Have you heard about combi boilers but not sure if it’s the right decision for you? Can they really save you money on your household energy bills?
We look at the main differences between both types of boilers and highlight whether it can help improve your energy efficiency, depending on your current situation.
A combi boiler is an increasingly popular boiler solution for new households due to its compact size, ability to provide instant hot water upon demand and enhanced energy efficiency. The combi boiler unit can fit in small spaces in the house and it doesn’t take up much room, meaning that it can be easily stored away and maintained with little effort.
The combi boiler tends to be favoured by newer, smaller households that use simple pipework and don’t have huge hot water demands throughout the house.
A conventional boiler, or just a regular boiler, is a traditional type of boiler that is often found in many older-built homes.
Often favoured to newer types of boilers, the conventional boiler can meet large water demands and provides a temporary source of hot water in case of breakdown. Consisting of a hot water cylinder and a cold-water tank (usually found in the loft), the conventional boiler is a large system that takes up a fair bit of space in your home.
Often found in more traditional homes, this type of boiler tends to be used in older, larger homes to provide reliable central heating and hot water supplies.
To make it simpler for you to understand the main differences between a conventional boiler and a combi boiler, we’ve created a table for you to enjoy:
To conclude the above information, the conventional boiler is often useful for homes that are larger and require larger hot water demands due to more people using it. If someone is running a bath and someone else wants the heating running, then a conventional boiler would be favourable. On the other hand, the combi boiler is a good option for smaller households to reduce their energy output.
Replacing a conventional boiler with a new combi boiler conversion can cost from £3,500 minimum. This is due to the complexity of the installation work, with pipework reconfiguration and removal, as well as removal of the hot water storage cylinder. This takes gas-registered engineers longer than just a straight swap, which is likely to lead to larger installation costs.
This price is variable and does depend on a number of factors, including the brand of combi boiler you choose, the size of the unit and warranty.
The estimate pricing above can be deterring for many, however the long term cost savings provide larger benefits for the majority of households that replace their conventional boiler with a combi boiler.
Combi boilers are extremely energy efficient, which means that their energy output will be reflected in your monthly energy bills. By upgrading your old, conventional boiler you could save up to 30% off your energy bills which can add up over a year. Those savings can give you a bit more wiggle room each month, or you can choose to spend it on the family on a day out.
As well as being energy efficient, combi boilers require less maintenance and run smoothly over many years, which means that you avoid spending unnecessary maintenance and repair costs. These kinds of costs add up and are often ignored, however you would notice the difference with a combi boiler.
However… each home is different, so it’s worth taking this into consideration. If your home is large and your family often rely on multiple appliances at once, then a combi boiler conversion may not be the ideal choice for you.
Instead, you can look into swapping your old conventional boiler with a brand new, energy efficient conventional boiler that can save you money in the long run and ensure your boiler doesn’t cause you any more hassle.
