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At some point, all homeowners are in the same predicament; one day, your long-serving boiler finally gives up the ghost and you’re forced to install a replacement boiler. New boilers are designed to last for a long time as long as they’re regularly serviced. New boilers are usually a lot more efficient than older models and can have a household and average of £380 per year! A new boiler can also:

• Be beneficial for the environment by using less gas and reducing harmful emissions
• Be safer
• Be quieter
• Be more reliable
• Take-up less space
• It can fit the look of a contemporary home!

If you need help deciding on the best boiler for your specific needs, you can book a survey with one of our trusted Gas & Heating Engineers.  We offer a range of boiler brands including, Veissmann, Valliant and Worcester Bosch but if you’re looking for something specific, we can organise that too. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on Worcester boilers.

Choosing the best boiler

There are three main types of Worcester boilers which can be installed:

Combi boilers

These energy efficient boilers are incredibly popular. These boilers don’t require a hot water tank as hot water is on produced on demand, saving both energy and valuable space. Combi boilers can also allow for a more powerful shower as hot water is at full mains pressure, eliminating the need for a dedicated shower pump.

System boilers 

These boilers do require a cylinder to store the hot water produced but they don’t necessarily need a cold water tank to feed the system. System boilers are able to fill the radiators from the cold water mains supply eliminating the need for a tank in the attic, freeing up precious attic space.

Regular Boilers

Regular boilers (also known as traditional, conventional or heat only boilers) are fed by a cold water tank installed in the attic and also require a hot water tank to store the heated water. These boilers can be a major disadvantage for smaller homes for which space is at a premium. Realistically, you only want to opt for a regular boiler if your home is already set up this way or if your mains water pressure is low. They are also compatible with solar energy heating as they will have a hot water storage tank.

A regular boiler may be the best option if your home has older radiators and pipework which may struggle to cope with the higher water pressure that the other types of boilers rely upon and you don’t want to have your entire central heating system replaced, pipes and all.

So which boiler is the one for you?

Which boiler is best for your specific set of circumstances is dependant on a number of factors and you should arrange an appointment with an expert before deciding which type of coiler to go with.

If money’s a bit tight at the moment, you may be better off replacing your old boiler with another of the same type. That said, it’s not necessarily the best way for you to save money in the long term. In terms of efficiency and long term heating costs, a combi boiler will be your best bet. it will also save on space as you won’t require water storage tanks and you’ll have access to unlimited hot water on demand.

Some of the main things to consider are:

• Space requirements

If you’re low on space or if you’re thinking about an attic conversion in the future, a combi boiler is the one to go for. You can also have the pipework in the attic removed, eliminating the possibility of a leak from above.

• Water on demand

If you require hot water at a moments notice, you’re going to want to go with a combi boiler. However,  if your household has multiple people going for a shower un tandem, depending on your homes mains water pressure, a combi boiler may no be able to cope with the increased demand and a system or regular boiler may be a better choice. In the end, it’s all going to come down to how you plan to use your central heating system, which is why you should book an appointment with one of our expert Gas & Heating Engineers.

• Solar panel installation

If you have solar panels or plan on installing them in the future, you’re going to need to opt for a system or regular boiler as there’s no hot water storage tank to heat with a combi boiler.

• How’s the water pressure in your area?

If your area suffers from low water pressure, then a combi boiler may not be the right choice for you as it doesn’t use a dedicated pump. In the case of low water pressure, a system or regular boiler is a more suitable option.

• Size of your house

The larger your home, the bigger the demand on your central heating system, especially if you have multiple bathrooms. This will affect which kind of boiler you should opt for.

As you can see, there are many variables when it comes to deciding on the best replacement boiler for you and it’s incredibly important to seek an expert opinion. Opting for the wrong boiler could end up costing you a fortune down the line, especially if you need to have the system replaced again. Choosing the right boiler will not only save you money and time, but can also make your day to day life easier and even increase the value of your property.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch for a free boiler survey from Gas2Heat to see how much you can save.