Should I Replace My Conventional Boiler with a Combi Boiler

If you have just moved in a new house, with a broken boiler or older than 12 years, then a replacement might be in order.  

Is it worth the hassle?

First of all it is important to have a look at what kind of a heating system you have? And will a combi boiler make any difference?

When we talk about ‘normal systems’ we generally refer to a conventional heat only boiler, which consists of two cold water tanks usually adjusted somewhere in the loft and a hot water tank that is found in the airing cupboard.

A system boiler is very much like a heat-only boiler, except you don’t require the feed and expansion cold-water tanks in the loft.

A combi boiler works by providing hot water directly without the need for a hot water tank or even a water tank. Supply water directly according to your requirement, the hot water is also instantly supplied on turning the tap on. Combi boilers work in such a way that the boiler fires up and heats the water coming through pipes, making it more efficient.

Why Install a Combi Boiler?

Here are some of the reasons why people prefer installing a combi boiler

Saves space

You can get rid of water tanks and free a lot of space, Combi boilers are popular in flats and small houses.

Combi boilers save you energy

With regular boilers, hot water is usually produced twice a day regardless if it is used or not in this case you are wasting a lot of energy and hot water as the boiler fires up to produce hot water. Combi boilers provide you with hot water when you need it whenever you turn the tap or shower on.

It is worth mentioning that Combi boilers are one of the most efficient boilers, these boilers can save 80% of your energy bills easily.

Combi boilers are suitable for small hot water demands

If you require hot water in multiple outlets, for example you need hot water in two taps at the same time, then the combi boiler won’t be suitable.

When should you install a Combi boiler?

In theory you can get your boiler changed anytime of the year, but it is recommended that you do it during the general refurbishment phase. A lot of extra costs like running new pipes under floors, adding new radiators will be minimalized during the refurbishment time as your house will most probably me opened apart.

Try to install as much insulation as you could whilst getting a new heating system installed during the refurbishment period. Better insulation lowers gas demands as heat takes time to leave the house.

It is a good idea to get a boiler installed in the summers as boiler prices are low and there isn’t much workload on plumbers during that time of the year.

CONDENSING COMBI BOILERS

All boilers available nowadays for domestic usage are standard combi boilers – any boiler you get whether it is a combi, heat only or a system boiler they are condensing by default. Condensing boilers are the most highly efficient boilers you can get from the market with an efficiency of 90% or even more. Condensing boiler reuse the waste heat flue gas to pre heat the cold water going into the boiler.

A condensing combi boiler (like all condensing boilers) will have an additional condensing pipe that allows the condensed vapors to be drained away as the boiler is working.

So is it worth swapping to a Combi Boiler?

Certainly if you live in a small house and you are short of space, combi boilers is the best answer to all your heating questions.

If you have just moved to a new house and you are carrying out refurbishment then getting a new combi boiler installed is ideal.

If you are tight on budget it could be the perfect time to get financed by government warmth schemes like the Green deal and ECO.