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Boilers - which is best for you? |
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Most people don't give their plumbing or central heating a second thought until something goes wrong ie there’s no hot water, or for some reason the gas bill’s enormously high this quarter. However, when these things do happen, it's worth spending some time thinking about the way they work in your house – could you improve on the situation in some way that means it's more reliable? Or is there another way that will save you money? One of the main culprits when it comes to heating or water problems is the boiler, and the range of different options out there may surprise you. Many companies install boilers but some also send out advisors who can give you advice on the best sort of boiler for you. Here’s a quick glossary for the different types. - Combi-boiler – generally these are the most popular option when it comes to new boiler purchases, making up over 50% of sales. The difference between combi-boilers and others is, as the name suggests in the way they combine the functions of central heating and water heating. Rather than having a storage water tank, the combi-boiler gives you hot water on demand, heating it up as it comes from the mains water supply. This means they can be more energy efficient than other boilers because you're only using hot water as and when you require. Since they also do away with the need for water storage, this means you'll save space. However, they do have their disadvantages. Because they take cold water directly from the mains the water pressure in your house will depend on this mains pressure. If you live in a low water pressure area, a combi-boiler won't suit you because there's no pump to increase the pressure as there would be in a standard system. Also, you're limited as to how many things can use hot water at the same time, which may be a problem for those in populous households which have more than one bathroom, or where you need to use the kitchen and bathroom at the same time.
- Standard boiler – the traditional boiler system has several more components to it. There will be a boiler but separate from that are the hot and cold water tanks usually located in the loft and airing cupboard. Although these types of boiler do take up more space, if you live in a large house this may not be a problem and they do have the advantage of being able to work just as well in low water pressure areas. Not only that but you'll be able to use hot water in the home for more than one thing, unlike a combi-boiler – the only problem might be waiting for the water to heat up!
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