Gas boilers are found in every other home around the world. They provide you with hot water which can be used for bathing, washing, and for supplying your central heating system.
One of the most common and famous types of gas boiler is a combination boiler or combi boiler as it is often called. Many companies are offering combi boilers in the UK market such as Baxi Combi Boilers.
Combination (Combi) Boilers
Combi boilers provide hot water for your personal use and for your central heating unit directly. Other types of boilers require the installation of extra parts and accessories to supply hot water to your Central heating system. This implies that installing other boilers for serving both purposes will also require a much larger space.
Whereas a combi boiler like those being offered by Glow Worm Boilersis compact and can be easily installed anywhere. These are the reasons why combi boilers are so famous and have become the primary choice of many households across the UK.
Primary differences between a combi and other boilers
The fact that combi boilers are highly useful does not necessary means that all other types of boilers are not suitable. Rather the decision depends on several factors such as the size of your family and house, the number of radiators in your heating system, and the available space for installation.
Conventional boilers Vs Combi boilers
Conventional’ boilers are old-fashioned boilers and probably the first ones to be used for domestic heating. They are large in size, they have separate reservoirs for both hot and cold water, and they are highly suitable for large families where hot water requirement is higher.
The cold-water reservoir is usually installed in your loft and feeds water to your boiler for heating. The combi boiler on the other hand draws cold water directly from your water supply, heats it, and supplies it to your home.
he most significant difference between a combi and conventional boilers is the amount of hot water they can supply. Combination boilers are only suitable for supplying hot water to single units such as a single bathroom or kitchen. It is not suitable for supplying hot water to multiple bathrooms.
System Boilers Vs Combi Boilers
System boilers are somewhere in the middle of combi and conventional boilers. You save space while providing a considerable volume of hot water to your home. They are more efficient than conventional boilers. Most of their heating components are enclosed in the same unit, which means you do not have to worry about space.
How do combi boilers work?
Combination boilers like Baxi Combi Boilers have condensing technology that minimizes heat loss, it recycles the heat lost through the flue pipe back to the system, saving our energy bill. Whenever you need hot water, all you have to do is turn on the water supply and the combi boiler will start heating the water.
The heat exchangers installed inside the combi boiler do their job efficiently and provide you with hot water instantaneously. The hot water supply to your radiators is recycled back to the combi boiler where it is reheated and reused.
What fuel do the combi boilers use?
There are electric and non-electric combi boilers. The latter can use LPG, Natural Gas, or oil. Gas combi boilers which use natural gas are usually installed in areas which have a regular supply of natural gas. They are the most common type of boilers as a majority of properties in the United Kingdom get natural gas from the national grid.
Oil-based combi boilers
If your home does not have a supply of natural gas, you can consider installing an oil-based combi boiler. It should only be used if you have no access to gas. They are more efficient than electric boilers but less efficient than gas-based combi boilers.
Oil is stored in a reservoir for which you will require space. It is mostly installed in the garden or you can pay extra to sink the tank into your ground. You also need to make sure that you refill the oil reservoir from time to time.
LPG-based combi boilers
Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG is a compound gas containing natural gas and other hydrocarbons. It is relatively cheaper and cleaner than oil. An LPG cylinder is connected to your boiler which you need to refill when the gas has been used up.
Benefits of Combination boilers
- Modern combination boilers such as Glow Worm Boilers are highly energy-efficient. Some even claim 92% efficiency.
- Higher efficiency implies a much lower energy cost.
- Lowest heat loss recycles most of the heat back to the system.
- You get hot water whenever you want
- Very compact requiring very little space.
- The lifespan of more than 15 years.
- Often comes with long lengths of warranty.