Do you have the right boiler installed in your home? In this day and age, most boilers in smaller homes are combi boilers, and this makes sense as they are commonly the most efficient boilers out there. But if you don't have a combi boiler installed in your home, should you have one?
What exactly is a combi boiler?
One of the most common types of boilers is a combi boiler (or, to give it its full name, a combination boiler), which is the name given to a cold water boiler that delivers heat for central heating and boils water instantly when a hot tap is opened. Gas boilers, regular boilers (also known as conventional boilers or heat-only boilers - which have a storage tank), and system boilers are other types of boilers.
Because a combi boiler draws water from the mains, the water pressure is often higher. When it comes to the correct boiler cost, installation expenses, and total energy bills going forward, this boiler type is one of the more high-efficiency boiler systems available at a price that suits most budgets.
Which type of property is a combi boiler best suited to?
It is great for smaller buildings, and boiler brands offered on our site from Green Flame Plumbing and Heating include Baxi, Glow-worm, Ideal, Viessmann, Vaillant, Worcester Bosch, and many more. We are pleased to announce that we are Ideal Max Accredited installers, allowing us to provide extended warranties on Ideal boilers.
Do I need a combi boiler for my home?
Many variables influence whether you should maintain your current boiler or move to a combi boiler. It all boils down to the system's age, water pressure/internal flow rates, and hot water requirements. The cost of switching from a heat-only or system boiler to a combi boiler is more than a simple exchange. You must weigh the benefits of a combi, such as improved warranty coverage and more room, against the increased installation cost. If you already have a combi boiler, now is a good time to examine your heating and hot water requirements to ensure you select the proper combi boiler to maximise efficiency and the boiler's lifespan.
Factors that determine whether you need a combi boiler installed
The age of the system
When installing a combi boiler, there is a danger of leakage if you have really old radiators installed in your home. Also, if you have a storage tank (for example, if you have an open-vented system with a feed and expansion tank in your loft), then this must be changed to a 'sealed system,' putting the system under pressure and potentially causing leaks if changed to. combi boiler. In this case, you might opt to keep your heat-only boiler in order to avoid the hassle.
Your home's water pressure/flow rates
In order to function properly, a combi boiler requires adequate incoming water pressure as well as adequate internal flow rates. Some parts of the UK have low incoming water pressure, making a combi boiler unsuitable. For example, it might be the case that certain houses have extremely complicated plumbing, making it difficult to run the boiler. Combi boilers require a minimum flow rate of 10 litres per minute to operate. If you have less, you will need either a mains pump (which may boost the flow rate to 12 litres per minute) or a pressure accumulator tank. If you aren't sure what your flow rate is, you can check in with your neighbours to see if they have a combi boiler installed. Alternatively, you can call one of our professional heating engineers here at Green Flame to visit your property and test your water flow rates to ensure they are appropriate for a combi boiler installation.
The number of bathrooms in your home
Combi boilers have flow rates ranging from 10 to 25 litres per minute, which is sufficient for the great majority of households with one or two bathrooms. If you have a large home with many bathrooms, are expanding bathrooms, or if you and your family take multiple showers at the same time, even the largest household combi boiler may not be enough. When several hot water outlets are in use at the same time, such as two showers, the hot water flow rate of even the largest boilers is half. It may be worthwhile to investigate a system boiler with an unvented hot water cylinder (if the water pressure is good). Even the most powerful combi boilers have limitations. A system boiler and high-performance hot water cylinder may be a better solution for your home if it has higher hot water flow rates and over 3 bathrooms.
