Boiler Type Guide

What type of boiler would best suit your property?

When renovating your property, choosing the right boiler and heating system for what you need is essential to your success. We can offer three different types that could suit you and your property, which are:

  • Combi
  • Conventional
  • System

Our engineers will work closely with you to determine which one you need. The Local Boiler Company to come up with the best fixed-price quote and plan we can for your home or business. We’ll visit you free of charge to provide you with a no-strings-attached evaluation.

Combi Boilers: Explained

Combination (or ‘Combi’) boilers are currently the most popular type of boiler in the United Kingdom. They can handle hot water for your taps, shower, and central heating system at the same time. The supply for everything comes directly from one unit. They’re considered ideal for smaller homes, particularly those with just one bathroom.

Benefits

  • Combi boilers can provide large amounts of hot water, instantly.
  • They only heat the water you use, making them economical and environmentally friendly.
  • They’re a great way to save space. There’s no need to install a separate hot water tank or cold water cylinder.
  • With few additional parts, they can usually be installed quickly.
  • Can be remotely controlled, with a new installation.

Considerations

  • If you have low water pressure, multiple taps being used at once can slow down the heating system.
  • Combi boilers take a few more seconds to get going when heating water.

Conventional Boilers: Explained

Conventional boilers are also known as regular or heat-only boilers. They’re the traditional way to heat a home or workplace. They send a reservoir of heated water into your radiators, via a hot water cylinder that acts as a reserve. These boilers are better suited to larger homes and buildings, especially those with more than one bathroom.

Benefits

  • Conventional boilers can provide hot water to more than one tap, simultaneously.
  • They’re built on reliable and well-tested technology
  • An electrical immersion heater can be fitted to the hot water cylinder as a back-up, should your main boiler fail.

Considerations

  • Space will be required to install a hot water cylinder and a cold water tank. These are usually located in a loft or attic.
  • You’ll need a programmable control panel to time when the hot water cylinder is heated up for your use.
  • Hot water is limited to the capacity of the cylinder. If it runs out you’ll need to wait until it heats up enough water again.

System Boilers: Explained

System boilers are similar to conventional boilers. However, they have some parts that are usually external built in to them. There’s no need for a separate feed and expansion tank with a System. They’re ideal for mid-sized to large homes and for homeowners who want to free up some extra space in their loft.

Benefits

  • As with the Conventional model, hot water can be supplied to more than one source at the same time.
  • An electrical immersion heater can also be fitted to the hot water cylinder. You’ll still have hot water should your boiler stop working.
  • If you choose a mains-fed hot water cylinder, you won’t require a cold water tank in the loft.

Considerations

  • To ensure hot water is available for when you need it, you’ll require programmable controls to heat your water for the right time.