Gas boilers
We have over 50 years of experience of installing the major brands of gas central heating boilers and providing ongoing service and maintenance.
Which replacement boiler do I need?
Most old gas boilers are regular boilers with a separate hot water cylinder storing hot water. When you replace your boiler, you have a choice of buying a new regular boiler, and keeping your hot water cylinder, or buying a combination boiler - commonly referred to as a combi boiler - that doesn't need a cylinder.
A regular boiler provides hot water to a cylinder, but then heat is lost from the hot water cylinder, so a combi boiler may be more efficient overall. The best option for you will depend on a number of factors:
- How much hot water do you use? A large family using lots of hot water could be better off with a regular boiler – a smaller household using less hot water may be better off with a combi boiler.
- Are you short of space? A combi boiler doesn't need a hot water cylinder, and so needs less space.
- Are you thinking of installing solar water heating? Many combi boilers are not compatible with solar water heating or cannot use it so effectively.
Are all new gas boilers the same?
All new boilers on the market today are A-rated condensing boilers. There are then 3 types of boilers:
Regular boiler - considered to be a traditional boiler that is used in conjunction with a hot water cylinder and operates on lower pressures. Regular boilers are typically used in older properties where the existing central heating system may not be robust enough to take a pressurised system usually with a top-up tank located in the roof space.
Combi boiler - unlike a regular boiler, hot water is created at the boiler without the need for a separate hot water cylinder. You only heat the water that you use when you use it. Most of the new boilers that are installed are combi boilers because they are more efficient, cheaper to run and space saving.
System boiler - a fully pressurised boiler normally used on larger properties with a significant number of radiators. It is used in conjunction with an insulated stainless steel hot water cylinder and omits the need for top-up tanks to be installed in roof spaces.
