that it does maybe have a loft ladder but no one can find the thing to open the hatch to check!

I think we are going to offer on the house with the knowledge that we might need a few £££ to move the boiler at some point.

OP posts:
Yellowbutterfly1 · 07/02/2020 09:25

I have my boiler in the loft with no issues.