L
Larysa
Hi,
My old Potterton NetaHeat conventional boiler packed up recently and I've had leaks from the HW cylinder so have decided to replace with a new system. However, I have no idea what to go for. Initially I liked the idea of a combi because, having had leaks from the loft tanks before, the idea of no water standing above my head seemed appealing.
I live in a 2 bed, 1 bathroom end of terrace house with an electric shower in the bathroom. As far as I am aware the mains stopcock out in the street services all three of the houses in my terrace. Before the boiler packed up, the water pressure didn't seem brilliant but was ok. After the boiler packed up, the water flow appeared to decrease throughout the house and the electric shower could only be used on 'medium' otherwise the 'low flow' light would come on and the water would be alternately scalding/freezing. However, the water flow now appears to have fallen yet again and now the flow coming out of the hot water taps is minimal (cold taps upstairs ok; kitchen mixer tap poor and outside garden tap poor) and now the shower 'low flow' light comes on even on the medium setting.
I have heard that having a combi requires a decent pressure/flow coming in via the mains. I think this may have been fine before the water flow fell but now I am not so sure and it's an expensive option if I would then need to change the new combi for a conventional. Unfortunately, plumbers quotes/advice so far are split 50/50 between combi and conventional which doesn't help! NB: quotes/advice received so far were b4 the water flow fell for a 2nd time. Also, before this happened, called out Thames Water who said that although flow poor, mains pressure coming in was 5bar. Pipework seems old, can see small drip coming from internal stopcock but no obvious leaks; no 'knocking' when taps turned on.
Any advice as to what might be going on with flow would be much appreciated as money is a major issue and also advice on best system to have as want to make sure the most appropriate is installed.
My old Potterton NetaHeat conventional boiler packed up recently and I've had leaks from the HW cylinder so have decided to replace with a new system. However, I have no idea what to go for. Initially I liked the idea of a combi because, having had leaks from the loft tanks before, the idea of no water standing above my head seemed appealing.
I live in a 2 bed, 1 bathroom end of terrace house with an electric shower in the bathroom. As far as I am aware the mains stopcock out in the street services all three of the houses in my terrace. Before the boiler packed up, the water pressure didn't seem brilliant but was ok. After the boiler packed up, the water flow appeared to decrease throughout the house and the electric shower could only be used on 'medium' otherwise the 'low flow' light would come on and the water would be alternately scalding/freezing. However, the water flow now appears to have fallen yet again and now the flow coming out of the hot water taps is minimal (cold taps upstairs ok; kitchen mixer tap poor and outside garden tap poor) and now the shower 'low flow' light comes on even on the medium setting.
I have heard that having a combi requires a decent pressure/flow coming in via the mains. I think this may have been fine before the water flow fell but now I am not so sure and it's an expensive option if I would then need to change the new combi for a conventional. Unfortunately, plumbers quotes/advice so far are split 50/50 between combi and conventional which doesn't help! NB: quotes/advice received so far were b4 the water flow fell for a 2nd time. Also, before this happened, called out Thames Water who said that although flow poor, mains pressure coming in was 5bar. Pipework seems old, can see small drip coming from internal stopcock but no obvious leaks; no 'knocking' when taps turned on.
Any advice as to what might be going on with flow would be much appreciated as money is a major issue and also advice on best system to have as want to make sure the most appropriate is installed.