Comparing The Three Main Types Of Boilers

Boilers are one of the most common types of central heating units available, because of their low cost and ease of use. However, there are three main types of boilers, each of which provides different benefits over the others, and as such is suited for different needs. Understanding the differences between these four types of boilers can help you choose the one that best fits your home's needs.

Conventional Boilers

Conventional boilers have a water tank and a hot water storage cylinder, and provide only hot water to your home. The main draw of conventional boilers is their low price when compared to other types of boilers, as well as the fact that hot water can be used in as many locations as you wish. Installation is relatively simple when compared to other types of boilers as well.

However, conventional boilers take up a lot of space, which is not ideal for small homes, and the hot water can run out, which can take a long time to replenish, depending on the model of your boiler. Conventional boilers also tend to be much less energy efficient when compared to other types of boilers, because they have to constantly keep water heated and ready for use at any moment.

Combination Boilers

Combination boilers are combined water heaters and central heating units that do not make use of water tanks to provide your home with its hot water. They take up very little space because they do not have a separate water tank, making them ideal for small homes where space is at a premium. They can be powered by either electricity or by natural gas or propane, and provide almost instantaneous hot water and heating to your home as needed.

However, combination boilers are not very good at maintaining water pressure if hot water is being used in more than one location, and can be quite expensive due to the increased complexity of these boilers, which can drive up installation costs.

System Boilers

System boilers are similar to combination boilers, and provide your home with both hot water and central heating. However, they store hot water in a small tank, allowing for hot water to be used in multiple locations at once, while still saving significant amounts of space.

However, system boilers are not very good at providing instant hot water, and can only provide hot water in a limited amount at a time. Additionally, they do take up more space than combination boilers, though they do cost slightly less in general.

For more information, contact Matthews Heating or a similar company.