Different Types of Boilers
More than 95% of homes in the UK have central heating installed, and it’s one of the most efficient ways of heating your home.
Not all central heating systems are the same though, and if you are in the position of upgrading or replacing a central heating system soon, the first major decision is what sort of boiler to choose.
Combi Boiler
A combination, or combi boiler, is the most common type of boiler found in UK homes. A combi boiler has the name because it provides the combined functions of heating the radiators in your home and providing hot water on demand when you turn on the tap.
Combi boilers are generally more efficient than other types of boilers as the temperature can be adjusted to heat your home to the required temperature and as hot water is provided on demand, you are only paying for what you can use.
Combi boilers can run on both mains gas and oil from a tank in the garden, and cost anything from £500 to £1,500 to buy, depending on capacity. Some of the big brand names to look out for include Worcester Bosch, Vaillant, Vokera, Baxi and Ideal.
System Boilers
System boilers differ from combi boilers in that the hot water is heated on a timer, and is stored in a tank in an airing cupboard.
The advantages of this sort of system is that hot water can be drawn from several taps at the same time which may be of benefit to some families or types of business.
The disadvantages may be that you are heating more water than you actually need, and that the hot water can run out.
System boilers cost upwards of £600, and are made by the same companies who are active in the combi boiler market.
Conventional Boilers
Conventional boilers use a cold water storage tank in the loft or attic as well as a hot water tank elsewhere in the house.
This sort of boiler is a fairly old-fashioned technology now, and most people who have a conventional boiler system are replacing it with a combi boiler which is a lot more efficient.
They have the same drawbacks such as system boilers as hot water is not provided on demand, but in homes with a conventional boiler already installed, the simplest option is often to replace like for like. A new conventional boiler will cost around £600 upwards.
Biomass Boiler
A biomass boiler does the same job as a combi or system boiler as it heats your home and provides hot water too. However, the difference is the fuel used.
Biomass boilers run on logs, or pellets made from recycled material and are therefore far less damaging on the environment than boilers using fossil fuels.
They are a popular choice for homes which are not connected to the mains gas supply, and although they are more expensive to buy at around £1,000, there are government grants available to households switching to a biomass system.
