Bigger home in the Vale: combi or keep the cylinder?

Plenty of houses in and around Cowbridge, Llanblethian and Aberthin are bigger than the average. More bedrooms, two bathrooms, sometimes more. That changes the boiler conversation, because the question is no longer just “which combi?” but “should this be a combi at all?”

How a combi makes hot water

A combi heats water as it flows through. It does not store any. That is efficient, and it frees up the airing cupboard, but it means the boiler can only deliver so much hot water at once. Run two showers together and each gets a share.

The flow figures that matter

The hot water figure is given in litres a minute at a 35 degree rise. Across the four boilers we fit:

Boiler	Hot water flow
Worcester 8000	Up to 16.3 L/min
Baxi 800	Up to 14.7 L/min
Ideal Logic Max	Up to 14.3 L/min
Vaillant ecoFIT pure	Up to 14.1 L/min

For a two-bathroom home where showers overlap, the Worcester 8000 has the most to give. That is why it is our usual pick for bigger Vale homes.

When we will tell you to keep the cylinder

If there are two bathrooms, four or more people and showers running at the same time most mornings, a combi may struggle. In that case we will say so and talk about keeping a system with a cylinder. It is not the answer we are trying to sell; it is the answer that stops you being disappointed.

Older houses and long pipe runs

Older stone houses often have pipework that has been added to over the decades. Every price includes a system flush and a magnetic filter, and if a section of pipe is too small for the new boiler, it is on your quote before you book.

The price

Every new boiler starts from £1,900 fully fitted with VAT. Changing from a system or regular boiler to a combi costs extra and usually takes a day or two longer.

See boiler installation in Cowbridge, compare hot water flow rates, or get your price.