Combi Boiler Pros and Cons
Whether you are moving into a new home or are wondering whether to upgrade your current heating system, we delve into the Combi Boilers Pros and Cons that you should keep in mind when deciding how best to heat your home.
Did you know? Combi Boilers are highly efficient and could help you save up to £305 a year on heating bills.
Is a Combi Boiler the right choice for your home?
If you’re reading this and wondering where to even begin on your quest for the perfect heating solution, let us first explain the key differences between Regular Boilers (sometimes known as traditional, conventional or heat-only boilers), System Boilers and Combi Boilers.
Regular and System Boilers
Do you have a hot-water tank in your airing cupboard and two water tanks in your attic or loft space? This likely means you have a Regular Boiler.
If you have a System Boiler installed in your home, then this acts in much the same way, although you don’t have the need for the two water tanks in the loft as they take their water supply from your mains. A System Boiler is a good space-saving alternative thanks to it having many of the external parts needed for a Regular Boiler built in; this means installation can be quicker and easier.
When you require hot water, usually in the morning while getting ready for the day ahead, or to unwind in the bath after work in the evening, these boiler systems fire up and store hot water in the hot-water tank, whether it gets used up or not. This can lead to wasted energy as stored water cools and needs to be re-heated, unless the hot-water tank is sufficiently insulated.
Combi Boilers
In contrast to Regular and System Boilers, a Combi Boiler frees up valuable space by operating as a stand-alone central heating and a high-efficiency water heater in a single compact unit, without the need for the hot and cold-water tanks found in Regular and System Boiler set-ups.
In effect, Combi Boilers allow for ‘real-time’ hot water on demand, without the need for long waits for water to heat up. This means that when you turn the hot water tap on in the morning, or jump in the shower, Combi Boilers are there to produce hot water as and when you need it.
* Eager to learn or know more about how a Combi Boiler works? Then read our What is a Combi Boiler? article to find out more.
Family home with high water and heating demands
If you are a family of four people or more living in the same home, then it is likely that you will have the required space for a Regular or System Boiler setup without it negatively affecting storage room.
When you picture the typical scene of a morning or evening in your household, it is likely that there are either queues for the bathroom, or several people using hot water simultaneously. This will naturally place a lot of pressure on your boiler to produce a high amount of water in a relatively short space of time.
Because Combi Boilers don’t produce and store water and are most useful when hot water demand is low, then it is highly likely that a Regular or System Boiler will be more capable of meeting demand.
Verdict
Regular or System Boilers are the perfect choice for homes where a lot of hot water is used at the same time. They’ll also help allay any disgruntled cries from family members of there being no hot water when they need it most.
One or two people in a flat or small home
Combi Boilers are particularly beneficial when there is less demand for hot water at any given time. This may seem a drawback at first, but there are a range of benefits to having a Combi Boiler in a living environment where space and demand for hot water is limited.
Because a standard sized Combi Boiler can be placed in a storage cupboard in a utility room or kitchen space for example, you will find that making the switch from Regular or System Boiler sees you free up valuable storage space elsewhere, notable in the loft and airing cupboard, as there is no requirement for external hot and cold water tanks.
The benefits of Combi Boilers reach far beyond a space saving exercise however, with additional perks including greater energy efficiency and reduced water wastage. While Regular and System Boilers store water that ultimately cools and is wasted if not used, a Combi Boiler will only use the amount you require, making them incredibly efficient and a cost-effective way to meet your home’s heating needs.
Verdict
A Combi Boiler setup in this instance should provide greater heating and hot water usage efficiency, using it as and when you need. Their space friendliness and compact footprint makes them ideal for smaller homes where space is limited. The biggest attraction for many homeowners however will be their high efficiency rating, ensuring the fuel burned to heat your home goes further.
When is the best time to install a Combi Boiler?
Combi Boilers are clearly a great option if you want extra space in your home and you aren’t asking your boiler to produce heat to multiple outlets around your home at peak times of the day.
If you do make the decision to opt for a Combi Boiler, then how do you know when is the right time to have your new heating system installed?
While you may be forced into replacing your boiler urgently should your existing boiler stop working for whatever reason, it is probably best to install your Combi Boiler alongside general refurbishment to the rest of your home. This means that installation can be carried out more easily if there are additional radiators or water pipes required ensuring your new heating system works efficiently. You can even make further savings on your energy bills by improving insulation around your home, ensuring that you don’t need to heat the house for as long because there is less chance that heat will escape.
Finally, we would also recommend having your Combi Boiler set up in plenty of time for the cold winter months, when you are most likely to need your boiler to be in good working order. This ensures that you get a good deal on plumbing and installation costs, as demand on this service naturally increases as the temperatures plummet.
