To Combi or Not To Combi (Combination Systems)

Member Name: Botmission

Product:	Combination Systems
Date:	16/07/03 (6269 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hot water efficient, Cheaper and easier to install

Disadvantages: For smaller properties, Must have good mains water

I used to hate combi boilers. Now I hate condensing boilers, but that?s another story.

I disliked them (combi?s) when they were new on the market, and were crap, basically. They have come a long way since then, fortunately. Some of the newer ones are even quite good. Blimey, I?d never thought I?d say that.

The years of repairing and servicing conventional systems had taken it?s toll, and it can as quite a shock to have to learn this new technology, as I?d only just mastered the old technology.

Just as the old water heaters (anyone out there have a Triton?) were being phased out, some of which were obviously dangerous, a new challenge was upon us. The powers that be, i.e. Corgi, acting on legislation, decided that some open flued water heaters before a specific date were dangerous, but after that date they were not. It has always puzzled me that a heater installed on the Wednesday was deemed dangerous, yet an identical one installed on the Thursday was safe!

Anyway, the reason I mention water heaters, is because that is what 50% of a combination boiler is. Albeit all tangled up with a conventional boiler and covered in a large enamel spayed aluminium box. Except for the Ideal Response, which is rather smaller. By the way, if you are offered an Ideal Response, the ideal response to the question is ?no thanks? I?d rather stick my head up an elephant?s bottom. Trust me, an elephant?s bum is much more desirable.

Is a combo suitable for you? Well not if you want more than about eight medium size rads, or you use more than one hot tap at a time. A combo heats the water as you use it, and so is limited to the amount it can heat. It will raise the temperature about 40 degrees Celsius. So in the winter, it may be a case of turning the tap down a bit to get the desired temperature.

Whilst it is heating the water, it is not heating the central heating. Not normally a problem, unless you have a dripping tap or two, which coul
d prevent the heating from coming on at all.

You must have good mains water pressure. Absolutely essential.

Another thing to consider is the lack of an immersion as back up hot water. There are no tanks associated with a combo system, so if it breaks down, that?s it until it?s fixed.

It?s not too difficult to install, as there are no tanks, cylinders or many controls to fit. The timer can be an integral part of the boiler. So if you fit thermostatic radiator valves on the rads, all you have to do electrically is wire a plug and away you go. The gas however, has to be installed by a competent person.

So, which one to get? A German one dammit. Vaillant make the best, followed by Worcester, who were taken over by the Bosch. Potterton/Baxi are not so hot in this division, just ok.

I saw an engineer driving a van down the road the other day with the legend; ?We service Ferolli, Saunier Duval, Vokera, Chaffateux and Le Blanc boilers?. Poor bastard.

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