Choosing the Right Boiler

Choosing the right boiler for your property can be a confusing decision. There are so many options, with variable costs and system requirements, so in most instances it’s better to consult a professional heating engineer before spending money on a new boiler.  

We can help you plan and install your new central heating system, but if you’re looking for some basic information here’s a quick overview…

There are three main type of boiler used in domestic and commercial central heating systems. These are:

• Combination boilers or Combi boilers
• System boilers
• Regular boilers

Below, the helpful diagrams outlined by Bosch Worcester boilers helps illustrate how each type of system works.

A combination boiler or combi boiler as it’s more commonly known, offers both a high efficiency water heater and central heating boiler in one compact unit, making them ideal for smaller properties with just one bathroom. With a combi boiler, you’ll get instant infinite hot water at high pressure as the combi heats the water via a coil in the boiler directly from the mains supply. This means no hot water cylinder or cold-water storage tank is needed, which again is great for smaller properties or flats.

Combi boilers are not only energy efficient, they will also generally be more cost effective to fit being less work to install.

A system boiler will require a cylinder for storing hot water, but the major heating and hot water components are built into the boiler itself, giving a constant hot water supply and making it ideal for homes with more than one bathroom. There’s also no need for a tank in the loft, so it can be an option in a home with little or no loft space.

System boilers are also compatible with solar water heating systems, which when combined together will give incredible energy efficiency and cost savings.

Conventional boilers, also known as regular, traditional, gravity fed or heat only boilers, are best suited to homes that already have a conventional system installed. This will be linked to a separate hot water cylinder and will need both a cold-water tank in the roof space to feed the hot water cylinder and a tank to feed the central heating system.

A conventional boiler is a good option for houses needing a replacement boiler for a conventional system and is a good option for houses with more than one bathroom. As the water is gravity fed, the hot water pressure will be noticeably less than with a combi or system boiler.