Combi-boilers: are they the work of the devil? [Poll]

[dutchman]

Depite claiming they no longer have enough money to support even the poorest in the community the government is paying heating contractors billions of pounds of taxpayers' money to rip out perfectly good heating systems (including where I live) and replace them with supposedly more efficient appliances. Before refusing to have the work done I canvassed as many independent opinions as possible. Opinions so far have been evenly divided between love 'em and hate 'em.

[rebbonk]

I have had one in the past, and in my opinion they're OK. You only heat the water as you need it hence only pay for what you use. From memory, the heating once turned on took very little time to become hot. (Obviously depends on the size and capacity of the system.) I think, overall I'd go down this route again.

My rail against this project is that perfectly good systems are being removed instead of being replaced as they become unserviceable or requested for replacement.

[dutchman]

At present I have a warm-air blower downstairs, radiators upstairs and a backup electric immersion heater for emergencies. The upstairs and downstairs heating can be operated completely independent of each other. By fitting a combi-boiler I would lose the separate warm-air heater for the living room, a drying cupboard for laundry in the kitchen, an airing cupboard upstairs and the backup immersion heater. In order to heat the living room I would have to switch on the heating system for the entire building. If it goes wrong for any reason I will lose all hot water and heating everywhere in the house. This wil invariably happen on a friday evening before a bank holiday when no-one is available to take a service call.

In addition to that that they plan to fit the combi-boiler in the master bedroom, which is already the warmest room in the house, poorly ventilated and often unusable in summer. If anyone uses hot water at night the system will kick-in in the master-bedroom. The exhaust pipe will exit under a balcony where the exhaust will gradually corrode the steel supports holding the concrete slabs together. If the wind is in the wrong direction the exhaust from next-door's system will be blown into my bedroom window. Unless the boiler is sealed in an airtight cupboard there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in the bedroom. Everytime the boiler needs servicing (at least once a year) the workmen will require access to the master bedroom.

I'm also told that once the water reaches a certain temperature the condensing feature of the boiler ceases to work and the efficiency gains are nowhere like as great as claimed.

[rebbonk]

Looks like you have more to lose than gain.

When I had one installed it was because there was no heating system in the property; so it was all plus points. I had the boiler installed in the bathroom. (Over the bath just in case of leaks! - Learned from the past with a "Main Severn" instant water heater after the heat exchanger cracked!)

From memory the system wasn't too expensive to run, but the contractor I used wanted to fit the thermostat in the hall way, which I wouldn't have as I wanted the living room temperature controlled. I think, I also ended up putting individual thermostatic valves on each radiator in the end in order to make the system more user friendly.

I do remember thinking what lousy quality the radiators were though. I fitted doubles almost everywhere, but was severely disappointed with the general manufacturing quality. They were really made down to a cost! In fact, I believe the ex-wife has had to have several replaced due to leaks.

It was a long time ago, and the memory does dim somewhat.

[pollyanna]

I have a combi-boiler - and as Rebbonk says - you only pay for what you use.

I don't like the sound of having a boiler in the master bedroom - that doesn't sound like a great idea. Can you chose where it's put??

You may find a new combi-boiler would be very efficient to run financially.

Good luck.

[dutchman]

I think, I also ended up putting individual thermostatic valves on each radiator in the end in order to make the system more user friendly.

They plan to do that here as well but the joke is the upstairs rooms never get warm enough to require a thermostatic shut-off even with the dedicated upstairs water heater fitted at present. The new system would add two downstairs radiators including one in the biggest room in the house, the living room. I sincerely doubt a single heater would ever be powerful enough.

By the way Rebbonk, congratulations on your promotion to Global Moderator. It was well deserved

[dutchman]

I have a combi-boiler - and as Rebbonk says - you only pay for what you use.

I don't like the sound of having a boiler in the master bedroom - that doesn't sound like a great idea. Can you chose where it's put??

Not as far as I know Polly. Some tenants with end-of-row properties have had them put in the kitchen but everyone else has them in the master bedroom.

You may find a new combi-boiler would be very efficient to run financially.

Good luck.

Thanks Polly

[pollyanna]

Dutchy I just got my gas bill - I pay £6 per month DD and owed them just £1.17 - that's for a 1 bed flat - I was pretty pleased with that

[Elaine]

We had a combi boiler fitted about 23 years ago and are now saving up to replace it. In that time we have had a new pump and a new timer. the rads came with thermostats and the fitters gave us a shower as a free gift for choosing their company. Our boiler is in the downstairs loo and it heats that room up when it is on or we have been running the water to fill the bath.
We have a gas fire in each living room and a kick space heater in the kitchen as there is no room for a rad in there. Due to its age, our combi isn't very energy efficient but we've always managed to pay the bills. We need to keep our house warm as we both have had serious illnesses which make us feel the cold a lot. We are hoping to get a new boiler very soon, but as said previously, if it breaks down we have no heat or hot water.
We do use British Gas homecare and they are very quick to come out when something goes wrong

[dutchman]

Got a bizarre letter from Whitefriars this morning telling they intend to replace my central heating system in spite of my objections.

The letter was addressed "To the occupier" as if they didn't know my name.

Why send it before Xmas when we all know they have no intention of doing any work over the Xmas and New Year period? Surely they could have waited till after?