Need to replace the boiler in your large home, but confused about your options?
Investing in a new boiler can be a tough decision, especially when you want to increase your home’s energy efficiency without sacrificing performance and comfort.
If you like the idea of saving money on your energy bills, but aren’t entirely sold by the idea of a combi boiler, I’m going to show you some alternatives, below.
A regular boiler
Your first option, other than a combi, is a regular boiler – these are also known as heat-only, open-vent or conventional boilers. They feed heat directly to your radiators and also heat water stored in a separate hot water tank.
The cold water comes from a tank usually located in your attic, above the boiler, this feeds the hot water tank via what’s known as a ‘gravity fed’. There’s also a separate feed & expansion tank which feeds water to the boiler and radiators.
Pros of a regular boiler
- The large tank of hot water means you can comfortably draw water from several taps at once
- It’s suitable for larger homes that need a lot of hot water
- It uses an old-fashioned heating system that is usually easy to replace without changing too many pipes
Cons of a regular boiler
- Takes up more space than some other systems
- The pump is located outside of the boiler
- Has a feed & expansion tank which is not a efficient as a sealed system.
- Can lose heat more easily, wasting energy – meaning you’ll have more expensive bills
- Hot water use is limited by the cylinder size
So, that’s what you get with a regular boiler – it’s a fairly simple system, but it does have its drawbacks and could end up costing you more in the long-run.
Now, let’s take a look at your next option:
A system boiler
Similar to a regular boiler, a system boiler also requires two tanks and will take up extra space. It provides you with stored hot water just like a regular boiler, although the main difference is that the individual components are all built-in, removing the need for a separate feed and expansion tank. You’ll still need a cold water tank and hot water tank, unless you go for the high-pressure unvented cylinder option below.
But first, let’s look at the pros and cons of a standard system boiler:
Pros of a system boiler
- Stored hot water allows you to draw from several taps simultaneously
- There’s no need for a separate feed and expansion tank
- Suitable for larger properties that need a lot of hot water
- Fewer outer components, allowing for a quicker, neater installation
- Pump included, making it faster and more energy efficient
Cons of a system boiler
- Takes up more space than other systems (such as combis)
- Your hot water usage is limited to the amount of water you can store
- Can lose heat which is left in the hot tank when not being used, making it less energy efficient
A system boiler with unvented cylinder
The good thing about system boilers is that they can be fitted with a high-pressure unvented cylinder that allows you to store and distribute hot water throughout your home, direct from the mains.
This eliminates the need for a cold water tank, and gives you all the great benefits of a system boiler, above – without any of the cons. It’s also much more energy efficient, so you’ll see a difference in your energy bills. What more could you possibly ask for?
A storage combi
Not combis again? Actually, I have been listening to you, but let me tell you why a storage combi might be a good solution.
It’s a common assumption to think that combi boilers simply aren’t enough for larger homes, however this is simply wrong. Many households are now able to run a bath AND two showers supplied by their combi boiler alone.
How? Well, there are many combi boilers now which actually have a storage capacity – this is a small heated tank stored with water so that when you turn on your taps, you can have access to heated water instantly.
You can also enjoy flow rates of up to 25 litres per minute, and heating output to radiators of up to 31kw. This is more than enough to heat a five-bedroom, two-bathroom home.
Pros of a storage combi
- Instant hot water that can easily heat a five-bedroom, two-bathroom home
- Flow rates of up to 25 litres per minute
- Central heating output to radiators of up to 31kw
- Incredibly energy efficient
- No need for cold water tanks in your attic
- No need for a hot water tank or unvented cylinder
- No need for a feed & expansion tank
- Cheaper than a system boiler with unvented cylinder
Cons of a storage combi
- Flow rates can suffer if multiple users switch on the taps at once, depending on the amount of power your storage combi can supply.
- Can be bigger and bulkier
- More expensive than an ordinary combi boiler
- Engineers will not always be familiar with storage combis
Conclusion
There so many options when it comes to replacing the boiler in your large home. Perhaps you’re attracted to the idea of energy efficient combi boilers, but aren’t convinced one would be enough to suit the size of your property?
If you don’t want to sacrifice performance and comfort, the good news is that there are plenty of great alternatives to combi boilers, such as a system boiler with unvented cylinder, or a storage combi. Look at the pros and cons I’ve outlined above to help you decide which might be your best option.
