This could be the most boring article on the internet, but having spent time researching what to do with my older boiler I believe it might actually help people if I share my story. This article is about my Churchill System Imstor system fitted in 1989. There a quite a few forums which have people requesting assistance when their system goes when it wrongs, but these threads normally go quiet when someone says DM me!
History Last year I moved in to a house which was in the second phase of the 1986 Energy World Exhibition in Milton Keynes. Our house when built in 1989 was chosen to be a trial property, fitted with an experimental 'wet electric boiler' system. Some of the boilers installed as part of the trial were just simple tanks of water, and others contain bricks to help prolong the heat store properties of the tank. I have no idea which one I've got. Design and Operation As you can see from the picture to the left compact and discrete wasn't on the requirement specification when the system was installed, instead the unit measures up as 80x80x130cm including the insulation. On the front of the units are a number of heating elements and thermostats, these all connect up to the upper metal box in the picture. Within the control box is a nice and simple circuit board fitted with high voltage contactor's and a simple relay. In order to produce hot water for the raditators its quite simple a high amperage supply (rated 60amps in my case) is always presented to the contactors, these are energised by the economy seven supply being active over night. When heating is required a standard central heating pump is activated and that moves the water around the system. It seems that the boiler once heated a immersion tank upstairs but the pipes have been capped off and replaced with standard tank with just more electrical heating elements. The Issues
The biggest issue I've had is that the manufacturer has gone out of business and its not something the average plumber has experience of. Based on the current wiring it is not possible to trigger the heating elements without the economy seven supply. This means you have to treat the system like a wet storage heater system, planning in advance if you're going to need the heating on tomorrow night or not. If you get it wrong you either freeze or waste heating the water in the tank. |
The Replacement System
After spending the last year researching alternatives to my imstor system, including heat pumps, solar panels and even getting quotes to install gas to my road, which was a non-starter at £23k!! I was really pleased when a potential plumber suggested using the Heat Sadia Electromax - something that keep popping up as a potential system during my research. So as you can see from the gallery below I've now got a great big cupboard where the old boiler was. Also gone is the requirement for a hot water cylinder. The new system is now located on the 1st floor of my house which means the central heating pipes exit the unit directly into the floor. The Electromax also provides mains pressure hot water which means no more need for the tanks in the loft, I feel like my house has doubled in size. The overall installation was completed on time and as promised very neat. Which is why I'd recommend the Rob from RD Services MK Ltd - visit their Facebook group for more information - https://www.facebook.com/rdservicesmkltd/ |