On average, a boiler in regular use can last up to 15 years if looked after properly. This, of course, means that you’re likely going to need to invest in a couple of new boiler units over your home’s lifespan. If you’re currently in the market for a new boiler, you may be feeling a little overwhelmed as to what will work best with your home.
With different makes, specifications and advantages offered by the various boilers on the market, you may be struggling to know which works best for, especially as a brand new boiler doesn’t come cheap.
During your search, you’ve probably come across the term ‘combi’ boiler and are maybe wondering what this variant actually is and what it can offer your home. As the UK’s most popular type of boiler, combi units are definitely worth considering for your home and have come leaps and bounds since their introduction during the 1960s.
However, if you’re still unsure as to whether a combi boiler is the right choice for you, read on to discover their benefits.
What exactly is a combi boiler?
First introduced by Bosch Thermotechnology in 1966, the term combi is a shortened way of saying combination boiler. Combing a heating system with a hot water boiler, a combi unit is a compact variant of the more conventional boiler systems. Combi boilers heat water directly from the mains rather than from a tank and can be installed in various spots throughout the home.
Although being a popular choice throughout much of Europe in the late 20th century, the combi boiler only really took the UK by storm around 15-20 years ago. It has now become the most popular option here in Great Britain, with over 50% of all new boiler installations being combi units.
Benefits of a new combi boiler installation
With everyone here in the UK seemingly enamoured with combi boilers, you may be wondering what a combi installation can offer your household. There are actually a variety of ways a combi boiler can improve how your home operates and can offer a host of benefits over other boiler types.
One of the biggest advantages of investing in a combi boiler is because of its compact design. In comparison to conventional or system boilers which rely on water tanks and cylinders in order to efficiently heat your home, a combi boiler consists of just the boiler unit.
This can be especially useful for properties without an attic space or have limited space to work with and can be simply installed in an airing cupboard or other tucked away space around the home.
In comparison to other models, combi boilers are extremely efficient, allowing you to both heat your home and water as and when you need to. Combi boilers don’t need to heat up any external hot water tanks, meaning you can save a significant amount of money in the long run.
According to My Boiler Service, by installing a combi boiler, you could end up saving up £300 every year in heating bills in comparison to other new units, making a combi boiler an extremely wise investment.
Easy to install
Because of their compact and simple design, a combi boiler is infinitely easier to install over other conventional units. A competent and qualified Gas Safe registered technician can install a combi boiler quickly and easily all in one place, rather than having to install multiple components.
Their simplicity and popularity also makes them much easier to service and repair if something goes wrong. Pretty much all boiler engineers working in the UK will be well-versed in working with combi boilers, making it easy to find a specialist engineer near you to fix any issues quickly and easily.
When it comes to your drinking water, you want to feel as though it’s completely safe. However, with some older models, water has the potential to sit in the tank before it is then piped into the house. This, of course, can potentially cause health issues to you and your family.
On the other hand, a combi boiler gets its water straight from the mains rather than it being stored in a tank. This means that you can be sure that any water you drink is safe to consume.
A combi boiler is also much easier to keep clean. With less sludge building up in a combi system due to its connection to the mains, your water will remain cleaner and you’ll find yourself calling the repairman out less.
Other boiler variants to consider
As you can see, a combi boiler really is a great investment and is an amazing variant that you should always consider when shopping around. However, there are some instances where a combi boiler may not be suitable for your home and other units might be a better fit.
For starters, homes that have more than two bathrooms may struggle with water pressure if they rely on a combi boiler, meaning you may need to look at other options such as a system unit.
Also, it’s important to remember that, as there isn’t a water tank connected to your combi boiler, if it breaks down, you won’t have any back-up. This could leave you without hot water or central heating until the problem is fixed so if you’re in a rural area this could be a cause for concern.
The importance of having a trained professional to hand
Of course, arguably the best way to ensure you get the perfect boiler for your home is by getting advice from a trained industry professional. A qualified plumber or heating engineer will always be able to steer you in the right direction and help you to decide for good whether a combi boiler is the right investment for you.
Yet, how exactly do you source a quality heating engineer for your central heating installation job? Well for starters, it’s imperative to check that they’re legally qualified to work with heating and gas systems. A boiler can be an extremely dangerous piece of equipment and, without the proper training, they can be lethal.
With this in mind, ensure that your heating technician is on the government-sanctioned Gas Safe register before proceeding. This can be checked online or, when the technician arrives, they should have a valid Gas Safe card with them.
It can also be helpful to source reviews and testimonials both from people you know and on review sites such as Feefo and Which?. This can give you a better idea of whether they’re up for the job.
Invest in a brand new combi boiler with West London Gas
If you’re looking for a heating upgrade, a brand new combi boiler can be a great investment. At West London Gas, we pride ourselves on offering a great service at a competitive rate, which is why we’re the go-to heating engineers for all of your boiler needs.
Our boiler installations come with a 10-year warranty, so you’ll never need to worry about being stuck without your heating and, with our regular servicing options, you can rest assured your boiler keeps ticking over all year-round.
For more information on how our Gas Safe qualified heating engineers can help you, visit our website or get in touch on 020 8434 3644 to discuss your requirements.