A professionally managed, certified and insured business which has built up a broad client base by providing excellent service CHOOSING THE RIGHT BOILER
We all know our heating system is the heart of our home. Without heating and hot water in our homes especially in the cold months we wouldn’t survive but t’s difficult to know what size, type and brand to choose and it’s hard to find impartial adv
ice. Installing a new boiler is a massive but necessary investment and not something we do every week so it’s important to make the right choices. We’ve made this guide to help answer some of the many questions that will arise when you’re considering choosing a new boiler. Combination Boilers Combination (combi) boilers are the first thought most people have when choosing because no hot water storage cylinder is needed. Combi boilers are mainly suited to smaller properties (one to two bathrooms) with a lower hot water demand but won’t be suited to all properties depending if your cold water supply is sufficient to cope with a combi boiler. System Boilers and Regular Boilers Both these types of boilers use a hot water storage cylinder to heat your hot water and are perfectly suited to larger properties or properties with a high hot water demand due to the amount of occupants. What size boiler do I need? An oversized boiler will have a negative impact on the efficiency of your boiler and more importantly on your fuel bill and an undersized boiler won’t be able to cope with the demand you put on it and will always underperform. The following items are the key points you should be discussing with your installer when getting quotes for a new boiler;
Number of radiators
Number of occupants
Number of baths, showers etc
Size of building
How well insulated your property is
Where in the UK you live
What fuel shall I choose if I don’t have mains gas? If you live off grid choosing a new boiler or heating system can be slightly more complex if you have to choose what fuel you’re going to use. Don’t forget fuel prices fluctuate constantly so do your research before you choose a fuel. Below are the main options and points to consider;
Oil (usually kerosene) Fuel prices vary throughout the year but at the moment oil is a very attractive option for off grid customers when comparing running costs but generally has a higher installation cost compared to LPG and you’ll need to consider if you have enough room for an oil storage tank. Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) Installing an LPG boiler will generally have a lower outlay than an oil boiler and have more options when considering fuel storage but will have a higher running cost than an oil boiler. Renewables If you’re conscious about the environment and have money to invest in a green heating system then renewables will be an attractive option especially if you’re eligible to take advantage of the UK governments RHI Scheme. Air Conditioning Most people are pleasantly surprised when they find out the running costs of air conditioning even when taking in to account the installation costs and also add the luxury of cooling your home in the summer. Electric Electric heating will generally have a lower install cost and a higher running cost than the other options but has a better level of flexibility and different options of appliances and is an extremely desirable option for clients with solar PV panels. What brand of boiler should I pick? The brand of boiler you install may be dictated by you budget but try to avoid going for the cheapest you can afford because ultimately you’ll get what you pay for and this will also apply to choosing an installer. Obviously this something you’ll want to research online and possibly speak to family and friends about but make sure you have a conversation with your installer about this, after all we spend all day installing and repairing boilers of all brands. What controls should I use? Fitting the correct size of boiler and radiators without the correct controls will undo all the good work you’ve done choosing the right boiler. The controls you fit may be governed by how old or tech savvy you are but installing high spec, high quality controls will add to your systems efficiency and comfort levels. Below is a brief description of the most common controls used in domestic heating systems;
Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV) This is a self-regulating valve fitted to radiators, to control the temperature of a room by stopping the flow of hot water to the radiator when a set ambient temperature is reached. Room Thermostat A room thermostat is a basic thermometer and a switch that is used to switch your boiler on or off automatically when a set ambient temperature is reached. Heating Programmer A heating timer or Programmer sets when the central heating and hot water will be switched on automatically. Programmable Room Thermostat A programmable room thermostat is basically a room thermostat and programmer combined and will allow you to set you heating to come on at different temperatures at different times of the day. Weather Compensation Weather compensation controls assist the heat source and help it to work at its optimum operation which will help lower running costs and boost comfort levels by sensing the outside weather temperature regulate your heating. Optimum Start Optimum Start is a feature which will be built in to your programmer. Usually you set the program times for when you want the heating to come on but with optimum start you set the program times for when you want to be warm and the system decides when it needs to turn your heating by sensing the outside and inside room temperatures.
