Combi Boilers – Just For Small Properties?

Combi boilers were invented many years ago, but it only in the last ten years, or so that they have started to dominate the UK domestic heating scene.

And reason for the success of Combi boilers, is that they are easy to install, cheaper, use less space (less bits and pieces) and are generally more efficient than traditional boilers.

Combi is short for Combination of course and it simply means that it combines two functions (hot water for the taps and hot water for the central heating system). That’s a slightly simplistic way of seeing it of course, because most other boilers (apart from some System boilers) do the same thing, but not in the same way.

Traditional boilers – also known as regular boilers – still provide hot water for both taps and the central heating system, but in a different way. Such a system will heat water and store it in the hot water tank for later use. And it would do that on a pre-determined basis. So, your boiler might provide a tank full of hot water say once a day, or twice a day, or indeed, maintain a full hot water tank all day. But it provides the hot water effectively in a store (the water tank), for use when the hot tap is opened, or the central heating system requires some hot water to keep the house warm.

Combi boilers in contrast provide the water on demand. They do not work unless the hot tap is opened, or if the central heating system needs some hot water to heat up. But it’s a case of when you need it, shout, and I’ll provide it. The great benefit of course, is that you’re only heating up the water – and using precious energy which nowadays costs a fortune – when necessary. Heating water and storing it in a hot water tank (which inevitably must cool a few degrees when being stored) is not so efficient as only heating water when it is needed.

But that’s the rub of course. A domestic boiler can only be a certain size and so therefore, to keep up with the potential demand of hot water, requires efficiency and fast moving components. The Combi boiler is effectively a water tank which gets heated when the water is required. Too small a tank might mean slow delivery and equally, a poor cold water pressure can effect performance as well. This is why, when choosing a combi boiler, check out the all-important hot water flow rate, expressed as litres per minute.

This is why larger properties don’t tend to have Combi Boilers installed. But as they become even more efficient (and use additional water tanks to improve their capacity), expect their popularity to grow and grow.

By: Maline Morgan

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