It’s time to replace your boiler, and you have lots of questions. ‘What size boiler do I need?’ is one of the most common questions people have when they begin shopping for a new boiler. Since this is a relatively infrequent purchase to make, you likely aren’t armed with a ton of knowledge on the subject. We’re here to help change that.
While it might be tempting to simply choose the same size boiler as the one you’re replacing, you’d do well to stop and consider your options. There are several factors to consider when choosing a replacement boiler, and many modern boilers are more efficient than their larger, older counterparts.
We’ll help you understand what size boiler you need for your home so you can choose the right one for your needs, no matter how large (or small) your home is.
Why Boiler Size Matters
Your boiler has to be large enough to keep your home comfortable and warm while remaining energy-efficient. If your boiler is too small, it will struggle to keep up with demands, and if it is too large, it will cost you more money while putting undue strain on your heating system.
You must choose a boiler size that will adequately heat your home without firing up the system unnecessarily. To do this, you need to consider several factors when choosing a new or replacement boiler.
Factors to Consider When Sizing a Boiler
Every home’s heating needs are different, so you need to consider these differences when choosing the size of your boiler.
- The type of boiler you will be using
- The size of the house or flat
- The number of radiators in the house or flat
- The number of bedrooms and bathrooms in the house or flat
- The number of people living in your home
- The type of fuel your boiler uses
Choosing the correct boiler can be a complex process. You need to factor in how much energy you use daily, how much heat loss your property experiences, and whether you’re looking for a boiler that uses sustainable green energy such as solar thermal or whether you’ll be solely utilising gas or electricity.
Boiler Types
The size of the boiler you choose depends greatly on the type of boiler it is. There are several different types of boilers to choose from, and each has its pros and cons.
Combi boilers (combination boilers) don’t require a tank and provide heat and hot water on demand, as needed. These boilers don’t take up much space, but they also may struggle to meet demand if you try to get hot water from multiple taps simultaneously.
Sealed system boilers have a water cylinder but no tank. These take up a little more room in your home, but they allow you to access hot water from multiple taps at once. If the hot water runs out, you’ll have to wait for it to heat back up.
Conventional boilers have both a tank and a cylinder. These boilers are suitable if you want to access hot water from multiple taps but, like sealed system boilers, take time to reheat water once it’s all been used.
All new boilers have been designed to be more energy-efficient than their predecessors, but you should still look at your home’s needs to find one that’s right for you and the environment.
Radiators and Boiler Size
One important factor in choosing your boiler size is how many radiators you have in your home. The more radiators you have, the larger the boiler you’ll need.
You may want to consider replacing the radiators in your home when you replace the boiler, particularly if the radiators are too small or too large to be energy-efficient. Too-small radiators won’t heat a room effectively, and too-large ones can cause your home to overheat and waste energy, potentially costing you more in the process.
Replacing Older, Inefficient Boilers
As we touched on earlier, modern boilers are more energy-efficient than older ones. You may want to consider changing the type of boiler you use in your home if a newer type would be more efficient for your needs. Be aware that changing some older boilers for newer ones, especially combi boilers, can be tricky during installation.
If you aren’t sure whether a different type of boiler would be best for your home, consult with a heating expert. They’ll look at your home and assess whether a particular boiler type will work best for your family’s needs.
Let Us Help You Replace Your Boiler
At Edinburgh Gas & Renewables, we take pride in helping people heat their homes more sustainably without compromising comfort. Happy, warm people who don’t cost the earth is our ultimate goal. We strive to provide more innovative and affordable heating solutions that reduce further damage to our planet.
Whether it’s upgrading to a new and more efficient gas boiler, an air source heat pump, smart heating controls, or solar panels you’re after, we offer a comprehensive range of heating solutions, including installation and maintenance of gas boilers in and around Edinburgh and the Lothians. Get your free quote today and find the perfect boiler for your happy home.
