Choosing The Right Type of Boiler: A Guide

We appreciate it can get confusing when it comes to choosing the right type of boiler for your home. Here, we outline the main types of domestic boiler and what each one can offer you and your home, helping you decide what's best for your property and needs.

Choosing The Right Type of Boiler

There are three main types of domestic boilers to choose from to install in your home.

These are:

1. Combination boilers
2. Conventional boilers
3. System boilers

Below, we outline the main features of each one and the pros and cons of installing them to help give you an idea of what type of boiler will be best for you.

Combination Boilers

Combination boilers heat water on demand and don't require an external water cylinder or tank. They connect directly to the mains water supply.

Advantages:

• Energy efficient (due to fuel used only on demand) 
• No waiting for hot water
• Space-saving (as it's all contained in a single unit)

Disadvantages:

• Needs high water mains pressure
• Flow of hot water decreases when using more than one stream

We recommend a combination boiler if: you have a smaller household or if you don't have a loft space available for a hot water tank.

Conventional Boilers

Conventional boilers heat water and then feed it into a hot water cylinder to keep it warm until it's needed. The water doesn't come directly from the water main, and is instead routed through a cold water tank that's usually situated in the attic, which helps to maintain a strong rate of flow.

Advantages:

• Good for larger properties needing multiple hot water streams
• Suitable for properties with low mains water pressure
• Cheapest type of boiler to purchase

Disadvantages:

• Having to wait for water to heat up
• Using too much water too quickly means you'll have to wait for the tank to fill up again
• Less efficient than combination boilers due to heat lost from the cylinder
• Requires more space for cylinder/tank

We recommend a conventional boiler if: you have a larger bathroom with more than one bathroom or if you live in a property with low mains pressure.

System Boilers

System boilers have similarities to both combi and conventional boilers. They require a hot water cylinder for storage but are actually connected to the cold mains water supply.

Advantages:

• Don't need as much space as a conventional boiler
• No need to worry about leaks/ freezes as no components need be in the attic

Disadvantages:

• Don't work well with low mains water pressure
• Less efficient than combi boilers
• Risk of running out of hot water if lots is used at the same time

Need more help on what type of boiler to choose?

We've covered the main points regarding the three most common types of domestic boilers. However, if you would like some more information or advice on what type of boiler will is best to install in your property, get in touch with our team! You can reach us at 07891817026 or by filling in our contact form.