Getting the right boiler for you and your home

Choosing your boiler is a bit like choosing a partner – if you invest the time into finding the right one for you, you’ll reap the rewards in the long term!

Whilst the boiler selection process can’t be described as riveting (for a large proportion of the population), sourcing one that suits your needs, and the needs of your wider household is going to make life an awful lot easier in future.

Do I need a new boiler?

Most boilers have a lifespan of around 10-15 years, provided they’re maintained and serviced regularly. However, they don’t last forever and fair enough, they’re one of the most intensely worked appliances in your home. Here are some tell tale signs that your boiler might be about to give up the ghost.

• Your radiators might be taking longer to heat up
• There’s an unpleasant or unusual smell coming from your boiler
• Your boiler is making a bit of a din suddenly
• Your system begins to leak regularly
• The gas bill is going up (and not in line with what we are all currently facing- we mean WAY up!)

If your boiler is under 10 years old and has been maintained well, it might be that one of our Gas Safe-registered engineers can fix the problem easily. Give us a call. If not, they can give you honest and valuable advice on the next steps available to you.

What are your choices?

You’ve had one of our experienced engineers in to assess the problem and the recommendation is to go ahead with purchasing a new boiler…what now? Unless you’re in the business, facing the decision of which boiler to choose can be daunting. Fear not, here is your one stop shop for everything you need to know on boiler types and the suitability of each for your home. If you’re still unsure, feel free to give us a call, we love to chat heating systems!

Boilers fall into three main categories – combi boilers, heat only (regular boilers) and system boilers.

Combi Boilers

A popular choice, these dinky boilers fit into compact spaces but pack a solid punch in small properties with good water pressure. They’re neat and tidy to look at due to their size and are normally easy to maintain, as most engineers (including us) are very familiar with them.

Whilst they give instant hot water, it’s worth remembering that they will struggle if required to work on more than one shower at a time, so in houses with several bathrooms, it might be better to look at an alternative. Find out a little more about Combis here.

Regular Boilers

For larger households, the regular boiler is often a great fit. They can be a little clunkier and more cumbersome than a combi, as they have more component parts and need to be linked up to a cold water tank (often in the loft). However, they will power hot water via the tank when needed. This means, they have the capacity to graft a bit harder and deliver several hot showers at once, if the demand is there. You will need to plan ahead for these though as the water needs time to heat up. No shower hogs allowed here either, as once the tank is empty, you’ll have to wait a while for it to refill. Find out more about Regular Boilers here.

System Boilers

These boilers are a winner for larger properties with a high demand for hot water. They’re smaller than the regular boiler, as they don’t require a cold water tank and house all the component parts internally. You will still need to find a space for a hot water cylinder, but this is a more powerful system than a combi, able to deliver hot water to several different outlets at the same time. Find out more about System Boilers here.

What will it set me back?

No doubt about it, a new boiler is an investment. However, if you get it right, it can be a huge cost saving in the future. The type of boiler you select, the brand and the size will all influence what you pay and like most things, you do get what you pay for.

So, although we’re all feeling the pinch at the moment, you will save yourself money and aggro in the future by investing in quality now.
We get that cash is tight right now and we promise we will always give honest, fair and informed advice to make sure you get the best deal possible for your home.

Need help with your boiler or heating system? Contact us today