Combination Boilers: Gas and Oil Options Explained
A combination boiler, or combi boiler, as it is often called, will provide warmth and hot water to your home from one compact appliance. This appliance does not contain a cylinder or tank to store cold water that is required for your home.
When you turn on a tap or take a shower in your home, water is heated directly from the mains supply. Similarly, if some rooms in your home require warmth, heated water will be directed to radiators throughout your household.
This appliance is not the best choice for every dwelling. Households that are particularly large, for instance, or homes that have low water pressure from the mains supply, may not be appropriate for this setup.
Gas Combination Boilers
Gas combination boilers are the most common boiler types within UK homes. These appliance models are best for flats, small homes, and medium-sized properties.
Best conditions for installation of a gas combination boiler are if a household only contains one main bathroom. Additionally, the household may be smaller in size, limiting the amount of space the unit will need.
The appliance must be adequately sized for the dwelling and its requirements. Factors such as number of bathrooms, number of rooms, number of taps and showers will all have an impact on the size of the appliance needed for the household.
If a gas combination boiler is too small for the dwelling, then there may not be enough power to comfortably heat the system. However, if the appliance is oversized for the dwelling, running costs may be higher.
Oil Combination Boilers
Oil combination boilers are best for homes that do not have access to mains gas. These units are particularly common in rural areas of the UK where oil is the main heating fuel for those properties.
Oil combination boilers use kerosene as the fuel source to heat the water and provide warmth to the household. Additionally, space constraints in some properties may make this best appliance option.
An oil tank will be required for this appliance. The oil tank must be of the appropriate type for the unit and placed in the correct location in the home.
The oil boiler must match the requirements of the property. Homes that are particularly large may do better with an oil boiler system that incorporates a cylinder to provide the best level of comfort.
LPG Combination Boilers
These types of boilers can also be used in off-grid homes. Off-grid homes do not have access to either mains gas or mains water.
Additionally, LPG is often used instead of oil as the fuel source in these situations. An LPG tank will be required for the appliance that is to be installed in the property.
An assessment of the property will be required prior to installation to ensure that the LPG tanks will be placed in the best location possible. Additionally, the fuel supply will be inspected.
The requirements of the property will impact the size and type of appliance that is used. Factors such as the number of bathrooms in the home, the number of taps and showers, water pressure requirements and heating demands will all impact the installation process.
A qualified engineer will perform an inspection of the dwelling prior to providing any recommendations regarding the installation of these units.
When a Combination Boiler May Not Be the Best Choice
A combination boiler will heat water as and when it is required. However, the appliance may struggle to supply hot water to multiple taps or showers at the same time.
For instance, if one member of the household takes a shower while another fills a bath, and another uses the kitchen tap, then there may be issues with water flow and comfort. Additionally, these issues may be exacerbated in a larger home.
In these situations, it may be better to install a system or a regular boiler setup with cylinder to supply hot water.
Water Pressure and Flow Rate
The supply of water from the mains may impact the performance. If the supply of water have low pressure or flow rate, then hot water may not be provided efficiently to all taps within the household.
A boosted system may help in this situation. However, this will depend on the characteristics of the property itself.
In all cases, the supply of water from the mains will need to be assessed prior to installing any new appliance.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing
Before installing a new appliance of any kind, there are a few questions that can be asked of the property that is to be heated.
Some of these questions include:
- How many bathrooms does the property have
- Will there be instances when more than one shower will be running at the same time
- What is the water pressure in the property from the mains supply
- Does the property currently use gas, oil or LPG as its fuel source
- Are there any plans to extend or renovate the property
- Would having a stored supply of hot water be more comfortable
Need Help Choosing a Boiler Type
Gas, oil and LPG combination appliances can all provide warmth and hot water to your home. However, each type will have different requirements based on your home and its features.
A surveyor from reputable installation companies can visit your home and provide you with information regarding the best type of applaince to install to ensure that you and your family remain comfortable at all times.
For expert advice on your boiler installation needs, do not hesitate to contact our team today!
FAQs About Combi Boilers
What is a combi boiler?
A combi boiler can provide both heating and hot water. Worcester Bosch says the boiler heats the water directly from the mains, so there is no need for a hot water cylinder or a cold water tank.
Are combi boilers good for small houses?
Yes, usually. According to Energy Saving Trust, combi boilers are a good choice if you do not have much space for your boiler room and the boiler is more efficient at heating smaller households.
Can you get an oil combi boiler?
Yes. Worcester Bosch says oil combi boilers are available, along with models that run on gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Grant also says that oil combi boilers can heat a home and provide hot water from one compact boiler appliance.
Are gas combi boilers cheaper to run than oil combi boilers?
Yes. Worcester Bosch says oil combi boilers are available, along with models that run on gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Grant also says that oil combi boilers can heat a home and provide hot water from one compact boiler appliance.
Do combi boilers work well in homes with low water pressure?
Not always. Energy Saving Trust says that combi boilers are less suitable to homes with low water pressure.
Are combi boilers suitable for homes with two bathrooms?
Sometimes, but not always. Energy Saving Trust says that combi boilers may be less suitable to homes with several bathrooms as the on-demand heating of water may not work as well in several places at once.
How does a combi boiler heat hot water?
A combi boiler heats mains water directly when you turn on a hot tap or shower. It does not store hot water in a cylinder.
Are combi boilers suitable for large homes?
Sometimes, but not always. Larger homes with several bathrooms may perform better with a system boiler and hot water cylinder.
Can you get oil combi boilers?
Yes. Oil combi boilers are available and may suit some homes without a mains gas supply.
Can you get LPG combi boilers?
Yes. LPG combi boilers may suit some off-grid homes where LPG storage and supply are suitable.
Is a combi boiler cheaper than a system boiler?
It may cost less to install in some properties because it does not usually need a hot water cylinder. However, the final cost depends on the property and installation work.
Can I replace a regular boiler with a combi boiler?
Sometimes. However, the engineer must check water pressure, hot water demand, pipework, controls and whether removing tanks or cylinders makes sense.
Which is better, a combi boiler or a system boiler?
Neither is always better. A combi boiler may suit smaller homes, while a system boiler may suit homes with higher hot water demand.
