What is a Combi Boiler?

Combi boilers, traditionally called combination boilers, were designed to combine all components of a traditional central heating system into one compact unit. A combi boiler is a type of boiler that can provide both hot water and central heating. This means that you no longer have to worry about having two separate systems for hot water and heating.

 

How Does a Combi Boiler Work?

Modern combi boilers use condensing technology to efficiently heat the system water by extracting latent heat from the flue gases. The gas burner in the combi boiler is ignited when you require heating or hot water. The heat from the flame is transferred via the main heat exchanger to the primary circuit, at which point the heat is moved directly to the radiators or to your hot water taps via a plate heat exchanger. With a pre-heat system, the combi boiler can store a small amount of water, which is held inside the boiler and maintained at your desired temperature throughout the day, ready to be sent to the hot water tap as quickly as possible.

 

What are the Advantages of a Combi Boiler?

Combi boilers are a popular choice for many homeowners due to their various benefits. These include their compact size, efficient design, money-saving benefits, and the ability to provide hot water on demand.

 

• Compact Size:

  One of the benefits of a combi boiler is its size. With no external storage tanks required, the entire system is controlled through the same appliance, including heating and hot water.

• Efficient:

  A modern combi boiler's efficiency is unbeatable. The flue gas heat recovery system allows the system to burn less fuel, achieving an efficiency of over 90% in the process. This significantly reduces your household's heating bills.

• Saves Money:

  A single unit combi boiler is usually cheaper than purchasing multiple system components required for a conventional system. Installation of a combi boiler also requires less time and effort, leading to less labour costs.

• Provides Hot Water on Demand:

  Combi boilers can heat water quickly, providing a continuous supply of hot water on demand, which is especially useful if you have multiple people living in your household.

 

Points to Bear in Mind

Unsuitable for Larger Homes: One disadvantage of a combi boiler is that the amount of water it can provide at any given time is limited to the size of the boiler. Typically, only one tap or outlet can be used effectively at a time. Larger homes with multiple bathrooms may require hot water at a rate that a combi boiler cannot meet. In these cases, a system boiler may be more appropriate.