Without a doubt, hot water is a necessity in our daily lives. Imagine waking up to a cold shower because your boiler has broken down. A tough feeling, right?
That’s why investing in a reliable boiler is a major way to avoid such a scenario.
This guide will give you everything you need to know about conventional boilers.
Also, we will suggest five of the best conventional boiler help you during chilly days.
What is a Conventional Boiler?
A conventional boiler, or what some people call a regular or heat-only boiler, is one of the oldest boiler types out there.
In this boiler, fuel heats the water in a cold water storage cylinder until it gets hot, then stores it until you need it.
Here comes the heat exchanger job; it distributes the heated water to the hot tap when needed.
How Does a Conventional Boiler Work?
A conventional boiler has three main parts: the burner, the heat exchanger, and two water tanks.
The first part is the burner. As the name indicates, it burns fuel that heats the water. But the trick is this water needs to be in a heating cylinder.
Here comes the heat exchanger, which transfers the heated water from the burner to the heating cylinder.
The water cylinder stores hot water, and when you open a faucet, the hot water tank releases this water to the tap so that you can enjoy its warmth.
There are two main types, sealed and open-vented. Sealed boilers are more efficient, as they don’t lose heat through an open vent.
However, they require a pump to circulate the warm water, which can add to your energy bills.
On the other hand, open-vented boilers are less efficient but cheaper and don’t require a pump.
House with traditional heating with natural gas boiler
Combi vs. Conventional Boiler
Combi Boiler Pros and Cons
Pros:
- As mentioned, combi boilers are very space efficient and are very space efficient.
- They provide you with hot water whenever you need it.
- The energy efficiency rating is highare very space efficient and .
- You can install them easily without any complex plumbing.
Cons:
- If you have multiple bathrooms, they are not the best choice.
- They require high water pressure to work correctly, which isn’t always possible in some areas.
Conventional Boiler Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Can provide water to multiple rooms because they are very powerful.
- It has no problem working in areas with low water pressure because they use gravity to draw water into the system.
Cons:
- The Installation process is complex and expensive.
- The two water tanks take up extra space, and not all houses have enough space to accommodate them.
- They aren’t very energy efficient because they heat water even when unnecessary.
The Combi system and regular boiler types
Combi vs. Conventional Boiler Costs:
Combi boilers are cheaper than conventional boilers; they might cost you between £500 and £2,000. Also, installation is typically cheaper and easier; it only takes a day or two.
On the other hand, conventional boilers are more expensive compared to combi boilers. The average installation cost is usually £3,000. Not only that, but the installation process is also more complex and may take several days to complete.
Repair of a gas boiler
Best Conventional Boiler Models
Vaillant ecoTEC plus Regular
This compact-size boiler is perfect for small homes and can easily fit your kitchen cupboard.
Vaillant eco has six distinct power outputs ranging from 12 to 35kW. It gives you a lot of choices for central heating in your home.
Alpha E-TEC Regular
This boiler features a new backlit display for easy viewing and a stainless steel heat exchanger that boosts efficiency.
It has three different output modes, 15, 20, and 25kW, so you can adjust it to fit your needs. And with Alpha E-TEC’s 7-year warranty, you can rest assured that you are safe.
Finally, you can connect this excellent boiler to your existing pump system, saving time and money.
Viessmann Vitodens 200-W Regular
If you are looking for an outstanding boiler for larger homes with 4+ bedrooms, the Viessmann Vitodens 200-W Regular boiler is the answer.
Viessmann Vitodens is a highly versatile boiler; you can install it in a recess in the bathroom, kitchen cabinet, or wherever you want.
This boiler features an Inox-Radial heat exchanger made of high-grade stainless steel, making it one of the ideal boilers in the market because of its high condensing efficiency.
Viessmann is one of the easiest boilers because of its 7-inch LED color touchscreen display that puts all the boiler settings at your fingertips.
Hot water boiler tank in bathroom
Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life Regular
It’s a great multi-feature boiler, perfect for medium and large-sized homes. The Worcester Bosch’s design is modern and sleek, and the control buttons are easy to use.
This high-efficiency boiler features an intelligent thermostat making it ideal for delivering high-performance heat output. And the 4 power output modes let you save energy without compromising comfort.
Plus, the Intelligent Filling System makes refilling a breeze – it adjusts the water pressure so that filling is quick and easy every time.
Glow-Worm Energy
Glow-Worm Energy is a high-efficiency boiler that lasts longer and is easier to maintain because of its automotive-grade aluminum heat exchanger.
It has a compact boiler size, making it ideal for smaller spaces. Glow-Worm also has an innovative LCD that makes it simple to change the settings wherever you install the boiler.
Finally, it features an effective ErP-modulating Grundfos pump, which lowers the costs as it adjusts to the actual heating.
How Can I Choose the Best Boiler?
When deciding on the best type of boiler, there are many things to consider. Here are some of them:
The Space Available
When choosing the boiler, you must consider the space available in your home. Conventional boilers require two tanks, meaning they need huge space that fits these tanks.
So, conventional boilers aren’t the right choice if you live in a small apartment and can’t create such space. Go for the Combi one.
Gas boiler room
How Many Bathrooms Do You Have
Conventional boilers are great if you have several bathrooms because they usually have higher flow rates. However, it wouldn’t be a good idea to get conventional and use such a space for just one bathroom.
You should go for conventional boilers if you have a few bathrooms and need to run multiple taps. Otherwise, Combi boilers must be your choice.
Your Budget
Conventional boilers need space and complex installation processes, so the brain tells us that it will add to your budget. So, if your pocket lets you get a conventional boiler, go for it.
But if your budget is tight and you can’t afford to add more on installation, you should go for a combination boiler.
Summary
When making your final decision about which boiler to buy for your home, you must take all of these factors into consideration.
If you decide on a conventional boiler, pick one from the five above; they are all excellent and will work great for you.
If you still have questions after reading this, let us know in the comment below.
