What is the Most Energy-Efficient Type of Boiler?

If you still have a non-condensing boiler in your house, now is the perfect time to consider an upgrade. A non-condensing boiler wastes a lot of energy to generate heat. Older systems may have an energy efficiency rating of 70% or less; that’s very low compared to the >80% energy rating found in newer condensing boilers.

In fact, condensing boilers are now mandatory with every new system installation. However, there are still three main types of choose from when you are considering an upgrade: a conventional boiler, a combi boiler, and a system boiler. In this article, we are going to review all three and find the most energy-efficient type of boiler available.

Conventional Boiler

A conventional boiler is the most traditional type of boiler on the market right now. This type of boiler tends to be bigger in size because it requires a cylinder and a water tank to operate. Conventional boilers are usually installed in the basement or loft so that they don’t consume too much usable space, but modern conventional boilers are now designed to look good for other parts of the house as well.

While conventional boilers may not be as feature-packed as the other types listed in this article, they do offer some benefits. For starters, conventional boilers usually have more power and can be used to supply water to different parts of the house. The larger size means it can supply more pressure too.

Conventional boilers are also arguably more reliable in the long run, although modern combi boilers are catching up. The only downside is that you may not be able to save money on the purchase and installation since conventional boilers are usually more expensive to install than other options on the market.

Additional benefits offered by conventional boilers include:

• Compatibility with solar panels, which means the boilers can be used alongside water heating systems already installed in your property
• Some heat-only models can work even when the boiler pressure is low, making conventional boilers more reliable as a whole
• Good pressure and sufficient energy efficiency level
• Cheaper installation if you are replacing an existing conventional boiler with a new one since minimum changes are required

Combi Boiler

The combi boiler seems to be the go-to type for homeowners looking to replace or upgrade their existing central heating system. The main difference between a conventional boiler and a combi boiler is the lack of water tank. Combi boilers are designed to supply hot water on demand, making it the more cost-efficient choice of the two.

Combi boilers are also designed to manage central heating and hot water, which is why it is named a combi boiler in the first place. If you take a look at boilercentral.com, you’ll be able to see how much a new boiler will cost you and hopefully will be pleasantly surprised that it’s relatively more affordable in the long run.

On top of that, combi boilers can be very small. Some combi boiler models are small enough to install in a cupboard or hidden in the kitchen. Others are specially made to look good even when exposed, which means you have more options when it comes to where – and how – you want the boiler to be installed.

The list of benefits goes on. Combi boilers also offer additional value to homeowners:

• Most combi boilers are rated in the A category of energy efficiency, and they can have 90% or more efficiency rating
• The cost saving is too good to miss
• Combi boilers may struggle with maintaining water pressure, but there are supplemental systems that can help you overcome that particular challenge
• Combi boilers make it easy for homeowners to pick the boiler that suits their properties best since this type of boiler is available in a wider variety of sizes and capacity

System Boiler

The third type we have is a system boiler, which is basically a combination of a combi boiler and a water tank. You can get the higher pressure and capacity offered by conventional boilers, but you also gain centralised hot water and heating management as well as features such as easy installation.

System boilers still don’t use a cylinder, but you will have to provide more space for the large water tank for storing hot water. It is easy to integrate a system boiler with existing pipes, although the capacity of the boiler in supplying hot water depends on the size of your tank; the system is not entirely on-demand like combi boilers.

So, which of these types are the most efficient? Based on the products available on the market, you will find combi boilers to be the better options when energy efficiency is your priority. There is no shortage of deals and special offers too, plus you can always find the most suitable combi boiler based on the specific needs of your property.