Choosing a new boiler for your home heating can be a daunting task due to the variety of different makes and models. Not only do you need to consider the boiler type but you also need to think about boiler size and fuel type.
Read our guide below on things you should consider before investing in a new boiler.
What Fuels Boilers In The UK?
In the UK, most boilers are fuelled by one of these elements:
Oil
LPG
Mains Gas
Wood Pellets
Coal
Only households connected to the national grid can be fuelled by a gas boiler. Whereas the rest can be used in off-grid homes.
Things To Consider When Choosing The Right Boiler
Hot Water Usage - Before choosing your boiler consider how much hot water your household uses per day. This will help you decide which size of boiler is right for you.
How many baths/showers are taken in your household per day?
How many sinks do you have in your house?
How many baths do you have in your house?
Size Of House - The size of your home is one of the most important considerations when choosing the right boiler. The most common method to measure your boiler output is in kW. 1kW is required per 10m3. You should consider:
How many bathrooms are in your house?
How many people are in your house?
How big are your radiators?
How many rooms are heated?
If you have a large house and/or a large household, then a combi boiler is not recommended. You should instead consider a heated-only boiler or a system boiler, and you’ll need to think about the size of the boiler, too
Home Insulation
One of the main benefits of insulating your house is seeing a reduction in your heating bills. The size and type of boiler you choose will be determined by the level of insulation your property has.
Things you should consider:
Do you have cavity wall insulation?
Do you have double glazing?
How many windows do you have?
Do you have loft insulation?
Boiler Efficiency
It is important to choose the most efficient boiler to save money in the long run and is better for the environment.
If you are replacing an old-style boiler with a modern gas condensing boiler, the good news is you are likely to save a decent amount on your energy bill.
Condensing boilers are proven to be more efficient and can also reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the environment.
Different types of boilers
Combi Boiler- A combi boiler is both a high-efficiency water heater and a central heating boiler in a single compact unit. These are the most cost-effective and efficient as the water is heated instantly rather than heated and then stored in a cylinder.
Heat Only - A heat-only boiler is a two-tank system. With this conventional heating system, you will normally have a tank of cold water situated in the loft and a hot water cylinder. The cold water then goes through the boiler where a heat exchanger will heat it up. This is then pumped into your hot water cylinder and stored until you turn on your tap or shower. These can be run on oil, gas or LPG.
System Boiler- A system boiler is a type of boiler that is commonly found in larger homes with greater demands for heating and hot water. System boilers have a hot water cylinder and an expansion vessel built into the boiler and can be fuelled by gas, oil or LPG.
