Y
yoyo42
I'm thinking of a new setup, but I'm not sure of the best way to go...
I have an ageing Vaillant VCW242E combi. It's become a bit ornery about giving hot water when the kitchen tap calls for it (the furthest away on the system), there's something in there that often runs on indefinitely after the DHW cuts out, and recently it stopped giving CH but DHW was fine - although it has now kicked in again. All in all it feels a bit doddery to me.
I've been thinking of adding solar thermal tubes too, as we use a lot of hot water - a shower every day and a bath most days. It's a 1965 semi detached house that originally had oil fired heating and an immersion tank, so there is space for tanks if needed. When that was replaced this combi was put in, along with an electric shower (ouch).
Is the Vaillant worth fixing up? I've heard they are good warhorses, but they can't take solar preheat.
If it's a new boiler (+solar) then what's the best way to go? A thermal store fed by both? a combi with a preheat tank? Something else? I'd obviously like to replace the electric shower with a mixer too. I don't have a massive budget so I'll probably have to keep the pipework and rads all around the house, which all seem to be in good condition.
Any pointers gratefully received. I have a mate who is CORGI registered and will do the clever bits (I know better than to touch gas) but he is a bit old fashioned and doesn't have a good grasp of the solar options yet...
I have an ageing Vaillant VCW242E combi. It's become a bit ornery about giving hot water when the kitchen tap calls for it (the furthest away on the system), there's something in there that often runs on indefinitely after the DHW cuts out, and recently it stopped giving CH but DHW was fine - although it has now kicked in again. All in all it feels a bit doddery to me.
I've been thinking of adding solar thermal tubes too, as we use a lot of hot water - a shower every day and a bath most days. It's a 1965 semi detached house that originally had oil fired heating and an immersion tank, so there is space for tanks if needed. When that was replaced this combi was put in, along with an electric shower (ouch).
Is the Vaillant worth fixing up? I've heard they are good warhorses, but they can't take solar preheat.
If it's a new boiler (+solar) then what's the best way to go? A thermal store fed by both? a combi with a preheat tank? Something else? I'd obviously like to replace the electric shower with a mixer too. I don't have a massive budget so I'll probably have to keep the pipework and rads all around the house, which all seem to be in good condition.
Any pointers gratefully received. I have a mate who is CORGI registered and will do the clever bits (I know better than to touch gas) but he is a bit old fashioned and doesn't have a good grasp of the solar options yet...
