When choosing a new boiler for your home, the first thing you need to do is research the available options in the market. Knowledge about the different types of boilers will help you make an informed decision. It would help if you also considered the pros and cons of each type when choosing the one that will suit your home best. Below are the most common types of boilers for your home:
1. Condensing Boilers
Condensing boilers are the most common in the market. The main reason for their popularity is the fact that they do not impact the environment negatively. Their main characteristic is that they have large heat exchangers. This type of boiler is also environmentally friendly. It uses latent heat instead of fuel, which would afterward get into the atmosphere and impact it negatively. This feature also makes it more efficient by reducing the carbon footprints and the energy costs as well.
2. Combi Boilers
This type of boilers is an idea for people that are always in a hurry. They are the most efficient type of boilers in the market. Combi boilers feature a sleek and compact design that is aesthetically pleasing. All the components of the boiler are fit within its compact structure. This means that they are easy and inexpensive to install, and they do not take up a lot of space in the house. As the name suggests, combi boilers control the hot water as well as the central heating system. They do not use a water tank of any kind.
They also allow for additional features like heating water on demand. Therefore, this type is suitable for times when you are in a hurry and don’t have the luxury of waiting for the boiler to heat water. However, combi boilers have too many moving parts inside them. Therefore, they are more expensive to have in the house as compared to the first option. They are also not compatible with solar panels, and they do not have a backup source.
It is also not a suitable boiler design for a house with a large family. The reason why this that combi boilers do not allow for simultaneous applications within the house. For instance, if one member of the family is taking a shower, the one that is washing the dishes will not have access to hot water. Another thing you should note about combi boilers is that they are not ideal for the winter season. Another downside is that they are not ideal for areas with low water pressure.
3. Heat-only boilers
This type of boiler has most of its components hanging out of the design. It is, therefore, not as sleek or compact as the latter. A heat-only boiler requires cold water inside it so that it can work. It is, therefore, a more conventional type of boiler. It is perfect for houses with a lot of family members because it allows for more than one person to use the hot water at the same time. The downside to this type of boiler is that it cannot provide hot water on demand. This means that if you want to use hot water, you will be forced to fill the boiler with cold water and wait for it to heat up. It is especially challenging when the tank is out of water.
4. System boilers
System boilers are also referred to as closed vent boilers. They feature a compact and sleek physical design. Like heat-only boilers, the can work simultaneously, or all family members can use them for different uses at the same time. The main difference between a system and heat-only boilers is that system boilers do not require a cold water tank.
They operate well in areas where the water pressure is lacking because the water is heated as it runs as opposed to inside a tank. System boilers are costlier to install compared to the other three types of boilers mentioned above. However, they are not as efficient as combi boilers. In a system boiler, once the water runs out, you have to wait until the water is filled again before using it.
5. Oil boilers
These boilers are suitable for homes that do not have any connection to the main gas supply. The only element that separates them from other types of boilers is the fact that they run on oil instead of gas. They are, therefore, most common in rural areas. They can be fitted in the interior or exterior parts of the house. They tend to be costlier to operate.
Conclusion
Once you have chosen the best type of boiler by looking at the pros and cons of each of the types, you can proceed to make a purchase. The next factor to consider is the boiler installation. You must choose a reliable boiler installation company that will get the job done fast and efficiently.
