Heating Our Homes - How size matters when it comes to buying a new boiler
February 9, 2009
For many of us, buying a new boiler is not something we do with great regularity. Given this fact, it is important to remember that yes, size matters when it comes to choosing the best boiler for our homes. In addition, the number and way we use our bathrooms will also influence our decision together with the level of insulation our property affords.
By law, all new and replacement gas and oil fired boilers (with few exceptions - see "Heating and our environmental responsibilities") must be condensing boilers.
Essentially, there are 3 types:
- Combination (combi)
- Regular - traditional, heat only or conventional boilers which unlike combis, heat a store of water in a cylinder
- System - similar to Regular but don't need an expansion tank and have the heating and hot water components built in, making installation quicker and easier
If you live in a larger home with more bathrooms for example, it is highly likely that demand for hot water (say in the get ready for work and school rush) will come from many outlets at the same time. If this is the case, it is highly likely that you should consider a hot water cylinder to store enough hot water to meet demand. Therefore, the most suitable option would be the regular or indeed system boiler.
If you live in a smaller home with one bathroom or possibly a bathroom and en-suite, the likely demand for hot water will not be the same as in the above scenario and therefore a condensing combi system which heats water on demand may be the more appropriate solution.
I am afraid to say that the hard work doesn't stop there. The final consideration is the level of insulation as heat loss is a determining factor. A poorly insulated property will I am afraid lose more heat when compared to a modern well insulated property. Therefore, a larger boiler will be required in order to compensate for the heat loss. The more cost effective solution in the short term will in our opinion be upgrading the level of insulation and there are grants available to help ou with this.
With living space at a premium, it is no surprise that combination boilers now account for more than half of all new domestic boilers installed in Britain each year. The removal of the need for a hot water cylinder and the attraction of almost instant hot water are seen as positive benefits. However, combi is not always best if you require high flow rates (for power showers) or demand from several outlets at once. I can vouch for this having stayed in homes with a combi system installed where high demand can lead to cold water at one or more outlets.
The way we heat our homes can also influence the size of the boiler required. If for example you are considering installing under floor heating in your property, did you realise that a typical under floor system will require a temperature flow of 45 degrees C compared to 60 degrees C for traditional radiators? Therefore, houses heated by radiators will require a larger boiler when compared to a house heated by an under floor system.
What boiler is best for me?
| Type of Property | Type of Boiler |
| Bungalow or Flat (with no liveable roofspace) | Combi |
| Two or More Bathrooms | System or Regular |
| Low mains water pressure | System or Regular |
| Upgrading existing boiler | System, Regular or Combi |
| Loft Conversion | Combi |
To find a company who may assist you further, simply click on the free links located on the right hand side of the page.
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