Substituting your aging boiler?
Selecting the correct central heating boiler can be a complex project. cost will be high on your list but you also need to think of other matters, you will need to reflect on how much hot water your house will use, how economic the boiler is and what space you have accessible for the installation.
The most familiar boiler types are named below for your perusal:-
Stand alone domestic back boilers
If you live in an aging house you might have a back boiler fitted, if you look carefully in the chimney you might see the back boiler installed out of view, with a fire in front to conceal them. These are now only fitted as a substitute and they have some disadvantages such as low water pressure, they take up space to install and in this type of boiler it needs to be hidden someplace. However if you already have a back boiler then a straightforward replacement could be your best option.
In the past domestic back boilers have not been identified as being very cost-efficient, but the more modern versions are more cost-effective, so by installing a new back boiler, you could make large savings on your annual heating charges.
Combination central heating boilers
In recent years the most popular type of heating boiler sold is the combi gas boiler. They are efficient and small enabling them to be installed into small spaces. As they heat water direct from the water mains, you do not have to wait for water to heat up – consequently you get a plentiful supply of hot water.
Combi heating boilers use less gas than the other types.. Because combi central heating boilers dont use an external hot water tank, there is no water cylinder to heat first, and no need to reheat the same water once again if youve let it go cold. A disadvantage of this can be that the central heating system cannot supply hot water to several water taps at the same time.
Unvented central heating system gas boilers
A system central heating boiler works on the principle of harnessed hot water. This means that the space requirements are larger. Many of the parts of the heating and hot water system are built in, which means that installation is swifter, cleaner, easier and more cost-effective.
Drawing several streams of hot water from different taps at the same time is now manageable. You will also get great internal water pressure.
Open vent central heating system gas boilers
Most families will have a vented central heating boiler fitted. The open vent boiler requires to water tanks to be fitted in the attic, additional space is also needed for the hot water storage cylinder fitted in the airing closet.
The first cylinder in the loft feeds mains supply water to the hot water storage tank.
Water expansion and contraction is enabled by the second tank in the attic. The only limitation on hot water supply now is the capacity of the hot water cylinder which will take a while to heat up fully.