Types of Boilers

It's critical to choose the correct sort of boiler for your home, whether you're considering a combi or a traditional boiler. Here, you'll learn about the various possibilities and which one is most suited to the needs of your home.

The one that is best for you and your home is mostly determined by your present hot water consumption, but other considerations such as the age of your current heating systems and the pressure of your mains water supply must also be considered.

Combi Boiler

A combi boiler is a form of central heating in which hot water is stored in a cylinder and either pumped or circulated by a pump around the system to heat radiators. The name derives from 'combination boiler', because it combines features of both conventional gravity-fed boilers, where cold water enters at the bottom of the boiler and hot waterleaves at the top, and 'circulating pumps' which constantly replace water in a central heating system. Because the boiler heats water directly without any intervening heat exchanger (such as a hot water tank), response time to showers and taps is much faster than conventionally fed systems.

A combi boiler has two parts: the boiler itself, where the water is heated, and a hot water storage cylinder where the heat from the boiler is stored. The flow of hot water in a combi boiler can be controlled directly by a thermostatic valve called a 'combi-valve' or indirectly by a room stat.

Pros and Cons

The main advantages of a combi boiler are its efficiency, speed and convenience . Whether you are replacing an old combi boiler or installing one new, there are some definite pros for this boiler system.

For instance, the unit is self-contained and many models have a built-in electronic filter that changes water as it heats up, which improves purity and taste of your hot water supply. Compared to most other types of boiler, a combi is much faster at heating up your home . There's no need to wait for the water in an attached storage tank to heat up. Instead, you can start using hot water as soon as it reaches the required temperature. They also have a low carbon footprint because they don't require a storage tank to heat water, and electricity is used simply to power the heating element.

The cons of these units however, lie in the fact that they use so much electricity. Since the water is pre-heated before it enters your home, there is more energy used to generate this heat than if there was no preheat on the unit at all. This quickly makes up for any money you might have saved on your gas bill, and then some.

Combi boilers aren't always suitable for homes that are NOT well insulated, because most models require electricity to power the pump and fans . For homes with poor insulation (such as with no loft insulation), you may find you quickly increase your monthly bill because of how much extra heat escapes through the walls.

Regular Boiler

In simplest terms, a heat only boiler is a furnace. Instead of using the heat to warm the home's hot water supply as well, all of that energy produced from combustion goes into heating the home directly. Many people have heard about these types of furnaces, but may not have an idea what they actually do and how they work. Heat only boilers do just as their name implies: they provide heat. They do not provide hot water for the home, and they do not produce hot air used to warm the building.

Pros and cons

Heat-only boilers can deliver a higher flow rate, making them more suited to larger properties with higher hot water demands, such as those with several bathrooms. They're a suitable alternative for older heating systems that can't handle the high pressure of a closed system because they don't require high-pressure water from the mains. Alternatively, they're a fantastic solution for places with low water pressure mains, which often struggle to provide the necessary water pressure for combi and system boilers.

However, some contemporary heating systems may not be compatible with traditional boilers, and you may have to wait a long time for the water to reach the desired temperature. Keep in mind that the boiler's cylinder and water tank will need to be stored somewhere large. Because the cold-water cistern must be put directly above the boiler, this may limit where the boiler can be installed.

System Boiler

A system boiler is a type of high-efficiency gas boiler used to heat water for use in radiators throughout an entire building. It's designed to save money on fuel by using the waste heat from the engine room/boiler room of the oil tanker, which would have otherwise been released into the atmosphere.

Pros and Cons

A smaller space requirement since you only need to purchase one appliance instead of two separate ones, if not using an indirect water heater (which may be recommended if you have limited space). There is also potential for more efficient operation when combined with an indirect water heater since it can produce both heating and hot water at the same time. A reduction in installation time is also a pro with the use of fewer components.

A con for this kind of boiler is that you may have to sacrifice the convenience of being able to switch between heating and domestic hot water on demand if not using an indirect water heater. The flow rate of hot water within the home is mostly determined by the pressure of the mains supply, therefore if it is low, the flow rate will be limited. As a result, they are not suitable for locations with low water pressure.