Boiler Installations
With so many important things to consider, just how do you choose a boiler? How do you ensure that the boiler you select for your new system or to update your existing system will give you the performance you deserve? How can you be sure you'll get the best efficiency and the best economy? As your new boiler will last for many years, it's a decision you are going to have to live with for a long time.
The answer to all the above ~ let the experts at Pentland Plumbing Services Limited help advise you on the best system for your particular needs. Contact us today for your tailor made, free quotation.
Use the links below to find
out more about the types of system
available:
- Conventional boilers
- Combination boilers
- Condensing boilers
- System boilers
- Storage tanks/Pressurised Cylinders
Please note that due to regulatory changes from April 2005 all new fitted boilers must be of the condensing type to comply with the Governments environmental policy.
Alpha Boilers ~ Glow Worm ~ Potterton ~ Worcester ~ Ariston Boilers ~ Vaillant ~ Keston ~ Chaffoteaux et Maury ~ Rayburn ~ Baxi ~ Vokera ~ Many more
These types of boiler are used in traditional central heating systems in the UK. They can be referred to as "Wet Roof" systems because of the water tanks that are placed in the loft.
The advantage with this type of system is that central heating and hot water can be provided simultaneously. Hot water is stored in the cylinder until required, and then drawn off for use around the home.
The drawback with this system is that once all the hot water has been used up, it takes time to heat more.
Click here for a diagram of a typical traditional system with open vented hot water storage tank.
With a combination boiler, hot water and central heating requirements are provided from the one unit. As well as providing central heating water into the radiators, it provides all of the domestic water for baths, sinks, and showers.
The big advantage with a combination boiler, or a "combi" as it is usually called, is that it not only delivers continuous hot water, but more importantly delivers it at mains pressure too. So, with a combi system you can have a really effective shower without needing an expensive "Power Shower" booster pump. They are also considered to be amongst the easiest systems to install, because they eliminate the need for both an expansion tank in the loft and a hot water cylinder in an airing cupboard.
The combi does have limitations though as most standard combis take 40 seconds to heat water, they provide maximum pressure through only one tap at a time so if you have two taps running, the powerful flowrate is diminished in one (or both) of the taps. So, if you want high temperature and a high output flowrate from your combi, choose a high capacity or a storage combi.
Click here for a diagram of a typical combination boiler.
Combination Storage Boilers ~ By adding a storage tank to a combi, the problems of flowrate reduction are progressively overcome, depending upon the size of the tank. Now you can use a couple of taps simultaneously, without an unacceptable drop in performance.
The advantage of this system over a conventional boiler and storage tank is that the hot water never runs out. Even after running a bath, a combi storage boiler doesn't need time to recover before you can use it again. So there's no need to plan your hot water requirements, hot water is always there.
However, the flowrate from an average combi storage boiler does not match the high flowrate from a modern system with an unvented storage tank.
Many types of boiler can be supplied as condensing boilers. You can have condensing combis, condensing system boilers, condensing conventional boilers.
The advantage of a condensing boiler is the increase in the technology that's most efficient at extracting the maximum heat from the fuel burnt is used in Condensing Boilers. In fact because this condensing technology can operate at efficiency levels of well over 90%, Condensing Boilers are often called "Super Efficiency" boilers. Super efficiency is actually a good term, because these boilers in use over a heating season can be 30% more efficient than old outdated technology. By recovering and using heat which would otherwise be lost up the flue, a condensing boiler can operate at up to 96% efficiency.
Although condensing boilers require a higher initial investment, they are very economical, and repay the extra initial cost in fuel savings. Due to their efficiency in burning less gas and their up to date burner technology they produce less CO2, NOx and SOx emissions. They are often described as "green" or environmentally friendly products.
These normally have all of the major additional plumbing components and pumps built inside the appliance. By building in components which most other boilers situate outside the unit, system boilers can provide a very neat and attractive installation, with less pipework and a feed and expansion tank in the roof is no longer needed.
Click here for a diagram of a typical system boiler with unvented hot water installation.
Storage tanks - Pressurised Cylinders
Boilers with a storage tank (hot water cylinder) are better capable of coping with the demands of multiple use and can deliver water at a high temperature and at a high flowrate too.
Unvented tanks allow mains pressure water delivery, rather than relying on gravity as traditional open vented systems do. Unvented tanks remove the need for separate cold water storage in the roof.
They are most suited for family homes, and in properties where roof space is limited.
