I'm looking to replace an ageing (1986 vintage) e.l.m. leblanc GLM 5.32 combination boiler (conventional flue).
Both CH and DHW are 37.2kW (128000 btu/hr) net. DHW is fully modulating, CH modulates to low as it reaches running temperature.
Amazingly for such an old boiler efficiency is quoted at 86%!
Flow rate is fine for a shower. Our large bath takes a long time to fill. If a second tap is turned on it's a bit of a disaster (especially for the person under the shower).
I'm considering two options:
a) replacing it with a new combi with a HIGHER DHW output
b) going for system boiler with a heat store or sealed system hot water tank. However the DHW store or tank can ONLY go in the loft so pipe runs and control wiring could get a bit tricky. I'm also concerned about the economics of keeping this hot 24/7 (we can't predict DHW use well enough to cope with the "on twice" syndrome).
I'm currently leaning (strongly) to the first option, but I do realise that the second would give better DHW flow.
I've looked at some of the modern combis, but can't find any that can match this leblanc which does 16ltr/min for a 35K rise (though a few models from Vaillant seem to get close). I don't have the space to install two smaller ones, and would worry a lot about finding an engineer with the skills to do this right anyway (I could research it and DIM, but don't have the time or the Corgi certification).
Leblanc have withdrawn from UK and no longer make any high output boilers anyway.
So what are the recommendations.
Thanks Dave