Installing a new boiler is a big choice, and with so many alternatives, how do you know which one is right for your home? Before making this choice, consider your current and upcoming heating and hot water requirements.
Take into account how much hot water you and your family need, the size of your home, the fuel accessible to you, your current system, and the many types of boilers available.
You may also want to think about things like energy efficiency and renewable energy choices. We’ve put up this quick reference guide to assist you pick which boiler is right for you.
What are the many types of boilers?
Before we get into the details of how to pick a boiler depending on your heating needs and the size of your house, it’s necessary to understand the many types of boilers available.
Conventional boilers
A traditional boiler may heat water and store it in a hot water tank for hours until it is required. When the stored hot water is depleted, you must wait for more to be heated and the tank to be replaced.
These systems are ideal for bigger homes with many bathrooms and a lot of radiators, but the tank can take up a lot of space. Several individuals utilise the tank’s storage cabinet as an airing cupboard.
Combi-boilers
Combination boilers, sometimes known as combi boilers “are the most prevalent boiler type in the United Kingdom” quotes Sam from Boiler Central. They function by supplying on-demand hot water directly from the mains without the need for a storage tank.
Because a combi boiler distributes hot water at mains pressure, you may take a shower without the need for a separate shower pump.
Because all of the components are housed inside one unit and no separate hot water tank is required, these boilers are perfect for houses with limited space.
A storage combi boiler is a type of boiler that is suitable for larger households. They operate similarly to a combi boiler, but feature a hot water tank similar to a traditional system, allowing extra hot water to be stored and utilised later.
System Boilers
System boilers operate by directly providing hot water to a storage cylinder and your home’s radiators. The primary components of this system are contained in one unit, similar to a combi boiler, making installation and service easier. These boilers are perfect for homes with more than one bathroom or for individuals who demand more hot water than a combi boiler can supply.
Selecting the Right Boiler for you
Now that you’ve learned about the three primary types of boilers available, you should consider which one will be most useful for you, based on your existing system and the amount of room you have to store it.
Space Available
The area available in your home might influence the sort of boiler that’s most suited to you. Most smaller homes have little storage space, making it difficult to keep a separate hot water tank. For example, if you don’t have enough room for a boiler, a huge hot water tank, and a cold water tank, a combi boiler is probably the preferable option.
Current system
It is critical to consider if you want to preserve the same system that is already in place in your house. From the standpoint of new boiler cost and practicality, it is usually ideal to keep the same system, but there may be times when switching to another system is preferable. This is more prevalent in older homes, while modern constructions normally have the best system in place. Keep in mind that different systems will demand varying amounts of space and may not always be appropriate.
Hot water
The type of boiler you select will also be determined by your hot water use. If there is expected to be a need for hot water at many outlets at the same time, a system boiler or conventional boiler with a hot water cylinder may be more suited than a combi boiler, but this will depend on whether there is enough space available.
Selecting the Right Boiler Size
After you’ve settled on a boiler type, make sure it’s the proper size and can keep up with your home’s heating and hot water demands. A two-bedroom terraced house, for example, will require a smaller boiler than a five-bedroom detached house.
Hot water requirement
How much hot water you will use or are likely to need in the future is one of the first factors to consider when deciding on the size of your boiler. If you have a young family, your requirements will most certainly grow as the children get older.
A 24-30 kW boiler is usually suited for most houses with a single bath and shower. When there is an additional en-suite bathroom, a bigger 30-35 kW boiler may be preferable.
If you have numerous restrooms that are likely to be in use at the same time, a system boiler with a storage cylinder may be more appropriate. A system boiler pre-heats and stores hot water in a cylinder, and its output may be scaled based on your home’s heating requirement.
Property size
In addition to producing hot water, your boiler will most likely be the primary source of warmth for your home. This implies that you must select a boiler that is large enough to produce adequate heat output to supply your whole house. The size of a domestic boiler is determined by its heat output, which normally ranges from 5 to 35 kW.
When it comes to traditional and system boilers, you should avoid selecting a boiler that is too large for your property, such as installing a boiler that can power 15 radiators when your apartment only has a few. This will just increase your energy bill and is a waste of gas and power.
The size of a combi boiler is typically determined by the hot water demand; a skilled heating expert will examine this for you before making a final suggestion.
Heat loss
It’s pointless to have an efficient boiler and heating system if the majority of the heat generated escapes your home. This is not only a waste of energy, but it may also result in an unexpectedly hefty bill from your energy provider.
There is a formula that may be used to determine how much heat your home is losing. It considers the size of the space, the number of radiators, the number of doors and windows, and the level of insulation in your property. An professional can determine how much heat your home will lose on the coldest day of the year and use that knowledge to choose the best boiler size.
Your boiler should not be oversized. This is because it causes heat loss. It was a usual practise in the past to select an enormous boiler that was up to 30% larger than needed. But, with technological advancements, this is no longer essential and will result in wasted energy, putting you out of pocket.
Selecting the Right Fuel
Because most homes are wired for electricity and gas, running appliances on these fuels is simple. Nevertheless, for individuals living in more remote areas or without access to gas, a gas boiler is not always a choice. Oil boilers should also be considered.
You may also wish to investigate green energy sources; however, they will have an influence on the heating system and boiler you choose.
Gas from the mains
Mains gas is the most popular fuel type in the UK, with the majority of houses already connected. A gas boiler provides a steady supply, and it is regarded the cleanest kind of nonrenewable energy.
Oil
Oil is the most frequent option for buildings that are not linked to the gas network, and an estimated 4.3 million UK households use it. Oil boilers, unlike gas combi-boilers, are non-condensing and floor standing, requiring greater room. In addition, they often provide a reduced hot water flow rate in contrast.
Alternative energy and biomass
Lastly, explore biomass and other alternative energy sources. If you have storage space and can burn fuels that require a flue, you might think about installing a biomass system. These boilers are a more environmentally friendly alternative that run on a sustainable fuel source.
They are often powered by wood pellets, chips, or logs and may help to conserve the environment while also saving money on your energy costs. Some common alternative energy sources for your boiler include air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, and fuel cell technology, all of which are increasingly compatible with current boilers.
In Conclusion
Getting the right boiler for you is based on tons of factors, each one more unique than the last. Once, you find the boiler that’s right for you, we found that there’s other tools that help you find the right boiler for you. For example, Boiler Central’s free quote tool.
So that’s the entire summary of finding the right boiler for you, this information was gathered by boiler experts and customers, we hope this helped.
Salman is a prolific environmental writer, and has authored more than 500 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management, sustainability and conservation all over the world.
Salman can be reached on salman@cleantechloops.com
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