combi boiler

[insurance]

I have had my combi boiler for 2 years and am very pleased with my reduced gas bill.But as I am on a water meter I am finding I have to run a washing up bowl of water off before I get any hot water.has any one else had this problem or any tips to get hot water quicker,Ihave tried turning the tap slower this helps a bit.

[kazza55]

We have the same problem. Our combi boiler is in the garage and it whilst the radiators heat up very quickly, we find that it take a fair while for the hot water to come through to the kitchen and bathroom. It seems a shame to have to let the taps run for what seems like ages to get it hot. I must admit I hate wasting the water!

I think it is just the price you pay for the convenience of not having to have a water tank and slightly cheaper gas bills. We are lucky and we have managed to squeeze a shower cubicle in the space in the bathroom were the old water cylinder was. That has an electric shower so we mainly use the sink for teeth cleaning and cold water washing of hands after visiting the loo! we don't spend much time in the bathroom at the sink waiting for water to heat up.

I'm afraid I don't think there is much you can do about it except maybe wait untill there is enough washing up to justify getting the water hot.

[ianess]

That's why the taps should be as close as possible to the boiler, because the hot water has to push the cool stuff [that you've already paid to heat up and then allowed to go cold] out of the way. Slowing down the water flow to raise the temperature is one way to control things but you'll always be left with hot water lying in the pipe just going cold.
The shorter the pipe run the more economical a combi boiler is.
Hope some of that made some sort of sense.

[buildersmate]

There is a way to deal with it, but not one that can be retrofitted once the house is built - a hot water loop. Basically the hot water gets pumped around the house in a loop of 15mm pipe, and the hot taps tee off this. Means the leg of cold water is very short. Downside is these pipes have to be well-insulated. Its often combined with a system including hot water towel rails. These are useful in the summer, but which don't then need the CH to be on (such rails must be stainless steel though. Just a thought when you specify your next house!

[stanleyman]

To save the water don't use the cold tap but fill the kettle and other cold uses from the hot tap, save any spare for washing the car etc.