New boiler installation

If you’re looking for a new boiler in Reading and surrounding areas, Vicmiras is your local professionals. We have built an excellent reputation and pride ourselves on our quality workmanship and polite professional service. We are accredited installers for Vaillant, Worcester Bosch, Ideal and Baxi boilers and can offer an industry-leading, 10 or 12-year manufacturer’s guarantee on their new boilers. Our engineers are all Gas Safe registered.

Choosing your new boiler

When it comes to choosing a right boiler for your household, it could be confusing and difficult decision. Don't worry! Call Vicmiras and we will visit the site and suggest the most suitable product for your household according to your needs.

Types of boilers

There are three main types of boiler: combi, heat only and system. Combi boilers produce instant hot water and there are no hot water tanks. Heat only boilers (aka conventional or regular) work with a cylinder in the airing cupboard. System boilers are often found in modern homes with an ‘unvented’ hot water cylinder.

How does a combi boiler work?

A combination boiler heats water via an integral heat exchanger directly from the cold mains. It provides instantaneous hot water.

This is different from a traditional system which stores hot water in a tank in advance of use. A combination boiler does not need a hot water cylinder or tanks in the loft. Everything is done through a single, usually wall-hung, unit.

Advantages of a combi boiler

• Creates space when removing old hot water tanks

• Lower maintenance costs - the integral heating and hot water functions are covered by the boiler manufacturer's warranty/guarantee

• No long wait times for hot water

Disadvantages of a combi boiler

• They do not work well in properties with poor flow rates and/or poor incoming water pressure

• Hot water flow rates are reduced when providing hot water to two or more outlets simultaneously, although this is really only a problem in houses with two or more showers.

• High-performance combi boilers - that provide 12.5 litres per minute of hot water or more - may not be effective on 15mm pipework supplies and can be oversized for the heating

How does a heat only boiler work?

A heat only boiler (also referred to as a 'regular' or 'conventional' boiler) provides heating directly to the radiators and works with a cylinder to provide hot water. They often work on what is called an 'open-vented' heating system, i.e. there is a Feed and Expansion tank in the loft, but they can work on a 'sealed' system too.

What is a back boiler?

A back boiler is a type of heat only boiler that is situated in a chimney breast with a fire on the front. It is currently not possible to replace a back boiler in the same location. For those with an existing back boiler that would like to replace it with a new boiler then you will need to opt for a wall hung heat only boiler elsewhere in the house or consider a combi boiler.

Advantages of a heat only boiler

• Work well with old radiators. Older radiator systems that are put under the high water pressure delivered by system or combi boilers may leak.

• Low replacement cost as heat only boilers are the cheapest type of boiler to buy

Disadvantages of a heat only boiler

• Only the boiler is covered by the manufacturer's guarantee/warranty. This leaves lots of other components on the system (e.g. hot water tank, pumps and valves) that are subject to replacement and breakdown

How does a system boiler work?

Like regular boilers, system boilers work with a hot water cylinder. Unlike regular boilers, the system is not open-vented, i.e. there are no tanks in the loft, and all of the components that would normally be outside a heat only boiler (pumps, valves etc) are integrated into the boiler. These are a modern version of the regular boiler and are often installed along side unvented hot water cylinders.

Advantages of a system boiler

• Good for properties that have a high hot water demand, i.e. lots of showers, as the unvented tank can deliver good hot water flow rates to multiple outlets simultaneously

• Good cover from manufacturer warranty/guarantee as there more of system's components are integral to the boiler

Disadvantages of a system boiler

• Good hot water flow rates depends upon good incoming mains water pressure, if the pressure is poor then internal flow rates will be poor

• They are require more space than a combi boiler. If you are swapping a combi boiler for a system boiler you will need to find an appropriate location of the hot water cylinder, usually on the first floor

Stick or change boiler type: Our Top Tips

1. If you have old radiators or pipework buried in screed - stick with an open vented, heat only boiler

2. If you and your family have lots of showers at the same time – consider changing to a system boiler with unvented hot water tank (if your water pressure is good)

3. On a tight budget - replace your existing boiler with the same type of boiler in the same location

4. Want low maintenance costs - install a combi boiler with a 10 year warranty/guarantee from the manufacturer (providing your water pressure is good).

5. Extending your property and adding bathrooms - consider a system boiler with unvented hot water tank (if the water pressure is good)

Refer: https://www.theheatinghub.co.uk/guide-to-boiler-types-combi-heat-only-system