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ChrisB · Joined: 28 Jun 2003 Posts: 10

More planning for the new bathroom! Rolling Eyes

Our current bathroom is in an old single-storey extension. I'm planning to move the bathroom into the main house, upstairs.

The current downstairs bathroom is fed by a cold water cistern (in the roof space above the extension) and a combi-boiler (also in the extension). Obviously, there isn't enough pressure to get the hot water upstairs for the new bathroom, but I wondered if I could solve the problem by moving the existing cold water cistern into the attic of the main house, to increase the pressure of the water entering the combi?

I have a jpeg diagram of the layout which I can email if necessary.

ps. I considered just installing a hot water cylinder with an immersion heater in an airing cupboard in the new bathroom, but ideally I would like to use the hot water from the existing boiler. If I decide to install an immersion heater, does this require professional installation under building regs?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

DP · Joined: 08 Sep 2003 Posts: 26 Location: Glasgow

Boiler gets the water from the mains. If it is getting this from the cold water storage tank, then that is the first problem.

Second problem is that the combi will not provide water up stairs when hot water demand is on place on the ground floor.

Easy solution is to instal a HW cylinder and let the combi boiler (after zoning) heat the water in the cylinder. CW cistern will have to be in the loft. You could also instal a combination HW cylinder in the loft.

UV cylinder is another alternative.

ChrisB · Joined: 28 Jun 2003 Posts: 10

Do all combi boilers have connections for a central heating circuit? Because at the moment my combi only heats the water, there are no radiators. Ideally, I'd like to run a couple of rads and the HW cylinder from the same boiler.

Failing this, I'll make do with an immersion heater until I can afford central heating, but I'd like to install a HW cylinder which I can later incorporate into a central heating circuit. If I install an indirect cylinder, can I just use it as an immersion heater with no pipes connected to the hot water loop connections?

Thanks for the advice so far, it's a great help! Very Happy

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4616 Location: Bath

Whats the make and model of this combi, and its age .

scruff Confused

ChrisB · Joined: 28 Jun 2003 Posts: 10

don't know the model/age cos we haven't moved in yet... i'm just trying to plan the job so we can do any pipe laying before all the furniture gets put in place!

Dan Robinson · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 6:55 pm Post subject:

Tis not a combi, but a multipoint; i.e., no central heatings side.

So you'll need a new boiler if you want central heating. My advice is to get the lot done at the same time and have an unvented cylinder and boiler installed.

First thing to do though is to get the water main supply checked. Get the pressure and flow tested properly to ascertain whether your property would be suited. Otherwise you will need to have pumped system installed.

In all cases though, you want to have the supplies on the same type of system to avoid the problems Danny is refering to.

ChrisB · Joined: 28 Jun 2003 Posts: 10

OK, thanks for the info, a new central heating system sounds the way forward... Laughing

I'll get the water pressure tested when we move in.

I'd like to do as much of the work as possible myself, particularly fitting the radiators and pipework which is time consuming but straightforward. Which parts of the installation would you recommend were carried out professionally, and could you give me a rough idea of the cost?

I know this is one of those annoying questions which depends on the situation, but I'd be very grateful of a rough idea of cost...

- it's a smallish semi, with 2 beds and about 100 years old
- only 2 of us would be living there, and only one bathroom which will be upstairs
- we'd probably need about 7 radiators, HW water cylinder with immersion,
new boiler (possibly a combi?), new cold water cistern in loft
- oxfordshire area

And how much can typically be saved by me fitting the radiators and tank myself?

Thanks again! Very Happy

ChrisB · Joined: 28 Jun 2003 Posts: 10

OK, thanks for the info, a new central heating system sounds the way forward... Laughing

I'll get the water pressure tested when we move in.

I'd like to do as much of the work as possible myself, particularly fitting the radiators and pipework which is time consuming but straightforward. Which parts of the installation would you recommend were carried out professionally, and could you give me a rough idea of the cost?

I know this is one of those annoying questions which depends on the situation, but I'd be very grateful of a rough idea of cost...

- it's a smallish semi, with 2 beds and about 100 years old
- only 2 of us would be living there, and only one bathroom which will be upstairs
- we'd probably need about 7 radiators, HW water cylinder with immersion,
new boiler (possibly a combi?), new cold water cistern in loft
- oxfordshire area

And how much can typically be saved by me fitting the radiators and tank myself?

Thanks again! Very Happy

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4616 Location: Bath

Something like 4grand, you could do all the work except the gas and boiler, perhaps you should also exclude the unvented cylinder as well, as you need a seperate ticket, the Corgi guy may have one and commission it for you.

Probably save a thousand notes by doing the work yourself.

scruff

Dan Robinson · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 5:30 pm Post subject:

Sounds like a reasonable figure there scruff. I would probably look at a high performance combi if you are only having one bathroom. Then get thermostic shower intstalled.