Combi Boiler vs System Boiler

When thinking about getting a boiler for your home, there are three key points for consideration:

  1. How much space will require heating during the colder months
  2. How many bathrooms you’re using in your home; and
  3. How much are you willing to pay for your boiler.

The first is a no-brainer: more space to heat means getting a boiler with the capacity to bring heat to up to four bedrooms at any given time. The second, however, may seem unrelated, but it actually considers how much hot water you need to run for baths, showers, or even cooking.

The second factor determines which of two options you can choose from – system boilers or combi boilers.

The third factor would also greatly influence your final decision. Different boilers from different manufacturers and brands would have a significant difference in their respective prices. If you’re having trouble deciding which boiler to go with because of the price, you can check out this boiler price guide to help you make the right choice.

So, how do you decide as to which of these boilers will work best in your home? First, consider the following overview for these boilers:

What Makes System Boilers Work?

System boilers are the recommended item for larger households or homes with more than two bathrooms. Why? The presence of an unvented hot water cylinder allows system boilers to store a substantial amount of pre-heated water that anyone can use. Unfortunately, once all the water in this reservoir has been used up, you’re going to have to wait for your time to bathe as it needs to refill itself and heat up a fresh batch of water. The price of the boiler depends on its functions. You can check new boiler costs to get an idea about the price of different boilers and compare them.

However, no matter how easy or hard it is to install, best to look for the best Boiler installers in your place. For one thing, you need not have to install a cold water tank up in your loft or attic. Likewise, these can also be quite eco-friendly as many of today’s system boiler models are compatible with solar heating systems for the home.

What’s the Combi Boiler’s Unique Selling Proposition?

If you’re really short on space – say, a city flat or a cottage with just a couple of bedrooms and bathrooms – then the combi boiler is the ideal choice for your home.

Combi boilers are designed so that they totally dispense with the need for a reservoir. Instead, these boilers can connect directly to your municipal water mains and deliver hot water with the same pressure as from your cold taps. Plus, today’s combi boilers are small enough to be stored in a kitchen cupboard – a good thing for those with smaller living spaces.

In addition, these are also quite eco-friendly and energy-efficient. Water is heated only when it’s required, as opposed to stored and kept hot in a separate reservoir. Indeed, combi boilers with a minimum efficiency rating of 92 percent can help lower your power bills, as well as your household’s carbon footprint.

Also read: Air compressor problems and ways to fix them

Another potential environmental advantage of the combi boiler is a recent development done in light of the British government’s ongoing shift to sustainable power: the hybrid combi boiler. Conventionally, most combi boilers installed these days rely on natural gas for power, but energy advocates are going a step further and are beginning to roll out the use of hydrogen as a power source for households.

Several heating solutions companies like Worcester Bosch, Vaillant, and Viessmann have already introduced hybrid combi boilers into the market. These are powered by natural gas at the moment but can easily segue into the use of hydrogen as pipes are set in place throughout the country.