By: Eugene Sabri
Submitted: 2009-05-25 00:00:43 | Word Count: 421
Before choosing a new boiler for your home, you should first assess what your heating and hot water needs are, and how much space in your home you are prepared to give over to it.
Since April 2005, all new boilers must be of the high-efficiency condensing type unless structural considerations make this impractical.
There are four main types of boiler currently on the market – the system boiler, the open vented boiler, the combi boiler and the back boiler.
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By far the most popular type of boiler in British homes is the compact combi boiler, and with good reason. Not only do they tend to be cheaper than other models, but they are also the most fuel and space efficient by a long way.
The combi boiler is a good solution for a small house or flat with only one bathroom. Also, if you have a big cold water tank in the loft that you would like to take out in order to create more space, then a combination boiler could be a good way to go.
A system boiler, also known as a closed or sealed system boiler, stores hot water in a tank in an airing cupboard. It is a good choice for homes with multiple bathrooms, as you can run several hot taps from it at once, and it has the advantage that it does not require a separate tank in the loft.
The largest type of boiler on the market is of the open vented variety, which needs two tanks in the loft as well as one in the airing cupboard. The advantages of having such a bulky setup are that you don’t need to heat up the water in advance, and it can serve several hot water sources at once while keeping the heating on.
Back boilers, hidden behind a chimney, are installed in a lot of older homes, and while they are not as efficient as modern combi or system boilers, they do provide a reliable source of hot water to a number of simultaneous outlets. Although it is not recommended that you buy this type unless it is a replacement for a similar unit, modern back boilers are a lot more efficient than older ones.
Author Resource:-
British Gas can help you to save money on a new boiler installation. By replacing your old boiler with one of our central heating boilers such as the energy efficient range of Worcester boilers, you could save up to 40% on your bills.
