Combi boiler or electric shower?

[Littlepeahead]

Morning Org. Any boiler experts on here?

At home, a 1980s house, I've got storage heaters so for hot water there's a tank in the airing cupboard with an immersion on one of those timers you normally use for a table lamp for security. This means the water heats up twice a day like a big kettle then there's a pump for the power shower.

It's fine when on a regular day as I shower morning and Mr LPH evening but if we have friends over there's not enough water for more than 1 decent shower from the tank.

I don't use much other hot water as I have a dishwasher.

I don't want a dribbly rubbish shower as my power shower is the only thing that makes me capable of functioning each morning.

So what would be my options to replace this rather rubbish system? And the sort of cost?

I work for a boiler company but am no expert but I would sat combi all the way, you would get hot water at whatever you mains pressure is meaning no need for a power hungry electric shower.

Originally Posted by daveyrach

I work for a boiler company but am no expert but I would sat combi all the way, you would get hot water at whatever you mains pressure is meaning no need for a power hungry electric shower.

That's not exactly true, hot water via a combi will never be at full water main flow rate as the boiler needs to slow it down to be able to heat it. Hot water flow rates are quoted in the boiler specs so you need to look at this if you go combi, as some of the cheaper ones flow really slowly.

Obvious question really but do you have gas in the property?

[Dave-the-rave]

I have the same sort of rubbish system in a rented property. I installed an electric shower 10 years ago and haven't had the hot water on since. Seriously. I boil the kettle once a day for dishes.

Combi all day long, next question.

Originally Posted by Phoenix22

That's not exactly true, hot water via a combi will never be at full water main flow rate as the boiler needs to slow it down to be able to heat it. Hot water flow rates are quoted in the boiler specs so you need to look at this if you go combi, as some of the cheaper ones flow really slowly.

Obvious question really but do you have gas in the property?

I'm well aware of that, but they are a damn site better than these carp power showers that slow to a trickle when you get a tiny bit of scale in them. I'd have a combi boiler all day every day, I mean why wouldn't you?

[johnnyrod]

Unvented hot water cylinder, just get a larger one than you have now. near-mains water pressure (regulated to 3 bar typically, which is plenty) at all the hot taps, so an ordinary mixer shower will Karcher your ass. They're not cheap though.

[Littlepeahead]

No gas.

I'm guessing our shower is simply pumped straight out of the vented tank, the pump is also in the airing cupboard and we've got the biggest tank in there you can fit. It's a1050 x 450.

[Bibio]

dump the system fed power shower and fit a good on demand power shower.

this frees up the boiler for other duty's such as dishes and stuff.

[PyroUK]

I changed a couple of years ago from conventional to combi, don't know how I managed to live before hand. Didn't even have a power shower.

Only thing about that is that you need to have sufficient mains pressure otherwise you are stuck with conventional (or at least that's what boiler man told me).

Plus you have the benefit of hot water when you need it and not wasting if no hot water is needed (holidays/you decided you want to be scummy and lazy/etc)