What type of heating system is right for me?
April 9, 2010 / by Barry Reynolds
Modern boilers are highly efficient and sophisticated systems. Since the old oil burning boilers from decades ago, the boiler manufacturers have gone a long way to make quieter, more robust, cleaner and even cheaper boilers.
Plumbers these days install modern heating systems that are highly sophisticated, with new systems adopting wireless radio room thermostat and digital controllers to create a pleasant environment that can be different in each room in the house.
There are various types of boilers and within them there are many different boiler manufactures with differing features. In this introduction our plumbers introduce the major types of central heating systems and their key components starting with boilers and their various features to match your individual needs for space heating and domestic water heating.
In order to address the various types of heating systems in the UK, the boilers are normally grouped into three main groups:
- Combi boilers – A combi boiler is the most popular type of boiler in the UK, now found in over 70% of homes.
- System Boilers – A system boiler provides central heating and hot water via a storage cylinder housed in an airing cupboard.
- Open Vent Boilers – An open vent boiler provides central heating and hot water via a storage cylinder housed in the airing cupboard and feed tanks in your loft.
Combi Boilers
A combi boiler is the most popular type of boiler in the UK, now found in over 70% of homes.
Combi boilers provide central heating and hot water without the need for a separate tank to store water. They can easily be hidden under the stairs or in kitchen cabinets. They are most suited to homes with one bathroom, households with single people, couples and families with one child. They are available in following outputs: 24kw, 30kw, 35kw.
Benefits:
- Instant domestic hot water
- Compact, easy to fit if space is limited
Disadvantages:
- Unable to run multiple showers or baths at the same time
- Lower flow rate for hot water than an open vent or system boiler
System Boilers
A system boiler (sometimes known as a ‘sealed system’) provides central heating and hot water via a storage cylinder housed in an airing cupboard – there is no need for feed tanks in the loft, as with an open vent boiler. Most suited to larger homes with multiple bathrooms. They are available in following outputs:
12kw, 15kw, 18kw, 24kw, 30kw, 38kw.
Benefits:
- High flow rate for hot water
- No feed tanks in the loft
- More than one bath or shower can be run at the same time
Disadvantages:
- Hot water is not instant
- Once the hot water in the storage cylinder runs out you have to wait for it to reheat
- Space is required for the cylinder (usually an airing cupboard)
Open Vent Boilers
An open vent boiler provides central heating and hot water via a storage cylinder housed in the airing cupboard and feed tanks in your loft.
If you’re looking to do a complete system overhaul then the most popular and fuel efficient method is to remove the feed tanks and install a system boiler. They are available in the following outputs: 12kw, 15kw, 18kw, 24kw, 30kw, 38kw.
Benefits:
- High flow rate for hot water
- More than one bath or shower can be run at the same time
Disadvantages:
- Hot water is not instant
- Once the hot water in the storage cylinder runs out you have to wait for it to reheat
- Space is required for the cylinder (usually an airing cupboard)
- The feed tanks are usually situated in the loft. This can prevent loft conversions
