New boilers and macerator toilet

[chad.city]

I want to get the smallest electric or gas boiler suitable for providing hot water for a one bed flat (has electric underfloor heating). I know electric boilers are more expensive to run but I'm thinking that for a small flat it won't amount to much difference. Any recommendation on minimum size I can get away with and recommended manufacturers? I understand that it must be a condensing boiler, is this right?

Also need a macerator toilet - I've been led to believe that you need to be careful what you flush down and they're a little noisy but apart from that they are very reliable. Is that right? Anybody have any recommendations for brands?

tia, Chad

[Grunff]

Yes, even an electric boiler needs to be a condensing one.

No, sorry, just messing around - no such thing.

As for sizing your boiler, is it just for hot water? In which case what you're really after is an electric instant water heater, rather than the type of boiler you might use to run your CH. Someone will be along with a recommendation shortly.

Yes, by all accounts they are *very* reliable - at blocking up regularly. Google the group archives for some great accounts.

[Andrew Gabriel]

I don't believe there's a requirement for water heaters to be condensing. You might want to see what multipoint gas water heaters are on the market. Unfortunately you gave no details of your existing setup and why/how you want to change it.

You don't seem to have read the FAQ...

[Owain]

1-bedroom flat), a macerator unit cannot be used, contravenes the Buidling Regs IIRC.

Owain

[chad.city]

Hmmm... that is *very* disconcerting, I really do not want to have to put the toilet where the waste pipe enters the flat. Will be checking this out wrt Building Regs but if anybody out there has any more info about this please let us know.

tia, Chad

[chad.city]

Existing setup is empty shell flat. Does sound like I can just go with a electric instant water heater as it will only be for hot water and not CH.

Saniflo range! But surely with all those tiny flats popping up all over the country there must be a satisfactory solution to this issue?

[Owain]

You are very limited with an electric *instant* water heater (10kW) and will normally need a stored hot water system.

Yes, plumb the toilet into the 4" soil stack the way it's supposed to be. You've got to get an extractor fan duct out anyway.

Owain

[Pete C]

The ones made by Tecma are better:

They're slightly confusingly called 'Sanisplit' but have nothing to do with Saniflo.

cheers, Pete.

[Christian McArdle]

That's what I installed and it works well, so far.

One thing to note is that (rather sensibly) every dwelling must have a conventional toilet before they are allowed to install a macerator. Does this small flat already have a working conventional toilet?

Christian.