Conventional Boilers

Conventional boilers, often known as heat only or regular boilers, are popular for larger households as they can heat your home and water efficiently.

Conventional boilers use a storage cistern with two feeds. There is one for hot water and one for cold, and the water is pumped through the system to either be heated up or stored as hot water to be used when it is needed.

You might want to choose a conventional boiler if you have lots of people in your family and you have more than one bathroom. This is because they can cope with delivering water to two or more outlets whereas a combi boiler will struggle to do this.

So is a conventional boiler right for you?


Benefits of a conventional boiler

  • They still work well even if your mains pressure is low
  • You’ll still get hot water even if someone is running the shower and the kitchen taps at the same time
  • They’re easy to maintain as they have a simple design
  • You can install an immersion heater to the hot water cylinder to use if the boiler breaks down
  • Conventional boilers are compatible with older central heating systems

Drawbacks to a conventional boiler

  • Pressure flow for showers and hot water can be low
  • You’ll need space for the hot and cold feed tanks
  • Conventional boilers aren’t as efficient as combi boilers – there will be heat loss as hot water is stored
  • Your hot water can run out and take time to reheat
  • Hot water isn’t supplied on demand – you need to heat it in advance

Conventional boilers are great for larger homes and those with more than one bathroom. Just bear in mind that you will need enough space for the hot and cold water tanks and that you can’t get hot water on demand like you can with a combi boiler.

If you need more information, fill out our form and we’ll put you in touch with up to 4 Gas Safe registered engineers that can give you more advice on which boiler is right for your home.

Price

£500-£2,500 depending on make and model

For a boiler only

Installation time

2-3 days

Installation price

£300-£1,000


Advantages and disadvantages
  • Can supply multiple taps with hot water without causing a drop in water pressure
  • An immersion heater can be fitted to the hot water cylinder, which can be used if the boiler breaks down
  • Compatible with older central heating systems
  • The hot water can run out and takes time to reheat
  • The tank and cylinder means it takes up more room than a combi boiler
  • Hot water isn’t supplied on demand, it needs to be heated in advance