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.
