Having a new boiler installed brings with it many benefits, from saving energy and money to improved, reliable performance. But before you go ahead with your purchase you need to work out which type will best fit your needs.
At Boiler on the Blink, we’ve installed countless boilers for homeowners across Kent, and because of this, we’ve become somewhat expert in helping people decide on the type of boiler that’s right for their homes and their family’s needs.
In this blog post, we explain the differences between system and regular boilers, to help you work out which one is right for your home.
What you need to know about regular boilers
Regular boilers are also known as traditional or conventional boilers, so if you hear any of these names they all refer to the same type of boiler. Regular boilers have been around for a long time - if you had central heating growing up, it’s likely to have been through a regular boiler.
Regular boilers work alongside a cold water tank and a hot water storage cylinder. The tank is usually located in your loft and the cylinder in an airing cupboard or similar. Regular boilers suit homes that use a lot of hot water, and they have the capacity to supply heat to large homes, whereas boilers such as combis are better suited to smaller homes.
Regular boilers are also a good shout it you have multiple bathrooms as they can supply a large volume of water to different locations without losing any pressure.
Thanks to having a hot water storage cylinder, regular boilers allow you to store hot water for when you need it during the day. This does mean they don’t offer instant hot water, as combi boilers do, but you can overcome this by programming your boiler to heat water once or twice a day, and then it will be kept hot for when you need it.
What you need to know about system boilers
Compared with regular boilers, system boilers are a more recent addition to the market, although they are also very established, and particularly popular in newer homes.
With some similarities to a regular boiler, system boilers also suit larger homes with multiple bathrooms. They can store a large volume of water, which can be sent to different sources at the same time, therefore suiting homes with an ensuite or an extra bathroom.
The key difference with system boilers is that they don’t require a separate cold water tank, saving you space in your loft and making them easier to install in new build homes. They’re designed with built-in circulating pumps, but they still work alongside a hot water storage cylinder, usually located in an airing cupboard.
With a system boiler, you also need to programme your hot water to come on at set times, so you’re not left with a cold shower in the morning! This is simple to do and once you have some water heated, it can be stored in the hot water cylinder for later that day.
Choosing the right boiler for your home
Regular and system boilers are both good choices for bigger or busy homes who have a high demand for hot water and heat. If you currently have a regular boiler, installing the same again can be more convenient, although this is only one factor to bear in mind when weighing up your choices. If you are starting from scratch, many people opt for system boilers to cancel out the need for a separate cold water tank, although this may be less of an issue if you have ample storage space in your home.
As well as the type, you will also need to consider the size of regular or system boiler to choose from. While these boilers generally suit larger homes, there are different output options, which impact how powerful the boiler is. The number of people in your home and your number of bathrooms will influence the output size you need your new boiler to be.
The team at Boiler on the Blink are always happy to advise and answer any further questions you might have to help you find the right boiler for you.
Trusted boiler installation in Kent
The team at Boiler on the Blink are Gas Safe registered and offer all customers free quotes and a free, no-obligation home survey. This helps you choose the best boiler for your needs and includes advice on where it can be positioned in your home. If you’d like to find out more about our boiler installation service and live in Ashford, Romney Marsh, Tenterden, or Folkestone, simply get in touch and we’ll take it from there. You can call us on 07768 618877, email us at info@theboilerengineer.co.uk or send a message via our online contact form.
