How to Choose the Right Boiler for Your Home

Modern boilers have a long lifespan but there comes a time when every boiler needs to be replaced.  When you work with heating engineers in Eastbourne, you don’t need to worry too much because they will walk you through the process of choosing the right boiler.  But if you like to do some preparation, here are some points to consider.

Boiler basics

The first step is to consider the type of boiler and the needs of your home because this has a big impact on which boiler is the best.  There are three main categories on offer – combi or combination boilers, regular or conventional boilers or system boilers.  Each has its own pros and cons.

Another way to look at it is to see what the boiler manuals say about the volume of hot water that the boiler can provide.  For example, a single coil cylinder allows 25 litres of hot water per person, per day.  Most modern installations will be twin coil to allow the future addition of things like solar thermal or renewable heating systems.

Types of boiler

Combi boiler

The combi boiler provides both hot water for bathroom and kitchen taps and also for the central heating system.  It heats water straight from the mains so there’s no need for a hot water storage cylinder or a cistern in the loft.  They are quick to install, cost effective and space saving due to their combined design.  Water is delivered at mains pressure so it can provide a powerful shower if water pressure is good.

The biggest problem is that it is a priority system, so it only deals with one heating need at a time.  This means it can’t provide water for a shower and for the kitchen taps at the same time.  This makes it ideal for smaller homes but if you are talking with bathroom fitters in Eastbourne about having more than one bathroom, a combi may not meet the needs.

System boiler

A system boiler has a separate hot water cylinder so it can supply different things at once.  The cylinder is often stored with the main boiler so there’s no need for a cistern in the loft.  This system is ideal for larger homes and offers water at the pressure of the home with near-instantaneous hot water.

The main downside is that once the cylinder is empty, it takes a little longer to get more hot water.  And you definitely want boiler service in Eastbourne for this type of boiler as there are more components that might experience problems.

Regular/conventional boiler

The final category is now largely used for open-venting heating systems and work in a similar way to system boilers.  There is a good flow of water, regardless of pressure and are ideal if you want a power shower with cold water fed from the cistern.

Heating contractors in Eastbourne will tell you this is the most expensive type of boiler system and can suffer from low pressure if the cistern isn’t located high enough.

Conclusion

Choosing the right boiler is mostly done based on the size of the house and the demands it puts on the system.  But your heating engineer will be able to walk you through the options to get the right one.