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All you need to know about system boilers
System boilers, like regular boilers, use a copper cylinder to heat and store your hot water. However, as all system boilers are condensing boilers, they can be more than 90% efficient, cutting your energy bills and your environmental damage.
‘System’ boilers are another type of condensing boiler that provide heated water for your radiators and are connected to a hot water cylinder to provide hot water to your tap.
System boilers eliminate the need for a cold water feed tank in your loft by heating water straight from the mains, a bit like a combi boiler. However, system boilers keep the hot water storage tank used by regular boilers and usually found in your airing cupboard. They are a sort of middle ground between the two boiler systems.
By keeping the hot water storage tank, while it will then take up more space than a combi boiler, the system boiler can provide hot water from more than one outlet, and at a higher pressure.
Advantages of system boilers
- High water pressure because storage heater is retained
- Loft space freed up – cold water feed tank is not needed as water is taken straight from the mains
- Compact installation – all major components are built into the boiler
- Suitable for large homes – hot water from multiple outlets
As with combi boilers, there are limitations to this type of heating system:
- 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 in an airing cupboard)
- More prone to air entering the system
- Space taken up with geed and expansion tanks sited in the loft.
