Keeping your home warm and your showers hot is vital for maintaining a comfortable home.
An important part of that is boilers and system layouts. Each household is unique and will have different hot water and heating demands, so you need a system that functions efficiently for your home.
What Is A Boiler System Layout?
A boiler system layout is the plan of how the boiler feeds the pipe network, radiators, and outlets, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
The layout will include any pumps needed to maintain pressure and thermostats to regulate heat.
In conventional and system layouts, it can also include water tanks or cisterns and hot water cylinders.
What Are The 3 Different Types Of Boiler System Layouts?
Combination boilers
The most common central heating system in the UK is the combination boiler system, or combination-condensing boiler.
Government statistics show that combination boilers were installed in only 38 per cent of homes in 2001, growing to 74 per cent by 2023. That number is now estimated at over 80 per cent.
Combination, or combi, boilers directly connect to your water supply without the need for additional storage tanks or cisterns.
Their main advantages are their compact size and their ability to deliver hot water as you turn on a tap or shower.
Conventional boilers
Also referred to as a regular boiler system, conventional system plans are a more traditional wet central heating system.
They tend to be found in older properties in the UK, and require a hot water cylinder and a water storage tank. Usually, these will be located in the loft space of a house.
They provide hot water by using the cold water tank to fill the system, which is great for low-pressure areas. The boiler provides hot water for the radiators and heats the water in the cylinder.
System boilers
A system boiler also connects directly to the home’s water supply and it utilises a hot water cylinder as well.
Unlike a conventional boiler, it doesn’t need a cold water tank to provide pressure because the circulation pump is integrated. It heats the water for storage in the cylinder, which then supplies multiple outlets around the home.
What Is Important To Consider Before Installing A Gas Boiler?
Before deciding on what type of heating system to install in your home, there are factors to consider.
The Size Of Your Property
Certain heating systems work better in larger homes. For example, a combi boiler is more suited to a small to medium-sized home, where it can handle low hot water and heating demands.
A system boiler would be more suited to larger households where multiple and simultaneous demands can be met.
For older homes with traditionally networked heating and radiators, a regular or conventional boiler might be a better option. It also works better for heavy demand and large properties with many bathrooms.
A system and conventional boilers need additional space for cylinders and cisterns, where needed. This makes them more suited to homes with plenty of loft space.
It is important to consider how many bathrooms your boiler will need to provide for and how good the water pressure supplied to your home is.
The Demand For Hot Water
If your household has a high demand for hot showers or prefers a cosy temperature throughout the home, these are factors to consider.
For example, families who enjoy sports or who all need to shower at the same time will need a more robust boiler system to accommodate demand on pressure and water flow.
If only one person needs to shower at a time, a combi boiler can easily handle demand.
The System That Already Exists In Your Home
This will determine whether you’ll be replacing your boiler with a like-for-like or whether you need to consider changing the existing pipes, pumps and tanks to accommodate your requirements.
The Boiler’s Efficiency Rating
New boilers are very efficient, with UK government-required ratings of over 92 per cent. In fact, all new boilers should be A-rated for efficiency.
But a boiler is just one part of a heating and hot water system, and you can lose that efficiency in other ways. To squeeze the most out of your boiler, make sure they are installed and set up by qualified professionals.
Your Budget
A new boiler is an investment in your home; however, different systems have different installation costs.
A combi boiler is the simplest to install when there are no old water cylinders to remove.
Installing a boiler that requires a cylinder or cisterns is more complex and therefore more expensive to fit.
Include any updates and upgrades to pipes, radiators, electric and gas fittings that are needed in your budget too.
If you’re considering replacing your boiler or installing a whole new heating system, it is best to get one that suits your household’s needs.
Contact South Thames Gas for a full assessment and quote so you can plan your new boiler installation in South London.