• Home
  • DIY
    • Self build
    • Projects and advice
      • Bathroom
      • Building, brickwork and masonry
      • Ceilings
      • Cleaning
      • Concrete work
      • Damp, rot and infestation
      • Drains
      • Electrical
      • Fireplaces
      • Floors
      • Garden
      • Heating
      • Insulation
      • Kitchen
      • Lighting
      • Lofts
      • Painting and decorating
      • Plasterwork
      • Plumbing
      • Roof and guttering
      • Safety
      • Security
      • Tiling
      • Walls
      • Windows
      • Woodwork
    • Glossary
    • Know your tools
    • Know your materials
  • Cost guides
  • News
  • Community
Facebook Twitter Instagram
lets-do-diy.com
  • Home
  • DIY
    • Self build
    • Projects and advice
      • Bathroom
      • Building, brickwork and masonry
      • Ceilings
      • Cleaning
      • Concrete work
      • Damp, rot and infestation
      • Drains
      • Electrical
      • Fireplaces
      • Floors
      • Garden
      • Heating
      • Insulation
      • Kitchen
      • Lighting
      • Lofts
      • Painting and decorating
      • Plasterwork
      • Plumbing
      • Roof and guttering
      • Safety
      • Security
      • Tiling
      • Walls
      • Windows
      • Woodwork
    • Glossary
    • Know your tools
    • Know your materials
  • Cost guides
  • News
  • Community
lets-do-diy.com
You are at:Home»Projects and advice»Installing central heating and boilers

Installing central heating and boilers

Installing central heating system

Summary: Advice for installing central heating and boilers, comparing the different types of boilers, combination (or ‘combi’ boilers), system boilers and open vent boilers.

Choosing a heating system with a high efficiency condensing boiler with the correct heating controls can make a huge difference to your heating bills over time.

The type of boiler you need will depend on a number of factors, such as the size of your house and your hot water requirements.


Different types of boiler

There are different types of boiler:

  • Combination boilers (or combi boilers) – heat water instantaneously on opening a hot tap, so there is no need for a storage cylinder.
  • System boilers – these are designed to generate heat for your home as well as hot water that can be stored in a separate hot water storage cylinder. This can be situated anywhere in your home with no need for a separate tank in the loft.
  • Heat only boilers – work in conjunction with a hot water storage cylinder and cold water top up tanks to provide both central heating and hot water.

The role of the boiler

Most of us are familiar with the main parts of a central heating system: the boiler, the radiators and the piping that connects it all. The boiler heats the water and this is usually circulated through the pipework and radiators by a pump, before returning to the boiler. From this basic arrangement a number of different systems and boilers have been developed; below you’ll find a guide to the 3 types most commonly found in British homes

What is a condensing boiler?

You’ve probably heard of the term ‘condensing boiler’ and you may be thinking how does it fit with the 3 boiler types we show?

Essentially, a condensing or High Efficiency boiler can be a combi, system or open vent boiler. Condensing boilers work on the principle of reusing heat that would normally be rejected into the atmosphere from the flue of standard efficiency (non-condensing) boiler.

As a result, the temperature of the gases from the flue of a condensing boiler is typically 50-60°C compared with 120-180°C in a current non-condensing boiler. This creates a condensate (hence the name ‘condensing’), which is harmlessly expelled as vapour through a flue and as liquid through a convenient drain point.

All new condensing boilers installed in the UK must be High Efficiency Condensing models.


Combination or ‘combi’ boilers

This is the most popular type of boiler in the UK, now found in around 70% of homes. Combi boilers provide central heating and hot water without the need for a separate tank to store water; hence you can easily tuck them away under the stairs or in kitchen cabinets. They are most suited to: Homes with one bathroom, households with single people, couples, families with one child Usually available in following outputs: kw 24 30 35

Benefits:

  • Instant, unlimited domestic hot water
  • Compact, easy to fit if space is limited

Disadvantages:

  • Unable to run multiple showers or baths at the same time
  • Lower flow rate for hot water than an open vent or system boiler

System boilers

A system boiler (sometimes known as a ‘sealed system’) provides central heating and hot water via a storage cylinder housed in an airing cupboard – no need for water tanks in the loft, as with an open vent boiler.

Most suited to: Larger homes with multiple bathrooms/ensuites; families. Usually available in following outputs: kw 12 15 18 24 30 38

Benefits:

  • High flow rate for domestic hot water
  • No tank(s) in your loft
  • More than one hot tap / shower can easily operate at same time

Disadvantages:

  • Hot water is not instant.
  • Once the water in the storage cylinder runs out you have to wait for it to reheat.
  • You’ll need to find space for the cylinder (usually an airing cupboard)

Open vent boilers

Open vent boilers are a peculiarly British invention. An open vent (sometimes known as heating only) provide central heating and hot water via a boiler, a storage cylinder housed in the airing cupboard and water tanks in your loft. If you’re looking to do a full system overhaul most people opt to remove the tanks from the loft and turn their open vent system into a sealed system.

Most suited to: Larger homes with an existing open vent boiler. Usually available in following outputs: kw 12 15 18 24 30 38

Benefits:

  • High flow rate for domestic hot water
  • More than one hot tap / shower can easily operate at same time

Disadvantages:

  • Once the water in the storage cylinder runs out you have to wait for it to reheat.
  • You’ll need to find space for the cylinder (usually an airing cupboard)
  • The bulk feed and expansion tanks are usually sited in the loft – this can create a problem if you’re considering a loft conversion.

Related projects

  • Fitting a bathroom sink or bidet
  • How to replace a bath
  • How to replace a toilet
  • How to replace silicone sealant around a bath or shower

Related cost guides

  • Average cost of a hot tub
  • Average cost of a new bathroom
  • Average cost to install a bathroom sink
  • Average cost to install a shower
  • Average cost to install a toilet
  • Average cost to tile a bathroom
Recent Comments
  • Vic on Is Christmas a good time for DIY?
  • Anonymous on Average air source heat pump cost (2022)
  • Reggie on Prepare your home for moth season
Latest News
0

Potential DIY home improvement trends for 2023

1

Is Christmas a good time for DIY?

0

Design trends for 2022 and 2023

0

Product Review: Handsaws

Popular Guides

Average cost of landscaping

Average cost of a greenhouse (2022)

Average CCTV installation cost

Average window cleaning cost

Popular Projects

What to put on your bathroom wall or floor

Gas Safe Register

Downpipe repairs

How to reduce energy and heating costs

DIY Categories
Bathroom
Building, brickwork and masonry
Ceilings
Cleaning
Concrete work
Damp, rot and infestation
Drains
Electrical
Fireplaces
Floors
Garden
Heating
Insulation
Kitchen
Lighting
Lofts
Painting and decorating
Plasterwork
Plumbing
Roof and guttering
Safety
Security
Tiling
Walls
Windows
Woodwork

Self Build Guide
How to find a building plot
Evaluating a building plot (2023)
How to get a self build mortgage
Self build construction options
Self build architect and design considerations (2023)
Self build planning permission and legal consents
© 2023 lets do diy ltd | ebuild
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT