Boilers

Choosing the right boiler for your home may feel confusing as there are lots of variables to consider. Our expert installers are available to help you through the process and answer any questions you may have.

Combi Boilers

Combi boilers, short for combination boilers, are efficient and compact, perfect for small to medium-sized homes with 10 to 15 radiators and up to 2 bathrooms. The term 'combi' highlights their ability to provide heating for both heating systems and hot water outlets from a single unit, effectively combining functions. Due to their space-saving design, combi boilers have become a top se boilers work best in areas with a good level of water pressure. They are also unsuitable for power showers for this reason.

Space-saving: Combi boilers are a single, compact units designed to fit into the space of a standard kitchen cupboard. This makes them ideal for any home that is low on space.

Energy Efficiency: Most modern gas combi boilers have an energy efficiency rating between 92% and 94%. This means that per unit of fuel, up to 94% of it is converted into usable heat. By comparison, an old boiler may have a rating of only 70%. This high efficiency means you save on energy bills when upgrading, as less fuel is consumed to provide the same heat levels.

Hot Water: Combi boilers operate on an "on-demand" basis, which allows them to produce hot water instantly as opposed to storing it for future use. This means that you will not 'run out'. Additionally hot water pressure and temperature can be effected if other appliances are used (someone turns a tap on or flushes a toilet). There is also no back up hot water supply should there be a power outage.

Water Pressure: With a combi boiler you should get a high flow rate as water comes directly from the mains supply, however this will depend on your mains water pressure. Combi boilers can only provide the same water pressure as your local area. Therefore, if your area has weak water pressure a combi boiler may not be the best choice.

System Boilers

A system boiler is ideal for medium to large households that have a significant need for hot water, particularly those with two or more bathrooms up to 20 radiators. These boilers operate by drawing cold water directly from the mains, heating it, and storing it in an unvented hot water cylinder until required. Additionally, system boilers feature a built-in expansion vessel that holds air and water from the central heating system, which helps maintain the appropriate pressure levels.

Space-saving: As system boilers require an accompanying hot water cylinder, you will need an empty airing cupboard or utility space to store the cylinder. This is not something that smaller/medium houses always have available.

Hot Water: System boiler are always installed with a cylinder, allowing a large amount of hot water storage. This provides instant hot water on demand throughout the home. Water can require reheating as it can loose heat over time, and therefore more energy is used. Ensuring the cylinder is well insulated or adding a backup electrical immersion heater can help to resolve this, however may add to costs. It is also important to remember that refilling the hot water cylinder takes time. Depending on the size of your cylinder, it can take between 20 minutes to an hour for it to refill once it's empty.

Water Pressure: If you have a low mains water pressure, a system boiler could help improve this. System boilers use mains water and store it under pressure in the cylinder, allowing them to provide strong and consistent hot water pressure throughout the home.