Combi Boilers... any good?
Discussion
fastbikes76 said:
Gas combi...brilliant
Oil combi..run a mile
We specialise in Oil fired heating and you couldn't give me one for free ! However any property I've had with a gas combi has been faultless and trouble free.
I've had a Worcester Bosch 2025 oil-fired combi for about 15 years and apart from an annual service and a replacement flame sensor it has nothing done to it at all.Oil combi..run a mile
We specialise in Oil fired heating and you couldn't give me one for free ! However any property I've had with a gas combi has been faultless and trouble free.
KTF said:
Our previous place had a combi and our current one has a conventional setup with a tank in the loft.
I would not go back to a combi again and as/when this boiler goes pop I dont plan on replacing it with a combi either.
Could you expand on your reasons why you wouldn't go back to a combi?I would not go back to a combi again and as/when this boiler goes pop I dont plan on replacing it with a combi either.
Like KTF, I wouldn't have another combi out of choice.
Problems with insufficient flow on one and another failing after 4 years and being beyond economic repair killed the idea for me.
Conventional boiler for heating and a decent size mains pressure cylinder topped up with an electric immersion when needed. Economical heating which can be off in the summer and *almost* unlimited main pressure hot on demand.
Problems with insufficient flow on one and another failing after 4 years and being beyond economic repair killed the idea for me.
Conventional boiler for heating and a decent size mains pressure cylinder topped up with an electric immersion when needed. Economical heating which can be off in the summer and *almost* unlimited main pressure hot on demand.
Phill_1981 said:
Could you expand on your reasons why you wouldn't go back to a combi?
- 30 minutes is enough to heat up the tank and it lasts us for the rest of the day.- You don't have to dance around in the shower every time someone flushes the toilet, turns on another tap, etc.
- I get the impression that the boiler is under 'less stress' than a combi as it is still behaving itself after a good few years whilst people I know with combis are always getting people out to replace parts, the whole boiler, etc.
- When the boiler does expire I probably wont have to get a new gas pipe fitted from one side of the house to the other as they require less pressure than a combi to operate.
- Although I have never used it, if the boiler does pack up I still have the backup of an immersion heater in the tank to get hot water.
Edited by KTF on Thursday 25th May 11:04
Just to add i have a combi in my place, one thing that is rather annoying is in the middle of winter I have to try and slow down the flow of water filling the sink, it just is not big enough to heat the water fast enough. That said, we have got mega water pressure, and the incoming water is bleedin cold!
(Yes, I could fit a flow reducer, first world problems)
The near instant heat in the rads is very nice though!
(Yes, I could fit a flow reducer, first world problems)
The near instant heat in the rads is very nice though!
Chrisgr31 said:
We have a combi boiler in our house and hate it. if you are in the shower and someone flushes a toilet, outs the washing machine on etc you are leaping around as the water temperature changes.
I think that is a problem with your shower rather than the boiler type. We have a cheapish Mira shower and it is slow to react so you get a second or two of temperature changed water which is crap. Our other shower is an aqualisa and you cannot tell, it seems to sense it fast and change instantly so you never know.I personally love combis and wouldn't go back to the old style.
giger said:
We have a high flow combi in our house and it's brilliant! when it's due for replacement we'll be having another. 4 bed, 2 bathroom with 2 kids. Great water pressure and no issues with heating or hot water. I'm not sure why some many people are against them 
Just your basic luddism, really.TooMany2cvs said:
giger said:
We have a high flow combi in our house and it's brilliant! when it's due for replacement we'll be having another. 4 bed, 2 bathroom with 2 kids. Great water pressure and no issues with heating or hot water. I'm not sure why some many people are against them
Just your basic luddism, really.
If the boiler fails at any time, you have no heat AND no hot water, and can sometimes be a lot more expensive to repair.
And a lot of plumbers just fit one in place of an older system and don't take any existing set ups into account, primarily the multi use at one time.
As posted , they are a bit marmite but when looking at the real world aspects of them, they can be an absolute pain in the ass.
Alucidnation said:
Yes of course it is.
If the boiler fails at any time, you have no heat AND no hot water, and can sometimes be a lot more expensive to repair.
And a lot of plumbers just fit one in place of an older system and don't take any existing set ups into account, primarily the multi use at one time.
As posted , they are a bit marmite but when looking at the real world aspects of them, they can be an absolute pain in the ass.
Quite. My experience of them has been one of unreliability. A sound idea in principle no doubt and when it was working, it was brilliant - never run out of hot water.If the boiler fails at any time, you have no heat AND no hot water, and can sometimes be a lot more expensive to repair.
And a lot of plumbers just fit one in place of an older system and don't take any existing set ups into account, primarily the multi use at one time.
As posted , they are a bit marmite but when looking at the real world aspects of them, they can be an absolute pain in the ass.
boyse7en said:
I've had a Worcester Bosch 2025 oil-fired combi for about 15 years and apart from an annual service and a replacement flame sensor it has nothing done to it at all.
The old Worcester heatslaves were bullet proof and hands down THE best on the market, anything newer however...good luck. We are Warranty repair agents for one of the largest oil boiler manufactures, and we still refuse to fit their combi boilers. Their non combi models however knock the spots of any other oil boiler out there. sidekickdmr said:
My last 4 houses have had gas combis, two of which we installed ourselves as part of a referb.
Got on great with them, never had any issues or breakdowns at all.
Just got to hope oil is the same, just paid a small fortune for a new oil install with combi!
Which make/model have you had fitted ? Got on great with them, never had any issues or breakdowns at all.
Just got to hope oil is the same, just paid a small fortune for a new oil install with combi!
fastbikes76 said:
The old Worcester heatslaves were bullet proof and hands down THE best on the market, anything newer however...good luck. We are Warranty repair agents for one of the largest oil boiler manufactures, and we still refuse to fit their combi boilers. Their non combi models however knock the spots of any other oil boiler out there.
Well thats good to know 
Although not so good for when I do eventually have to replace the boiler...
fastbikes76 said:
sidekickdmr said:
My last 4 houses have had gas combis, two of which we installed ourselves as part of a referb.
Got on great with them, never had any issues or breakdowns at all.
Just got to hope oil is the same, just paid a small fortune for a new oil install with combi!
Which make/model have you had fitted ? Got on great with them, never had any issues or breakdowns at all.
Just got to hope oil is the same, just paid a small fortune for a new oil install with combi!
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