When it comes to choosing a new boiler for your home, it is important that you make the right selection so that you can heat your home efficiently. You will also need to consider available space as different types of boilers have varying space requirements. To help you make the right decision about what boiler to choose to have installed in your home, we’ve explained the different types of boilers that are available.
Condensing Boilers
If a boiler is a condensing boiler, then it will reclaim heat from the waste gases and reuse it. Any new boiler will be classified as a condensing boiler, whether gas or oil, or a combi or conventional.
New gas boilers have had to be condensing since 2005, and all new oil boilers have had to be condensing since 2007, after the government introduced legislation that required new boilers to be more energy efficient.
A condensing boiler provides an energy efficient way of getting hot water as you get more heat from your fuel, helping you to save money of your energy bills while not wasting as much excess fuel. A condensing boiler will have a SEDBUK efficiency rating of A, as they usually use 90% of their fuel to create heat.
Conventional Boiler
A conventional boiler uses both a cylinder and a tank, so requires a considerable amount of space within the home. It can provide hot water to multiple taps at the same time, but doesn’t provide a constant stream of hot water, so you may have to wait for water to heat.
Conventional boilers are best suited for households that have considerable attic or loft space to store a tank, and enough room for a water cylinder in an airing cupboard.
System Boilers
This type of boiler has a water cylinder but no water tank, so it can be installed in homes with limited or no attic space. The cylinder will usually be stored in a boiler airing cupboard so takes up minimal space. A system boiler may not be able to provide hot water for multiple taps, and won’t give you hot water instantly. There may also be times where you have to wait for water to reheat.
A system boiler is best suited for homes and flats that have enough room to store a cylinder.
Combi Boilers
With combination boilers you can chose to run them either by using electric or gas. They are the most popular choice among homeowners and are perfect for smaller homes and flats with one shower, as they don’t need water tanks or cylinders so won’t take up much space.
If thinking about installing a combi boiler in your home, you will need to consider the expected domestic hot water flow rate and kW rating of the boiler you require.
Any combi boiler will also have a cold water flow rate requirement that will need to be met in order to provide hot water efficiently. Prior to having a combi boiler installed, it is advisable that you get your cold water flow rate tested to find if a combi boiler is suitable for your home.
Regardless of the type of boiler you choose to install in your home, new systems will always be a minimum of 88% energy efficient. From 2010, all new boilers have to be SEDBUK A-rated for energy efficiency.
If you’re looking for a new boiler for your Bristol home and are still unsure of which boiler you should install, then why not talk to a member of our team? We’ve got plenty of expert knowledge and can advise on the best boiler and heating system for your home.
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