New heating system required - Recommendations please

[Lily_b]

Hi, I have a four bed house which has had warm air heating. Our warm air unit has been listed as unsafe at its recent service (at least it is summer), so we have decided to take the plunge and get radiators fitted throughout. Of course along with this we need a suitable boiler.

So, what recommendations do people have boiler wise as there are different types & makes. We do still have an immersion water tank, but I understand that these may not be necessary anymore.

What is the most cost effective/green both in running and maintenance? Should we keep the immersion or not? What makes of boiler should be avoided?

Thanks in advance.

[clever trev]

Well in full don't go to British Gas!!!

[gasman]

It depends on the number of bathrooms, Hot water usage and heat loss ( The U value ) of you're Home. It sounds from you're breif description that a solar condensing system boiler with an unvented cylinder would be you're best option. Most effective, green and expensive to install and buy though they say you will re'coupe you're extra money by the cheap running costs though.
Alternativeley a solar condensing combination boiler would be you're next cheapest option this does away with the need for a hot water cylinder and relevant pipework ( may even give you room for a shower where the airing cupboard is ???
The cheapest and most popular option of all is a condensing combi boiler
Good makes are Worcester/Bosch, Ideal and Baxi.
Makes to avoid are Ravenheat, Biasi, and although this will probably be un-popular dare i say Vokera boilers to avoid aswell !!! The amount of broken down Vokera's I have to deal with is around 6/10 of every breakdown.

[Lily_b]

Thanks for the info.

I think it is likely we will go for a condensing combi boiler, as you say we could then make the airing cupboard a shower room. If we put the new boiler downstairs in the kitchen, the cupboard the warm air unit is in (same size as airing cupboard) could also be a shower room too.

I like that idea, it would stop bathroom usage arguments as the kids get older. Nice one gasman :-)

[eleanswers]

On the same subject I hope you don't mind me also asking a question.
I'm having a new combi-boiler fillted next week. My question/query is the existing radiators are under the windows - I believe this is for the 'convection' effect to heat the room.
The new radiators I'm having installed couldn't be further away from the windows being put on the adjacent wall. This is convenient because of the pipework, but will it be as effective as having them under the windows, should I insist they go in the same place or is there not much in it?