Combination boilers, also known as “Combi Boilers” have become increasingly popular in the UK during the past few years. Almost 70% of homeowners have chosen a combi boiler over conventional boilers due to many advantages. Combi boilers are compact, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly. It is a popular choice for many homeowners because they offer more benefits than other types of boilers. The following advantages and disadvantages of combi boilers will help you decide whether they suit your home or not.
A combi boiler is a heating system that can provide hot water for space heating and sanitary purposes. Combi boilers are an environmentally responsible choice because they reduce the need to heat water on demand from cold sources, thus saving natural resources and money.
Combi boilers vary in energy efficiency depending on gas or electricity. Generally speaking, gas-fired combis tend to be more efficient than electric, but this varies widely by geographical region, so it isn't easy to generalise their advantages over each other. In addition, gas-fired combi boilers will typically have greater capacity, usually able to accommodate multiple taps at once, while many electrical models only offer one tap per boiler unit.
A combi boiler is a perfect solution for those looking to enjoy a home that features both traditional and modern appliances. This type of appliance includes all-inclusive systems with conventional heating capabilities as well as hot water boilers optimized for efficiency. So, you can have your cake and eat it too after reading the Biggest Advantages of Combi Boilers.
One of the Main Advantages of Combi boiler systems is that they offer more efficient heating of your home than other alternatives. This is primarily due to the storage tank located in the loft, which offers an opportunity to pre-heat water. This results in less energy usage as you are not constantly running up and down several floors to fill up the kettle and wait for it to boil before getting your hot drink.
Conventional Boilers and water heaters generally emanate constant noise, which is enough to disturb you while working from home. Combi boilers are great for those living in an apartment or flat as they offer a lower noise level than other alternatives.
There is no need to bother your neighbours with excessive heating noises. Combos can be fitted into any room and do not require much space, so you can have them installed anywhere within your property without worrying about blocking access to rooms.
Combi boilers are also more affordable than other heating systems, making them a perfect choice for those with limited space or lower budgets. In addition, combining the boiler system and water heater into one unit means less of an installation job is involved.
It also requires much smaller power units meaning they can be installed in places where traditional boilers fail to adjust. This makes combi boilers not only environmentally friendly but also cost-efficient as well.
For the most part, combi boilers are safer than conventional boilers as they come with a built-in safety device. This is known as an anti-scald valve that stops water from reaching boiling point when it comes in contact with skin and can cause burns.
The temperatures of these devices also cannot be altered by children or pets, which minimizes the risk of scalding hot water coming into contact with them. If safety is your prime concern, do consider these advantages of combi boilers over conventional ones.
The best reasons to have Combi boilers are that they are extremely easy to service and install. This makes them the perfect option for anyone looking for a more cost-effective solution.
Also, they can be installed by any qualified engineer that you choose, meaning you save an extra expense in hiring your plumber or electrician to complete this job. And then, because they are so straightforward to maintain, there is no need at all for it being something that occupies your time regularly.
Combination boilers are popular because they offer a variety of heating options, but there are also some problems you may face at times. Combination boilers are often a pricy affair to purchase and install, making many homeowners turn to Combi Boiler alternatives. If you want to grab all the possible limitations, the disadvantages of combi boilers are the best you can refer to.
Combi boilers are dependent on mains pressure. If the water pressure from your boiler drops below a certain level, it will operate less effectively. This could lead to expensive repairs as well as potential long term damage.
This can be a major downside of combi boilers if you have limited or no access to outside water sources such as wells or boreholes. For example, there is little infrastructure in some rural areas but plenty of land with streams running through them.
A vast majority of residential homes use gas-powered heating systems these days. So, they don't need to worry about maintaining their appliances too much except for basic checks. However, for those relying solely on electric power in areas with scheduled power cuts or flats without any backup generators, the level of maintenance is likely to be extensive.
Combi boilers are not cheap and typically come at around £1000-£2000 more than conventional boilers. They offer some long-term savings by lowering your fuel bills. Within five years, you may find that the initial cost has taken its toll on your finances due to increasing prices of electricity and gas over time. So, in addition to exiting power limitations and maintenance costs, you may have to deal with the economic disadvantages of Combi boilers.
One of the disadvantages of combi boilers is that there is no hot water available during power cuts. This is an issue because you might need to use the boiler to produce hot water for showers and other purposes. Additionally, there will be no hot water available when an electrical outage occurs, which could last for anything from a few hours to days.
Another disadvantage of combi boilers is that they use electricity and incur additional costs for their operation. Whether in power bills or an installation fee, the spike in monthly expenses may disturb your budget. This can prove particularly problematic if you're on a capped rate as your meter will run faster. Eventually, you'll have less hot water available than before, which could also lead to increased fuel consumption.
Conclusion on Pros and Cons of Combi Boilers
There are many advantages to combi boilers; however, their limitations pretty much tell the same story. A qualified engineer can install them, they're safer than conventional combined boilers, and they are also easy to maintain. The complexity of installation for those who do not have access to a plumber or an electrician is a commonly faced problem. There are smarter options available such as solar energy if you're looking for an alternative.
Combi boilers can result in increased fuel consumption since they heat water for hot taps and radiators simultaneously, meaning that more energy is required to heat the amount of water needed in these appliances - which generally run when you're not there! The majority of homes will only have one hot tap in the entire house, which means that if it is a combi boiler, the water for this appliance will be heated all of the time.
If you're thinking of replacing your boiler, then it is worth considering that not all homes require a combi boiler. For example, if the majority of hot water used in the home is coming from storage or a tankless system, then a combi boiler isn't necessary and will increase fuel costs. There are benefits to having a combi boiler (e.g., they're simple to use and can be automated), but this simplicity is often the cause of significant problems later on down the line.
Most modern combi boilers should last at least 15 years. However, a few things may influence the life of your boiler.
As a rule of thumb, most flats, apartments, and smaller houses with ten or fewer radiators and one bathroom will require a 24 to 27kW Combi Boiler. For a large home with up to 20 average-size radiators and 2 bathrooms, a 35kw and 42kw Combi boiler are required.
