Easy-to-understand
Gas Boiler Advice
We're here to help you choose the right boiler for your home, with our jargon busting boiler guide.
Hot water when you need it
When choosing the right boiler for your home, it's important you understand what your hot water requirements are, so you can choose a boiler that meets your needs.
To help calculate your heating requirements, here are a few things to consider:
How do you use your hot water?
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For example, larger households may regularly need hot water from more than one tap at once.
Do your hot water requirements change throughout the year?
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For example, if you have family or friends staying during the festive period, this will increase your boiler usage.
Are you planning any home improvements in the near future?
For example, if your planning to extend your property, additional heating and hot water requirements will need to be taken into account.
A Regular Heat Only Boiler, also known as a Traditional Boiler, comprises a hot water cylinder and a boiler, with tanks in the loft. They are often gravity fed systems, but could also be pressurised.
Pros:
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Hot water storage always ready for use.
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Can manage multiple showers without a temperature change.
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Can cope with high hot water demand.
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Provides hot water, despite low mains pressure.
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Simplistic, therefore can have a longer life span.
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Ideal for larger homes.
Cons:
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May require separate pumps to increase water pressure.
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Airing cupboard space required for cylinder.
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Loft space needed for stored water.
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Unused stored water can result in possible heat loss.
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It is possible to run out of hot water.
A System Boiler comprises a boiler and an unvented cylinder. The central heating system and hot water system are both pressurised, rather than gravity fed.
Pros:
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No loft water storage required.
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Hot water works off mains pressure.
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Cylinders are usually more efficient.
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Ideal for larger homes.
Cons:
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Airing cupboard space required for cylinder.
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Unused stored water can result in possible heat loss.
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It is possible to run out of hot water.
A Combination Boiler comprises a boiler with no stored water. The boiler heats water on demand, providing hot water instantaneously.
Pros:
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Less space needed.
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Hot water available on demand - never run out.
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All parts of the heating system are contained within the boiler and come with the boiler warranty.
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Cost effective installation.
Cons:
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Less efficient way of heating up hot water.
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No separate immersion heater.
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Flow rates of hot water differ depending on the size of the boiler.