A central heating boiler is one of the many options you have for a heating system. Many call this a hot water heat system. A boiler uses fuel to heat water and disperses it through a radiator system to heat your home. They’re popular because they often allow you to heat specific zones of your home instead of the whole thing all at once and many people find the heat from radiators less drying than forced air systems. Here’s a rundown of the different types of boiler systems and some tips for utilizing yours to save money on your heating!
There are two main types of boiler systems, Combi Boilers and System Boilers. Combi boilers, also known as combination boilers, are a common choice for central heating since they combine heating and hot water into one appliance. The combi boiler receives cold water from a home’s main water line. The boiler then burns the heating fuel to heat the water that flows through the radiators. Combi boilers can heat the water quickly since they use gas or oil to heat the water.
Because they don’t need room for a separate water tank, these boilers are substantially smaller than traditional boilers. They are perfect for smaller homes because of this attribute. Combi boilers cannot concurrently route hot water to the tap and central heating, despite having both the heating and hot water in one unit. The boiler will temporarily reroute hot water to the water outlet while it is in use, for instance, if the central heating is on and someone in your home turns on a water outlet.
System boilers use a hot water cylinder to provide the radiators with hot water and heating water as needed. These boilers just have a boiler and a hot water storage tank. There is no need for a separate cold water tank because the boiler receives water from the house’s main water supply.
Large houses with significant hot water demand are great candidates for these boilers. System boilers, however, do need room for a hot water cylinder, and if the main supply has low water pressure, the flow rate may be decreased throughout the home.
The temperature settings on your boiler can be adjusted depending on the weather and personal preferences, which means you could save some money on fuel if you lower the temperature during the summer months when your heating system isn’t being used and you may not have a need for as many hot showers. However, it’s good to note that only a trained professional heating expert should be adjusting the temperature settings on your system so if you would like to change them please call to make an appointment with a technician.
Another benefit of a boiler system is the ability to have thermostats in several areas of your home, what we call zoned heating. This way you can only heat the rooms you need to and save energy and money! Installing smart thermostats will give you even more freedom to set a schedule or even control your home’s heat with your phone!
Interested in learning more about or installing a boiler system in your home? Give us a call!