Which Type of Boiler is Best?
Info provided by Freeflow Plumbers King’s Lynn:
Knowing the best type of boiler is essential to enjoy living in a cosy and warm home all throughout the year. When shopping for a boiler, it is important to be familiar with the different boiler options available for you before you make your final decision.
Each type of boiler system has its own set of advantages and disadvantages that you need to consider when you weigh your options and decide on the best option for your home. Choosing someone to either repair your boiler or install your boiler is difficult, so hopefully this guide will give you an idea which boiler to choose.
Take a look at the different boiler types available in the UK to help you determine the best one for you:
Combi Boilers
Combi boilers or combination boilers are by far the most popular and common type of boiler used in UK homes. A single unit can simultaneously supply both central heating and hot water.
A combi boiler is compact and often mounted on the wall. Since they don’t need a cold water tank or hot water storage cylinder, a combi boiler helps save home space and cut down installation time.
But since these boilers heat water on demand, these are meant to use one to two water taps or one shower at a time. If not, the water won’t be able to reach the preferred temperature or there would be insufficient pressure.
This is why this might not be the best choice for bigger homes with several bathrooms. It might not also be a good option for households with low water pressure.
Regular or Conventional Boilers
Conventional or regular boilers consist of a water storage tank and cylinder. This makes the installation more expensive, with the system requiring more physical space. The cylinder must also be properly insulated to prevent heat loss since the hot water is preheated and stored prior to usage.
While this boiler is not recommended for homes with limited space, it is possible to turn on several showers or taps at once with no problems at all. This makes this boiler the best choice for larger homes, specifically those located in areas with low water pressure.
It is also an environmentally friendly boiler since you can integrate this with solar thermal systems. This means that the house will rely on renewable water heating at the day then on the boiler at night or during times with higher consumption of water.
System Boilers
A system boiler is particularly great for homes with several bathrooms since it has a separate cylinder for storing hot water. This cylinder must be properly insulated to prevent loss of heat and maintain efficiency.
Unlike a conventional boiler, the primary hot water and heating components of a system boiler is built into the boiler itself. It makes the process of installation significantly easier and faster.
Since system boilers don’t need a cold water tank, it makes them a great choice for homes with no or limited loft space. A system boiler relies on the mains’ water pressure instead of gravity unlike the cold water tank of a conventional boiler.
Combi boilers are the most commonly installed types of boilers in the UK, perfect for small and medium-sized houses, with system boilers taking the second spot for larger houses with several bathrooms.
See our previous post here: What to Ask Before Hiring a Plumber in the UK
