from a
wide range of boilers and manufacturers
that will match system requirements and
customer preference. We explain the
benefits of various boilers on the
market and make recommendations based
upon budget and individual requirements.
The
different kinds of boiler...
Boilers differ in size and shape -
such as floor standing, wall mounted or
situated inside a fireplace. The most
important difference is the way they
produce hot water for washing, bathing
and showering. Traditional boilers and
system boilers heat water in a storage
cylinder - typically sited in an airing
cupboard. Combination boilers heat water
instantaneously (via a special heat
exchanger inside the boiler) only when
you turn on a hot tap.
Traditional boilers are the simplest
kind - containing fewest components.
System boilers and combination boilers
are more complex and tend to be larger
because they always include a pump which
circulates water through the radiators
plus an expansion vessel to accommodate
the increase in volume when it gets hot.
Traditional and system boilers with
stored hot water systems are best suited
to family homes where hot water demand
is usually greatest. The average
combination boiler is best suited to
single households or couples with modest
hot water needs.
A
Traditional Boiler:
Traditional boilers are available in a
wide range of designs and outputs to
suit almost any need. Back boilers save
space by sitting inside a fireplace and
are cost effective like-for-like
replacements. However, due to recent
legislation changes, we must always look
to replace these boilers with a new high
efficiency condensing boiler and it is
in only unusual circumstances that a
back boiler will be replaced with
another back boiler. Wall mounted
boilers can be small enough to fit
inside a kitchen cupboard and still be
powerful enough for the larger property.
A traditional or system boiler (one with
some system components built into the
case) can deliver lashings of hot water
to several taps simultaneously. You need
space for a cylinder as well as a boiler
but modern versions are surprisingly
compact. You also have to anticipate you
hot water need but modern controls make
it easy to plan around your
daily./weekly routine and the new
generation of 'high recovery' cylinders
are designed to cater for unexpected
demand.
A
Combination Boiler:
A
combination boiler heats water
instantaneously whenever you open a hot
tap obviating the need for a storage
cylinder. Cold water is piped direct
from main supply which does away with
the need for a water tank in the loft.
In Summer, there's often a delay until
it reaches working temperature but the
supply is endless. The temperature at
the tap is dependant on the temperature
of the mains supply and flow rate. In
Winter, the delivery of usefully hot
water can be very limited - perhaps
taking two or three times longer to fill
a bath than a traditional system - and
simultaneous demand by a shower and,
say, a washing machine can result in a
trickle at each. The latest models
feature high outputs, small stores or
pre-heating systems designed to supply
more hot water with minimal delay in
order to avoid wasting water.
Unvented Hot Water Systems:
These
systems comprise unvented cylinders
which are storage water heaters
connected directly to the main water
supply. This dispenses with the need for
water storage tanks in the roof and
results in high pressure hot and cold
water to all outlets, including showers,
without the need for a pump.
