Truma combi boiler insulation

[Riverbankannie]

Our boiler is under our side settee/bed and makes the area above very warm especially in summer. We do turn it off at night but then the water cools rapidly. In our previous van (2002 era ) the water would stay hot for a long time.
Has anyone fitted any insulation material around their combi, is it safe to do so and what did you use? The outside of the boiler is quite hot to the touch.

 

[Bilbo Baggins]

Good question. Hope someone comes forward with an answer soon.

 

[125BEER]

Maybe the foil pieces that go behind rads at home.could be glued/attached to underside of ply?

 

[footscray188c]

Improve the ventilation maybe run a couple of computer fans. I would not add more insulation.

 

[donkey]

Hi

I have raised this issue many times. The Combi 4 & 6 have virtually no thermal insulation, even though Truma describe the plastic/cardboard outer covering as a thermal insulator???
It is outrageous that manufacturers can produce a boiler without adequate thermal insulation, but as it is the leisure market we are discussing, then scrap any thoughts of the environment etc. If they were to produce such a product for the home installation market, it would be very quickly banned on the grounds of efficiency.
I have a modest thermal blanket over the Combi, but still need to set to 40 degrees for a good night's sleep.
Whatever you decide on, be mindful that the boiler needs an adequate supply of air to the burner and ducting system.
Geoff

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[Lenny HB]

If you insulate the boiler it will probably overheat and cut out.
We just have the boiler come on with the timer for an hour or so in the morning for our showers, anything else just boil a kettle, saves a lot of gas.

 

[Dramfineday]

How about a reflective, insulated, board attached to the underside of the slats of the settee to reduce heat transference through the settee? And, in addition, an extractor fan set up to a) remove excess heat to the outside in the summer and b) to remove excess heat into the habitation area in the winter. If you could establish exactly where the hot water holding tank is in the heater, you may be able to insulate around that part only. Pity to waste spare heat at certain times of the year. .

Some of the guys have already built some fan set ups for their Fridge / Freezer units to improve cooling, you might get some ideas there.

 

[Riverbankannie]

If you insulate the boiler it will probably overheat and cut out.
We just have the boiler come on with the timer for an hour or so in the morning for our showers, anything else just boil a kettle, saves a lot of gas.

When not on EHU, that’s what we do too. We were on EHU at Highlands End so left the hot water on. I take the point about overheating the unit. There is a drop vent in the floor alongside and a rectangular open grid affair in the side of the bed base.
Hubby likes having warm feet so that’s not really much of a problem but I was thinking of the wasted energy in trying to keep the tank hot.
Thanks for all replies.

 

[Riverbankannie]

How about a reflective, insulated, board attached to the underside of the slats of the settee to reduce heat transference through the settee? And, in addition, an extractor fan set up to a) remove excess heat to the outside in the summer and b) to remove excess heat into the habitation area in the winter. If you could establish exactly where the hot water holding tank is in the heater, you may be able to insulate around that part only. Pity to waste spare heat at certain times of the year. .

Some of the guys have already built some fan set ups for their Fridge / Freezer units to improve cooling, you might get some ideas there.

Yes we have put fridge fans in the vents, they work brilliantly.
When it is cold enough to require heating, we do find that the Truma is up to the job anyway and we only need it on 2 or 3 on the setting.

 

[SD j]

If you insulate the boiler it will probably overheat and cut out.
We just have the boiler come on with the timer for an hour or so in the morning for our showers, anything else just boil a kettle, saves a lot of gas.

Wouldn’t the the thermostat still cut it off at 40degreees or 60 as per normal before overheating?
surely it would only overheat if the air supply was hindered

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[Lenny HB]

Wouldn’t the the thermostat still cut it off at 40degreees or 60 as per normal before overheating?
surely it would only overheat if the air supply was hindered

I'm fairly certain there is a boiler overheat thermostat as well because when on heating mode if there are not enough vents open or a poor installation they cut out.

 

[SD j]

I'm fairly certain there is a boiler overheat thermostat as well because when on heating mode if there are not enough vents open or a poor installation they cut o

There definitely is an overheat stat as a failsafe , but my point is that the operating stat should kick in well before the unit overheats.?

 

[Graham of Madrid]

If this is about keeping the hot water you don't need hot until a time that you might need it later, maybe tomorrow, probably better to heat only the water you need now. I've stopped leaving the water heater on all the time even at night when I'm not using it. Just have to remember to switch it on 20 minutes before you need it.

Am I under-thinking this ?

 

[Lenny HB]

When not on EHU, that’s what we do too. We were on EHU at Highlands End so left the hot water on. I take the point about overheating the unit. There is a drop vent in the floor alongside and a rectangular open grid affair in the side of the bed base.
Hubby likes having warm feet so that’s not really much of a problem but I was thinking of the wasted energy in trying to keep the tank hot.
Thanks for all replies.

Less lightly to overheat if insulated if running on mains as there are only 2 x 900 watt elements.

Every van we have had the Truma has been gas only, not prepared to pay the extra £400 for the mains heating elements that have a high failure rate also cheaper to run on gas.

 

[Riverbankannie]

If this is about keeping the hot water you don't need hot until a time that you might need it later, maybe tomorrow, probably better to heat only the water you need now. I've stopped leaving the water heater on all the time even at night when I'm not using it. Just have to remember to switch it on 20 minutes before you need it.

Am I under-thinking this ?

No you are quite correct - it’s the remembering that lets me down
It’s just noticeable, the difference between our earlier version one and the newer one.

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[Lenny HB]

If this is about keeping the hot water you don't need hot until a time that you might need it later, maybe tomorrow, probably better to heat only the water you need now. I've stopped leaving the water heater on all the time even at night when I'm not using it. Just have to remember to switch it on 20 minutes before you need it.

Am I under-thinking this ?

Apart from showers it's easier to boil a kettle for washing up etc. Why heat up 10 Lt of water when you only need 1 Lt of hot water, a waste of energy.