Combi or system boiler: which is right for my home?
A plain guide to the two most common types of boiler, and which homes suit each one.
When it’s time for a new boiler, the big question is usually combi or system.
Combi boilers
A combi heats water as you use it, so there’s no hot water cylinder and no tank in the loft. They suit most flats and smaller homes with one bathroom. The downside: if two people run hot taps at once, the flow drops.
System boilers
A system boiler heats a hot water cylinder, so there’s a store of hot water ready to go. They suit bigger homes with two or more bathrooms, where showers often run at the same time.
Which should I get?
As a rough guide: one bathroom, go combi. Two or more, think about a system boiler. We’ll look at your home and how you use your hot water, and recommend what fits.