Is a Combi boiler right for you?
The tried and tested Combi boiler have become the most popular type of boiler in the United Kingdom but is it right for your home? Well that depends on you and your families needs, so let’s take a look to see if a Combi boiler could work for you…
What is a Combi boiler?
Combi boilers which are also known as combination boilers are very versatile and this is why they are so popular. One of the biggest attractions for many homeowners is their size. Since they don’t need a tank or cylinder to operate, they take up considerably less space than other options and don’t need the extra piping for those two aspects of the system.
Water is drawn straight from the mains source. This allows for hot water to be supplied as and when it is needed without any loss on water pressure, meaning that when you are using a tap it will not slow when you need it most. This makes them ideal for households that only have one bathroom or a smaller family.
The downsides to a Combi boiler
The biggest downside to Combi boilers is that they can only consistent supply hot water to one tap at a time. Using more than this simultaneously can lead to a dip in water pressure. This means that if someone upstairs is taking a shower, they are going to be in for a rude awakening when somebody else wants to use the hot water tap in the kitchen and for larger families this can be a big problem.
What are the other options?
If you have a need for more than one tap or use of hot water at a time, or do not want to see a dip in water pressure, you should consider a system (sealed system) boiler or a conventional boiler.
System boiler requires a water cylinder but not a water tank. That means that while they are not as space conscience as a combi boiler, they are not as big as other options such as a conventional boiler. System boilers allow for hot water to be supplied to multiple taps at once so is a better option for larger families. However, they cannot heat water straight away as combi boilers can, and the hot water can run out if you use it too quickly meaning that if someone ends up hogging the shower, you’ll have to wait for it to heat up again before you can use it yourself.
Conventional boilers make use of both a tank AND a cylinder. This means that you can get hot water from multiple taps just like a system boiler but since it has a tank, there is more water to go around before you have to wait for it to reheat. The biggest issue for smaller homes is that you need to find space for both the cylinder and the tank and this may not be possible in some circumstances.
Is a new combi boiler for you and based in St. Helens?
We don’t expect homeowners to have all the answers. If you have any questions, get in touch with us on through our contact us page here or on 07977 806 175 or 0151 440 3315.
