Struggling to choose the right boiler for your home? Perhaps yours has seen better days or you’ve just moved into a new place and this is a new decision you’re faced with. It’s important to invest a bit of time and effort in researching your new boiler and controls, but we’re here to simplify this for you!
Below we’ve broken down the different boiler types and provided pros and cons to each so you can make an informed decision:
Boiler Type
There are a few different types of boiler available, including combi, system and conventional boilers. Below we’ve outlined how each boiler type works, their advantages and disadvantages to help you make an informed decision!
Combi Boiler
How they work: Combi boilers (short for combination) are Britain’s best-selling type of boiler. They work as sealed systems, providing hot water for both the taps and central heating system, heating the water directly from the mains as and when it is needed. This means there is no need for a hot water storage cylinder, so they take up less space, making them ideal for smaller properties.
Advantages: They are compact and quick to install. Water is delivered at mains pressure, so you can enjoy a more powerful shower.
Disadvantages: It’s a priority system, so it only satisfactorily deals with one heating need at a time. Larger households may experience poor flow rates when multiple outlets are used at once. Performance is also dependant on the diameter of the pipe entering the property. If it’s less than 22mm, then a combi is not an ideal choice.
System Boiler
How they work: System boilers are fitted to sealed heating systems, but unlike combis they work on the principle of storing hot water in a cylinder, so they can feed several outlets at once at mains pressure. There’s no need for a cistern in the loft and the expansion vessel is built in.
Advantages: They are ideal for larger homes with higher demands and are ideal for households where multiple outlets are used at once. Flow rates are usually high as water is delivered at mains pressure, and hot water is instantaneous.
Disadvantages: They are likely to run out of hot water if they are overused. They have been considered to be more complex and more prone to problems like pressure loss.
