Back boilers

[knight]

Hope to be moving house soon, and the new place needs a new boiler (according to the survey). It's currently got a back boiler, anyone got any suggestions as to a replacement? Shall we go for a new back boiler and new fireplace (as we will be looking to change that anyway) or go for a normal wall mounted boiler? I know a straight like for like replacement will be our cheapest option, but are back boilers any good?

[SplatSpeed]

hi are we talking gas or wood

gas replace with modern combi boier

wood replace with boiler stove with built in back boiler

[Red Cabbage]

Rip out the back boiler and throw it away, fit a decent gas fire and a combi elsewhere in the house, ideally where your hot water tank is now.

When I looked into it, the cost of compliant back boilers was prohibitive and choice limited. Hot water pressure was likely to be comparatively low and I would still have to put up with two old water tanks in the system.

[knight]

It's a gas system

[dirkgently]

Ask a plumber to visit the site and discuss you requirements,if the first thing they say is "Rip it out and fit a combi." show them the door.

[Ferg]

SplatSpeed said:

gas replace with modern combi boier

Red Cabbage said:

Rip out the back boiler and throw it away, fit....a combi elsewhere in the house,

WHY??

What do you know about the system? What are the hot water requirements? What is the flow rate coming into the house? What is the pressure like?

Sometimes PH is just such a load of bks.

Edited by Ferg on Saturday 2nd October 08:55

[Red Cabbage]

Ferg said:

SplatSpeed said:

gas replace with modern combi boier

Red Cabbage said:

Rip out the back boiler and throw it away, fit....a combi elsewhere in the house,

WHY??

What do you know about the system? What are the hot water requirements? What is the flow rate coming into the house? What is the pressure like?

Sometimes PH is just such a load of bks.

Edited by Ferg on Saturday 2nd October 08:55

I tried to answer the OP's question with only limited information, by sharing my personal experiences in this area. So someone sees fit to chime in with capslock and double punctuation and start cross examining me.

Sometimes PH is just a load of bks.

Time to delete the thread from 'My Stuff' and ignore the wkers!

[Ferg]

Red Cabbage said:

Ferg said:

SplatSpeed said:

gas replace with modern combi boier

Red Cabbage said:

Rip out the back boiler and throw it away, fit....a combi elsewhere in the house,

WHY??

What do you know about the system? What are the hot water requirements? What is the flow rate coming into the house? What is the pressure like?

Sometimes PH is just such a load of bks.

Edited by Ferg on Saturday 2nd October 08:55

I tried to answer the OP's question with only limited information, by sharing my personal experiences in this area. So someone sees fit to chime in with capslock and double punctuation and start cross examining me.

Sometimes PH is just a load of bks.

Time to delete the thread from 'My Stuff' and ignore the wkers!

Leave it to those that know, rather than guess. I find that's best when people come on here asking for help.

[Red Cabbage]

Ferg said:

Leave it to those that know, rather than guess. I find that's best when people come on here asking for help.

Yes, sorry officer.

[Ferg]

Good retort.
I look forward to many more informed posts. Are you as knowledgeable on other subjects?

[ChrisRS]

I've got a back boiler in mine, admittedly it a very old system (Prob 20 years!), the only thing i don't like about the system is the fact that if you've got the tv on low volume you can hear the boiler firing on and off as the stat calls for more heat.

[Ferg]

ChrisRS said:

I've got a back boiler in mine, admittedly it a very old system (Prob 20 years!), the only thing i don't like about the system is the fact that if you've got the tv on low volume you can hear the boiler firing on and off as the stat calls for more heat.

If it annoys you and you're keeping it you could put a suppressor capacitor across the switch.

[oldbanger]

I've an old back boiler with the integral old brown gas fire out front.

Apart from being noisy, we have a problem because the airbrick fitted in the living room (apparently a legal requirement) makes the room very cold, no matter if the boiler's firing or not. On top of that, the lack of a thermostat means that we can either have hot or cold elsewhere in the house.

Our plan is to move to a combi boiler in the garage, it's just not happened yet because of the upheaval and cost involved.

Edited by oldbanger on Saturday 2nd October 16:03

[Ricky_M]

Baxi now make an A-Rated back boiler, but they are quite expensive and come with electric fire fronts not gas.

Combination boiler is an option, but as Ferg said, hot water demand and incoming mains water flow rate and pressure are factors to consider.

If a combi isn't an option. I'd replace the back boiler with a wall hung regular boiler. The new boiler will be room sealed, so no draughty vent in the wall and you can have a nice new gas fire instead of the horrible ones that come with back boilers!

One problem which you may encounter though is space to install a wall hung boiler and running pipework to it.

[miniman]

Red Cabbage said:

Time to delete the thread from 'My Stuff' and ignore the highly skilled plumber who can be relied upon to provide excellent, free advice within moments whenever a plumbing related thread is started!

EFA

[ChrisRS]

miniman said:

Red Cabbage said:

Time to delete the thread from 'My Stuff' and ignore the highly skilled plumber who can be relied upon to provide excellent, free advice within moments whenever a plumbing related thread is started!

EFA

Seconded, Ferg really knows his stuff, he's adviced me a few times and his advice is always spot on.

[SplatSpeed]

Ferg said:

Red Cabbage said:

Ferg said:

SplatSpeed said:

gas replace with modern combi boier

Red Cabbage said:

Rip out the back boiler and throw it away, fit....a combi elsewhere in the house,

WHY??

What do you know about the system? What are the hot water requirements? What is the flow rate coming into the house? What is the pressure like?

Sometimes PH is just such a load of bks.

Edited by Ferg on Saturday 2nd October 08:55

I tried to answer the OP's question with only limited information, by sharing my personal experiences in this area. So someone sees fit to chime in with capslock and double punctuation and start cross examining me.

Sometimes PH is just a load of bks.

Time to delete the thread from 'My Stuff' and ignore the wkers!

Leave it to those that know, rather than guess. I find that's best when people come on here asking for help.

to get corgi registered you need to install 5 devices and get registered. last time i looked

combi boilers are a modern standard efficent unit in the UK and well understood

i still see no major flaws in my advice. it is up to the original poster to use this advice as he sees fit.

i wait with baited breath for mister mouth's expert musings

[Herbs]

Combi's are an excellent invention but there ideal home in flats or small houses - they are just not efficient or capable enough in mid to large houses.

By all means scoff at the advice on here but it's correct and valid

[Arthur Jackson]

SplatSpeed said:

to get corgi registered you need to install 5 devices and get registered. last time i looked

combi boilers are a modern standard efficent unit in the UK and well understood

i still see no major flaws in my advice. it is up to the original poster to use this advice as he sees fit.

i wait with baited breath for mister mouth's expert musings

Then you haven't looked recently. CORGI registration means nothing. Gas Safe have held the register of competency for over a year now, or maybe two!

As above Combination boilers are suitable for some installations but definitely not all. Recommending something that may not be suitable, PARTICULARLY in the strong terms you appeared to does seem a little foolhardy.

[vanman]

SplatSpeed said:

Ferg said:

Red Cabbage said:

Ferg said:

SplatSpeed said:

gas replace with modern combi boier

Red Cabbage said:

Rip out the back boiler and throw it away, fit....a combi elsewhere in the house,

WHY??

What do you know about the system? What are the hot water requirements? What is the flow rate coming into the house? What is the pressure like?

Sometimes PH is just such a load of bks.

Edited by Ferg on Saturday 2nd October 08:55

I tried to answer the OP's question with only limited information, by sharing my personal experiences in this area. So someone sees fit to chime in with capslock and double punctuation and start cross examining me.

Sometimes PH is just a load of bks.

Time to delete the thread from 'My Stuff' and ignore the wkers!

Leave it to those that know, rather than guess. I find that's best when people come on here asking for help.

to get corgi registered you need to install 5 devices and get registered. last time i looked

combi boilers are a modern standard efficent unit in the UK and well understood

i still see no major flaws in my advice. it is up to the original poster to use this advice as he sees fit.

i wait with baited breath for mister mouth's expert musings

I think all Ferg was pointing out was that the suitability of a combi is dependant on a number of factors like flow rate,mains pressure and hot water requirements,at no point did you ask the op if he as aware of these considerations.By giving the answer you did you demonstrated that you have a lack of knowledge and understanding of the subect unlike Ferg who is qualified and experienced in the field.

In my work as a field service engineer for a leading boiler manufacturer I frequently come across combi installations which haven't taken these considerations into account causing a great deal of disappointment to our customers.It simply shows a lack of understanding or care by the original installer,some of whom like you think the combi is the ideal boiler for every situation,which it quite simply isn't.

If you search Fergs' previous post you will see that any advice he gives is based on many years of experience and careful consideration,so i'm sure you can understand his annoyance when someone says "Replace with modern combi" without knowing the op's situation.