Heating Systems

The Efficiency Of The Combination Boiler

Off all the improvements in boiler technology that have taken place over the past 20 years one of the most important must be the advent of condensing boilers, since these type gave excellent heat output and also highly efficient, something which is extremely important in today's fuel efficient times. There are different types of condensing boilers, and he's usually a gas condensing boiler that is one of the most popular. These can include what is known as the combination boiler, or combi boiler as it is sometimes known, and then also the regular gas boiler and a gas system boiler. The combination boiler can be one of the least expensive to install in a residential environment, and one of the main things about it is that it can give you excellent heat output which can be turned on and off on demand.

This means that you only need to use gas whenever you need hot water or the heating system, which means they can help with fuel efficiency and means that a combination boiler can have very low running costs indeed. A conventional boiler will have a hot water tank separate, and therefore may be able to put out more hot water than a combination boiler, though it will not be as fuel-efficient. This is especially true when the conventional boiler is linked to an immersion heater system, which can be extremely expensive to run and you also may need to wait several minutes for the boiler to heat up the hot water, especially in very cold weather. Many people who have had an immersion heater installed in a system will tell you that the electricity bills can be very high.

High efficiency models save money

One of the main things that needs to be borne in mind when installing a condensing boiler is that you need to have a proper discharge device to get rid of the steam caused by the gas combustion, but also some way to discharge the waste that comes from the gas combustion, since this can be toxic and very damaging to health. However, if you buy a high efficiency gas condensing boiler you will find that much of the energy from burning the gas fuel will be turned into heat, due to the fact that there are now very many highly efficient heat exchanges on the market, which can often turn almost 100% of the fuel energy into heat.

Many gas condensing boilers are used in residential areas, mainly due to the fact that it can be a cheap method of producing heating and hot water, but they can also be used in commercial environments, such as offices, if they are used in small spaces rather than being used to heat the whole building. The gas boilers will usually fire hot water heaters or radiators which can be a very good way of putting heat into the room, as they use the convection currents to spread the heat uniformly throughout a room. They can also be used in apartments with ease, as long as there is space for an flue on an external wall. As in most things it is usually a good idea to use a professional gas boiler installer so that you know it will comply with all the relevant safety regulations. This is extremely important if you are a landlord and you are thinking of letting out the property, because you will need to have a gas safety certificate to prove the heating system is safe to use.

Wall hung boilers save space

A fairly powerful condensing boiler is the Burnham ALP105 Alpine model. Retailing at around $2,900, this has a 105,000 BTU output, high efficiency modulating boiler with a 95% AFUE. It has a stainless steel heat exchanger, giving excellent heat transfer. The firing rates ensure the boiler fires only when needed. Another model is the Buderus wall hung condensing boiler (model GB142/30). This can be bought for less than $4,000 through some dealers, and has a cast aluminum heat exchanger and integrated controls. The boiler runs on natural gas or propane, and the small size and minimal clearance makes it an easy-to-install boiler unit.

Another Buderus compact boiler, an excellent replacement boiler, is the GC124, a boiler giving 84% AFUE efficiencies and heat outout from 74,000 BTU to 132,000 BTU. This boiler can be installed on combustible floors and have pilot or electronic ignition. This has cast iron/stainless steel burners, a Honeywell aquastat, tridicator gauge, and draft hood with draft diverter. It can be used with natural gas operation and converted to LP gas.

Multiple venting

For a real top quality condensing boiler, look no further than the Crown Bimini BWC Series high efficiency boiler. Supplying up to 95.4% AFUE efficiencies, this an excellent boiler for producing large amounts of hot water up to 180 degrees F for soaking tubs, hot water tubs, Jacuzzis, as well as towel warmers. This meets federal Energy Star requirements, has variable operating temperatures, and has cast aluminum heat exchangers, stainless steel burners, and multiple venting options with up to 100 foot vent length. It is a lightweight, zero clearance boiler with very quiet operation and automatic frost protection. The digital touch pad and display makes for easy operation, while the direct spark ignition makes for quick start up.

Depending on the size of a house or apartment that needs to be heated, and how much of a hot water supply is needed, the size of boiler can range from a very small and compact gas boiler that can be fitted into the corner of the kitchen for instance, up to a larger model which may need to fit it in its own cupboard or housing. The output of the boiler is measured in BTU or British thermal units, and the higher the BTU output of the boiler the hotter the water will be. This is especially important if you're looking at a winter heating system for a large house, since a small boiler simply may not be able to provide the level of heating for enough hot water for a large bath. If you have several children who need to take regular baths, then a gas boiler with a very high BTU output may be essential.

Luckily there are many different types of condensing boiler on the market, and these can range from tiny compact units to large units which can supply enough heat for a four or five bedroom house. Simply by choosing one from a well-known manufacturer your session to find a condensing boiler that will give you great heat output, a warm house, lots of hot water, and may also help to cut down on your fuel bills into the bargain.