New Gas Boiler Installations – up to 12 year Guarantee!
We can install a new gas boiler to suit your needs. We install a range of boilers including Regular (conventional), System or Combi (combination) boilers. All are energy efficient condensing boilers.
We will explain the new gas boiler options and answer any questions you might have about which one is right for your home.
Condensing Boilers – Explained
Most boilers in the UK are condensing boilers. Since 2005 all new boilers installed must be condensing boilers.
Condensing boilers are not a “type” of boiler, condensing refers to the heat recovery system used to make them more energy efficient than the old style conventional boilers (where a large proportion of the heat was wasted up the flue). Part of this heat recovery process creates condensation which needs to be drained off – hence the small plastic pipe running outside to a drain. This is a good clue to whether your current gas boiler is a condensing one.
Condensing Boilers can be gas or oil fired and Regular, System or Combi (combination) Boilers.
Regular Boilers
Hot water is stored in a water cylinder often in the airing cupboard and uses cold water storage tanks in the loft.
Suitable for larger older homes with space, old radiators, low water pressure and multiple bathrooms.
System Boilers
Hot water is stored in a water cylinder. Pressurised system allowing hot water to be supplied to several places at once.
Suitable for homes with limited space, or with loft conversions and higher hot water demand.
Combi Boilers
Hot water is heated on demand. Space saving as no hot water cylinder is needed.
Suitable for smaller homes without a high hot water demand.
Regular Boilers Explained
Regular Boilers
Hot water is stored in a water cylinder often in the airing cupboard. Large cold water storage tanks in the loft to provide gravity fed hot water.
Suitable for:
larger homes with space for water storage tanks
has older low pressure radiator systems
or in a low water pressure area
and has multiple bathrooms.
Regular boilers are also known as conventional, standard, traditional or heat only boilers.
Why “conventional” or “standard” or “traditional” boilers? Because they have been around the longest and all domestic gas boilers were like this at one point years back.
Why “heat only” boilers? Because they produce hot water for the central heating but are not directly linked to taps, baths or showers. Hot water for these is provided by the hot water storage cylinder, which is replenished by the boiler and/or electric immersion heater.
A Regular boiler is fed cold water from a water storage tank (cistern) in the loft which also provides the pressure to push water out to taps, bath and shower. The higher the cold water tank is, the higher the pressure the hot water is coming out of the taps or shower. This arrangement often means low pressure at taps and poor shower pressure.
Is a regular boiler Best for your home?
Pros for regular boilers
Good for high hot water demand
If you have several bathrooms or a high demand for heating and hot water then a Regular boiler is a good choice. A large capacity hot water storage cylinder can feed water to several outlets at once.
Energy efficient
Regular boilers that are non-condensing waste a lot of energy. Replacing an old boiler with a new condensing one will reduce your fuel bills.
You can have a backup immersion heater
Fitting an electric immersion heater to the hot water cylinder provides a backup alternative way to heat your water should your boiler be out of action.
Simple to replace like for like
If you already have a Regular boiler system, it will be simpler and cheaper to replace it with a newer version as it requires minimal changes to the pipework.
Solar compatible
Many regular boilers can work with solar thermal panels to generate warm water using energy from the sun.
Cons against regular boilers
Extra hot water takes time to heat
You only have as much hot water as the cylinder holds.
Hot water is not instantly available if the store is used up.
Any hot water stored in a hot water cylinder will loose heat overtime.
So think about how much hot water you use at any given time when choosing a water cylinder capacity and ensure it is well insulated.
Showers can be poor
Showers fed directly off the hot water system may lack pressure. due to the gravity fed system. A power shower or cold feed electric shower may be required.
Needs extra space
They need space for a cold water cistern and hot water storage cylinder, so may not be idea for small homes with limited space or no loft.
New installations expensive and disruptive
If you do not already have a Regular boiler system then a change to this type can be a disruptive and costly as the components are spread throughout your home.
System Boilers Explained
System Boilers
A System boiler is similar to a Regular boiler, except tanks in the loft are not needed and the system operates at higher pressure. Cold water supply is taken directly from the mains. Hot water is stored in hot water cylinder for use as and when needed.
Ideal for larger homes with more than one bathroom but with little or no loft space.
Is a System boiler Best for your home?
Pros for System boilers
Good for high hot water demand
If you have several bathrooms or a high demand for heating and hot water then a system boiler is a good choice. A large capacity hot water storage cylinder can feed water to several outlets at once.
Delivers stronger water pressure
Cold water is taken directly from the mains so it delivers a stronger water pressure than a regular boiler.
No cold water feed tank in the loft
Ideal if loft space is limited, required for a loft conversion or if you do not have a loft.
You can have a backup immersion heater
Fitting an electric immersion heater to the hot water cylinder provides a backup alternative way to heat your water should your boiler be out of action.
Easier to install
More straightforward to install than a Regular boiler as many of the components needed for a heating system are built into the boiler.
Solar compatible
Many system boilers can work with solar thermal panels to generate warm water using energy from the sun.
Cons against System boilers
Extra hot water takes time to heat
You only have as much hot water as the cylinder holds.
Hot water is not instantly available if the store is used up.
Any hot water stored in a hot water cylinder will loose heat overtime.
So think about how much hot water you use at any given time when choosing a water cylinder capacity and ensure it is well insulated.
Needs extra space
They need space for a hot water storage cylinder, so may not be idea for small homes with limited space.
Combi Boilers Explained
Combi Boilers
Very Compact. Hot water is heated on demand. No water storage tanks or cylinders are needed.
Suitable for smaller homes with only a modest hot water demand.
Combi boilers (short for combination boiler) is highly efficient and compact. They do not require separate water tanks and the boilers themselves take up very little space. These are the most commonly installed gas boilers in the UK. Ideal for smaller homes or homes without loft space.
Why Combi Boiler? Because they are both a water heater and also a central heating unit.
Combi boilers work by heating water directly from the mains, there is no hot water storage. They are very energy efficient and affordable to run.
As water is heated as it is needed, the boiler may struggle to provide enough water pressure to more than one tap at a time, so are best suited to smaller homes flats and bungalows where with a smaller number of users with modest heating and hot water demands.
Is a Combi boiler Best for your home?
Pros for Combi boilers
Hot water on demand
No waiting for a water tank to heat up. Also you have an unlimited amount of hot water.
Little space required
Combi boilers are compact, no bulky water storage tanks and less pipework.
Very energy efficient
Only heats water as required.
Good water pressure
If you have good mains pressure, you will get good water pressure from your shower and taps.
Easier and cheaper to install
Less components and pipework so Combi boilers are more straightforward boiler types to install. So they are cheaper both for installation and repairs.
Cons against Combi boilers
Can’t run more than one shower or bath at a time
There will not be enough hot water to run more than one shower or bath or hot tap at the same time.
Not compatible with power showers
You cannot use a power shower with a combi boiler, as the pressure is dependent on the mains supply.
Needs good mains pressure
The mains needs to deliver an adequate flow rate and water to run a combi boiler.
No backup water heater
There is no hot water cylinder so no immersion heater. If your combi boiler breaks down you will not have any backup supply of hot water.
Introducing the Worcester Bosch Greenstar 4000 Combi Gas Boiler
Insurance Scheme
All our boilers are guaranteed for up to 12 years*, however if your boiler or central heating system does develop a fault, we offer a boiler maintenance and repair service for your peace of mind.
*12 year guarantees come with the Worcester 8000 boiler range, every other Worcester boiler comes with a 10 year guarantee. Oil boilers have a 7 years guarantee.
