In most homes, the boiler is the main source of heating. It plays a crucial role in keeping your home warm since it burns fuel to heat water and to provide space heating. In the past, conventional and system type boilers were the most popular choice for heating homes. However, recently, combi, or combination, boilers are becoming more and more popular.
And for good reasons too. Compared to the other types, combi boilers have many advantages that you can benefit from if you choose to install one in your home. Take a look at the reasons why a combi boiler is right for you and your home.
- Heating on demand
One of the main advantages of a combi boiler is that you can get hot water and space heating whenever you want. You won’t have to wait for enough water to heat up in order to take a shower. This is because combi boilers don’t require a hot water tank compared to conventional or system types. You won’t have to fire up your boiler early in the morning to heat up water for use throughout the day.
- Save space
If you visually compare boiler types, it’s easy to notice that combi boilers are much more compact. The units themselves are significantly smaller than other boilers so they can fit almost anywhere. As such, combi boilers are most commonly placed in kitchens and airing cupboards. Additionally, many of the components required for your central heating are built into the boiler itself, reducing the amount of space it takes up. For example, other boiler types use cold and water tanks in lofts, while combi boilers do not. This frees up plenty of space for potential home improvement projects such as a loft conversion.
- Easier and cheaper
Since combi boilers have certain components built in and don’t require external water storage cylinders, installation is easy. For example, installing a combi boiler in a newly-built home involves less pipework. If you are simply replacing a combi boiler, the whole procedure just involves switching the old unit for the new one. And if you are moving from another central heating type, you’ll need to remove the unnecessary parts. However, installing the actual boiler is very straightforward. A simpler installation tends to mean a cheaper one too, since your heating engineer will commit less time and energy for their service. Also, combi boilers are easy to maintain and service, saving you even more money down the line.
- Higher efficiency
As more modern models of combi boilers are being developed, their features and energy ratings are becoming more advanced. Compared to older types, combi boilers are extremely efficient—many newer models reach efficiency ratings of 90% or higher. This means that you only lose 10% of the energy your system creates. Also, government regulations stipulate that any new central heating to be installed must have a condensing boiler. This is just a boiler that extracts even more heat from waste gases, improving efficiency even more. And greater energy efficiencies means savings on your heating bills while significantly reducing your home’s impact on the environment!