BOILERS

BOILERS & HEATING IN DETAIL

Boiler Types

There are three main types of central heating and hot water system: combi boiler, heat only (regular) boiler
(which includes back boilers) and system boiler. We explain how each system works:

Combi Boiler

Regular Boiler

System Boiler
Combi Boiler

A combination boiler heats water via an integral heat exchanger directly from the cold mains.
It provides instantaneous hot water. This is different from a traditional system which stores hot
water in a tank in advance of use.
A combination boiler does not need a hot water cylinder or tanks in the loft. Everything is done
through a single, usually wall-hung, unit.

Advantages
* Creates space when removing old
hot water tanks
* Lower maintenance costs - the
integral heating and hot water functions
are covered by the boiler manufacturer's
warranty/guarantee
* No long wait times for hot water

Disadvantages
* They do not work well in properties with
poor flow rates and/or poor incoming water
pressure
* Hot water flow rates are reduced when
providing hot water to two or more outlets
simultaneously, although this is really only
a problem in houses with two or more showers.
Regular Boiler

A regular boiler (sometimes referred to a traditional, conventional or heat-only boiler) only
provides heating.
The regular boiler provides the heating directly to the radiators and works with a hot water
cylinder to provide hot water. These are usually open-vented heating systems (they can be
sealed), i.e. there is a Feed and Expansion tank in the loft.

Advantages
* Low replacement cost as regular boilers
are the cheapest type of boiler to buy
* Work well with old radiators. Older
radiator systems that are put under the
high water pressure delivered by system
or combi boilers may leak.

Disadvantages
* Only the boiler is covered by the
manufacturer's guarantee/warranty. This
leaves lots of other components on the
system (e.g. hot water tank, pumps and
valves) that are subject to replacement
and breakdown
System Boiler

Like regular boilers, system boilers work with a hot water cylinder. Unlike regular boilers, the
system is not open-vented, i.e. there are no tanks in the loft, and all of the components that
would normally be outside a regular boiler (pumps, valves etc) are integrated into the boiler.
These are a modern version of the regular boiler and are often installed along side unvented
hot water cylinders.

Advantages
* Good for properties that have a high hot water
demand, i.e. lots of showers, as the unvented
tank can deliver good hot water flow rates to
multiple outlets simultaneously.
* Good cover from manufacturer's
warranty/guarantee as there more of system's
components are integral to the boiler.

Disadvantages
* Good hot water flow rates depends
upon good incoming mains water
pressure, if the pressure is poor then
internal flow rates will be poor.

Do you need a new boiler?

When is the right time to replace your boiler? Could you put it off for another year?
Here are 4 signs that you should consider a new boiler installation sooner rather than later:

1

Your boiler is
more than 15
years old

2

It takes a while
for your boiler
to heat up

3

Your boiler needs
more frequent
repairs

4

Your fuel
bills are on
the up
^#1

Your boiler is more than
15 years old

The average boiler lasts around 15 years. Although routine maintenance can
prolong the life of your boiler beyond 15 years, advances in technology
(particularly over the last 5 years) mean that a lot of the upgrades now
available to help you control your heating won’t be available for your boiler
model.
^#2

It takes a while for
your boiler to heat up

This is one of the most obvious signs that your boiler needs replacing or at
the very least, that a boiler repair may be required. Modern boilers produce
heat almost instantly, so if you find you’re having to wait longer for your
house to feel warm, or for your hot water to come through, it might be time
to think about a new model.
^#3

Your boiler needs more
frequent repairs

If you find yourself frequently resetting or topping up the pressure in your
boiler, then it may be time to replace it. Although a new boiler can seem
a significant investment, the mounting cost of boiler repairs (only to be left
with the same old boiler) can be a source of frustration. If you find yourself
calling out an engineer to fix an array of problems that go above and beyond
general maintenance, the time may have come to consider a new boiler.
^#4

Your fuel bills are
on the up

If your energy supplier is increasing your direct debits fairly regularly,
this could be a clue that you should switch to another energy provider.
But equally, it could mean that your boiler is wasting your money
– money that could be spent on the things you enjoy. Switching to an
energy efficient boiler could save you up to 30% on your energy bills, so
if your fuel bills are on the increase, it may be time to upgrade your boiler.

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