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Property/DIY

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Heating & hot water system in bungalow

27 replies

MinnieGirl · 27/12/2025 08:56

We have been desperate to move to a bungalow. Had an offer accepted but the buyers hadn’t found anything after four months and we got fed up of waiting. A few have now come onto the market and we’ve offered on one of them. We’ve always known we would have to compromise on something….but this one kicks most of the boxes. Really good location. Decent size rooms. Not too much needs doing. Had a level 3 survey and it’s shown loads of moss on the roof and full gutters, which hubby is panicking about. But it’s also shown a strange (to me) heating and water system. Now I’ve got a Combi boiler that heats and provides hot water. The bungalow has a boiler in the kitchen that supplies the heating system. And a hot water tank in an airing cupboard next to the kitchen. But there is a cold water tank in the loft… apparently the mains water supplies the kitchen sink and the outside two. The bathroom is supplied by the cold water tank in the loft. Now we don’t really want a tank full of water in the loft. So can we get it removed, take out the hot water tank and put in a Combi boiler? And can we sort out the water supply so all our taps are fed directly from the mains? And roughly how much would this cost? Any help gratefully received

OP posts:
Wot23 · 31/12/2025 15:25

PigletInABlanketJohn · 31/12/2025 10:39

There are people who believe this.

However, every time you turn in a hot tap, you heat up the metalwork and water inside a combi by about 40C, and when you turn the tap off, all the residual heat slowly leaks away, until you do it all again next time you run a tap.

For HW, firing a boiler continuously for half an hour or so twice a day, to heat a well-insulated cylinder, that will stay hot, if not used, literally for days, is far more efficient. The cylinder stat will turn off the boiler as soon as it is hot, and it will not demand more heat until you use it. For peak efficiency, use the timer as well so it is only heated before morning shower time and evening bath time. That way the boiler only runs twice. If you have a big cylinder (which is common modern practice) you may only need to run it once.

A modern boiler can heat a modern cylinder in about half an hour, even a big one, and after running a bath, it will be hot again ready for the next bath by the time you have wallowed about, towelled yourself dry, and cut your toenails.

Modern white cylinders usually run straight off the waterman, at good pressure, and do not need a cold tank in the loft. But an old house will need replumbing with new pipework to get the best out of them.

and there are people who refuse to acknowledge comments in context (and/or believe the moon is made of cheese)

as I said (3 times now) it depends who is in the property. That is not a question of belief, that is a matter of fact based on actual heating bills and water use.

MinnieGirl · 31/12/2025 16:29

There are just two of us, hubby and myself. No bath and no dishwasher.

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