When to deciding which type of boiler is best for your home, and picking between a system or combination (combi) boiler, there are many things to consider. These include: the hot water demand in your home, the amount of room a new boiler may take up, and how efficient each boiler type might be. Fortunately, these are all things we cover in this article. Read on below to find out which is best for your home.
Visually, system boilers and combi boiler units look very similar. However, they actually work in very different ways. For example: system boilers must be fitted alongside an unvented hot water cylinder, which stores domestic hot water until you need it. Whereas, everything a combi boiler needs to provide your home with heating and hot water is within the unit itself.
The biggest difference between the two, however, is the amount of hot water they can supply. As a combi doesn't have the extra hot water storage capacity of a cylinder, there's less hot water to go around if you have multiple bathrooms. This will be the main consideration if you have a large home.
Getting multiple quotes before hiring an installer for a replacement boiler will give you the greatest chance of finding the best deal and eliminates the risk of overpaying. At Boiler Guide, we've made this quick and simple to do.
Rather than spending hours calling engineers, simply let us know about the work you need, and we'll match you with up to 3 Gas Safe registered engineers based in your area.
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The main differences between combi boilers and system boilers are that system boilers are larger and consist of more components (including a hot water storage tank), they cater to different household sizes (combi for small homes, system for medium to large homes), and they involve varying levels of installation complexity (combi is easier to install).
Combi Boiler
System Boiler
Smaller
Larger
Self-contained
Requires a hot water cylinder
Produces hot water on-demand
Stores hot water for later use
Ideal for small homes
Ideal for medium to large-sized homes
Easier to install
More complex to install
Size and components: Combi boilers are compact, self-contained units, whereas system boilers consist of a boiler unit and a hot water storage tank.
Instant vs. stored water: Combi boilers are directly connected to taps and radiators, while system boilers are only connected directly to radiators and get hot water from a storage tank.
Suitable for different household sizes: Combi boilers are best suitable for small homes, whereas system boilers can attend to the needs of medium and large homes.
Different levels of installation complexity: Installing a combi boiler is straightforward, whereas installing a system boiler requires more time and effort on the part of the installer.
Combi boilers offer both heating and hot water directly: On the other hand, system boilers are designed with a cylinder to supply hot water since they do not include a hot water heat exchanger.
Why get a system boiler?
System boilers are ideal for homes with higher water heating demands. Let's take a look at some of the benefits that make choosing a system boiler a good option for larger homes.
Ideal for multiple bathrooms
As we've mentioned, if you have more than one bathroom in your home you're going to need a large supply of hot water. This is to ensure multiple taps and showers can be used at the same time, without any loss of water flow. Due to the system boiler’s hot water storage cylinder, you don't need to worry about water supply.
Takes up less room than a regular boiler
If you currently have an old, traditional boiler (known as a regular boiler), you will most likely have a large tank in your loft, known as a feed tank. This stores all the cold water that is fed to a regular boiler to be heated. If you switch to a system boiler, you won't need that any more! System boilers get their cold water straight from the mains supply, so you'll get the same high supply of hot water, but you'll regain your loft space – bonus! You can also opt for a combi boiler instead of a conventional boiler regarding the costs. Find out more in our combi vs conventional boiler running costs comparison.
Quick response to hot water demand
With an inbuilt pump, to speed up water circulation around your home, system boilers are able to respond quickly to heating and hot water demand.
Solar compatibility
If you use solar panels, or are considering it, in some cases the hot water cylinder can be adapted to heat the water using solar energy. This is a great way to save money on your bills.
If you're interested in finding out more about solar energy and how it can be used in heating, head to our article, 'Solar thermal heating with a boiler‘
Why get a combi boiler?
From reducing your home's carbon footprint to saving space, when compared to other boiler types, there are many benefits to installing a combi boiler. Let's take a look at some of the top reasons homeowners with a smaller water heating demand have chosen a combi boiler.
Highly efficient
Combi boilers are designed to meet an boiler efficiency rating of at least 92%. This helps to lower your heating bills.
Compact
As you only need the boiler (no tanks or cylinders), they don't take up much space. They are one of the best small boilers for a cupboard, making them easier to hide.
Quick and simple installation
With no need for the installer to fit any tanks or cylinders, installation will be much quicker compared to system or regular boilers. This will save you both time and money.
On-demand hot water
Combi boilers take their water supply directly from the mains, so you’ll have hot water on demand.
Mains water pressure
You should get one of the highest flow rates for combi boilers because the combi’s water comes from the mains. However, this depends on the strength of the mains water supply in your area.
Before you commit to a system or combi boiler, there are a few additional things to consider.
System boiler cons
They take up more space than a combi, due to the cylinder and its pipework.
The size of the cylinder needs to match your home's hot water demand. If it's too small, you will frequently be waiting for the cylinder to refill. It's important to get this right.
Hot water isn’t supplied instantly. While it’s usually a quick process, if you use more water than usual, you may find yourself waiting for your hot water to refill (something to consider if you frequently have guests for example).
Combi boiler cons
They can’t meet a high demand for hot water. As we've covered, if you need hot water supplied to lots of radiators, taps and more than one bathroom, combi boilers will struggle to serve all outputs at once with even pressure.
Not recommended for properties with weak mains pressure. If your mains water supply is weak or inconsistent, the same pressure will apply to the water out of the taps. This is because a combi gets its water directly from the mains supply, and there is no process in between that will boost pressure.
If you have very old pipes, they may need to be replaced for a modern combi. Older pipes were designed for a weaker supply of water and may not be able to cope with the higher direct mains pressure.
System or combi boiler?
Finding the right boiler for you, between a system and a combi, ultimately comes down to the hot water demands of your home.
For smaller homes with 1 bathroom, there’s no better choice than a combi boiler. You’ll be supplied with instant access to hot water from a highly efficient unit that should help you to save money on your energy bills.
As beneficial as combi boilers are, they’re usually unable to supply a strong supply of water to more than one tap, bath or shower at a time. So, for that reason, if you have two or more bathrooms then you should install a system boiler.
Find the best boiler for your home based on the size of the property:
No matter which boiler type you decide on, you still need to find the best deal for a boiler. Luckily, the process to find prices is the same for both a system and combi boiler.
The most critical part is who you're getting the price offers from. In this case, you need to find Gas Safe registered boiler engineers who have been vetted to provide accurate quotes and reliable service.
While it may take a lot of hours of research to find and vet a Gas Safe registered engineer, we highly recommend you to find multiple engineers so you can compare quotes. Luckily, we can help you with this. Boiler Guide has a network of registered and vetted boiler engineers who are able to help you get your next boiler.
To easily get access to this network and to get free quotes from up to 3 different engineers, just let us know about your heating demands by filling in our form below. You're under no obligation to accept any quotes you receive.
What’s the difference between combi boiler and system boiler?
System boilers are better suited for homes with larger heating demands, while combi boilers are the opposite. When deciding between a system boiler vs combi boiler, it’s good to know that it is the heating demand of the house that is the deciding factor.
Is a combi boiler more efficient than a system boiler?
By law, all modern condensing boilers are required to have a minimum efficiency of 92%. Combi boilers and system boilers are included in this, making both types very efficient.
What is the best system boiler or combi boiler?
When deciding whether a system or combi boiler is the best for you, it depends on your hot water and heating demands. Boiler types operate differently and therefore are better able to service different homes.
Is a combi boiler better than a system boiler?
If you have 1 bathroom, then yes, a combi boiler is better for your house than a system boiler. But there are more factors to consider, such as cost, installation complexity, and space.
