Types of Boilers- Which one to Buy?

System Boiler, Combi Boilers, Conventional Boilers-Wondering which types of boilers work the best? Which one is less risky to invest in? Which one to buy for a long-term water heating solution? Multiple such questions may arise in your mind when going for any big purchase. And when it is a boiler you are considering buying in the UK, a big amount of technical questions will cloud your mind and thus, Trade Plumbing comes with a quick boiler guide to clear the confusions, helping you make informed decisions. Without wasting a moment, let’s dig deeper into the ‘boiler guide’.

Before we proceed, you might want to know the definitions of various types of boilers. Here they are:

COMBI BOILER

A Combi Boiler (Combination Boiler) operates on gas or fuel without needing to invest in a hot water cylinder or water tank in the loft. These are the most common and efficient types of boilers around the UK. 

Function: Provides both the water heating and central heating boiler in one unit. Combi boilers work by heating water directly for the mains supply, thus, no hot water cylinder or hot water tank is needed with this type of boiler. 

Ideal for: Small spaces as they don’t require many adjacent products to complete a heating or water supply system and are available in very compact units - perfect for smaller properties. A Combi boiler is a good option for homes where hot water usage is normal- not ideal for homes that need hot water in more than one place at a time.

Caution: The installation of a combi boiler is not as simple as other boilers. Also, if you need hot water in more than one tap at a time, water pressure might get affected. These types of boilers will need a powerful flow rate to work efficiently so it is recommended to check this before installation.

SYSTEM BOILER

A System Boiler (Sealed System) works with a combination of a hot water cylinder to supply hot water- No water tank required. The benefit of having this type of boiler is that you can have hot water in multiple taps of your property at a time. An expansion vessel and a pump are built into the vessel assembly in a system boiler.

Function: A system boiler heats your central heating directly, as well as producing hot water for a hot water cylinder in your home. In one sense, they work like a conventional older style boiler in that they need to store the hot water they produce, whilst on the other hand - they do differ slightly, as they take their water supply directly from the mains.

Ideal for: Homes where multiple taps are likely to require hot water at the same time.

Caution: The system boilers need space to allow a hot water cylinder adjustment in the sealed system of hot water supply, Also, with a system boiler you don’t get water instantly- once the water runs out, you need to wait for the next batch to warm up!

Conventional Boiler

Conventional boilers are regular boilers that have been used in UK homes for ages. 

Function: These types of boilers are a part of a conventional heating system that operates in conjunction with an expansion tank and a storage tank feeding the hot water cylinder. This kind of water heating system creates hot water storage and thus, higher hot water demands can be met instantly.

Ideal for: Properties with old radiator systems that can’t cope up with high pressures (required for combi and system boilers). Conventional or Regular Boilers are a good pick for homes with low water pressures.

Caution: The hot water can run out and you'll have to wait for it to reheat. You need to find room for the cylinder and the tank.

Suitable for homes that need to have hot water in more than one place at the same time.

Condensing Boilers

Modern boilers in the heating and plumbing market are being manufactured as condensing boilers. ‘Condensing’ is basically an attribute assigned to the boiler to make it efficient. A condensing boiler is one of the most efficient types of boiler on the market today, achieving more than 90% efficiency across the board. These types of boilers achieve such high-efficiency figures by condensing the water vapour in the usually wasted exhaust gasses.

LPG Boilers

LPG Boilers work much in the same way that other types of boilers work, however instead of burning gas or oil- they burn LPG - a hydrocarbon fuel that is a mixture of both propane and butane gas. These gases liquefy at a pretty moderate temperature, meaning LPG is easy to transport and store in a concentrated form of liquid.

Biomass Boilers

Biomass Boilers can replace both oil and gas boilers in most applications. Instead of burning more traditional fuels such as oil & gas - they instead burn logs, wood chips or wood pellets - amongst some other types of biomass. These boilers determine the heat released by controlling the fuel and air supplied to the combustion chamber.

Electric Only Boilers

Electric-only boilers are popular choices in areas where a gas supply is not possible. An incredibly simple design, the heating element is heated up within the boiler - just like a big kettle. This design also means that these types of boilers are almost 100% efficient.

Boilers at TradePlumbing

At TradePlumbing, we source and supply an excellent range of boilers which we supply to both trade and domestic customers. As ever, if you have any questions about the range - please do just get in touch and we will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

What type of boiler do I need?

Need help choosing which boiler is best for your home? The first step is choosing your boiler type. Now that you have learnt the function of each boiler, the next steps will be easy for you.

What our experience says is there is not a definition for best boilers in UK- The best one is the one that fits into your requirements 100% and goes a long way to provide quality service. The most efficient boiler from the above-mentioned types of boilers is considered to be the condensing boiler. There are many makes of boilers in UK that offer a high quality range of any type of boiler you need. We suggest you to have a thorough session with your plumber to understand what you require but we have got some info for you here as well:

 

Requirement	Boiler Type
For Small spaces (Flats, small apartments, etc)	Combi Boiler
For Spacious Zones	Regular/ Heat-only boiler
For Poor water pressure Zones	System Boiler

Needs with respect to Water and Heat Requirements:

 

High Heat and Hot Water Required	Conventional Boiler
Low/ Normal Heat and Hot Water Required	Combi Boiler

At Trade Plumbing we have sourced an excellent range of boilers from the best boiler brands in UK. Step forward and take away the best of the best!