Central Heating Service
Our central heating service is second to none. All our central heating systems are installed to all building and oil regulations. Our central heating systems are fully guaranteed and fitted by OFTEC registered engineers. You will be issued a fully complete CD11 on completion, this certifies that the system is installed to Part L of the building regulations.
We install three types of condensing boiler systems:
The combination system is, by far, the simplest form of central heating system available.
A Combination boiler is two appliances in one – a pressurised central heating boiler and an instantaneous water heater.
The main benefit of a combination boiler is that it heats water directly from the cold mains giving continuous hot water on demand to all taps at mains pressure with no need for any tanks. Water is only heated when required and is therefore usually more efficient and economical than a hot water storage cylinder which is part of a conventional system. However, hot water will normally only flow from one tap at a time, and heat flow to radiators is interrupted whilst hot water is being drawn.
With this type of system, hot water cannot be provided on demand, but must be stored, usually in a copper cylinder (usually located in an airing cupboard) and a cold water tank above it, (usually in the attic) as well as a smaller central heating header tank (also usually in the attic).
As the water is pre-heated and stored, it can be used by more than one tap at a time without significant loss of flow. The Conventional system is particularly suited to the larger property with more than one bathroom or where mains water pressure is too low for an instantaneous appliance such as a combination boiler.
A sealed system normally operates at a pressure of about 1 Bar above atmospheric pressure, this pressure is achieved by a filling loop connected from the mains water supply to the system. A stop cock in the link allows for the system to be pressurised as required. Once pressurised, the system should retain its pressure unless the radiators are bled or there is a leak in the system.
A lot of boilers are designed specifically for sealed systems and incorporate the boiler, controls, expansion vessel, pressure gauge and relief valve all within one casing. However, all the various parts are available separately and it may be necessary to use separate components for large volume systems where the size of the expansion vessel needs to be relatively large.
Which boiler should I choose?
Each type delivers all the benefits of high-efficiency technology, but which one you choose will depend on several factors, including your property, your lifestyle and the professional advice of an OFTEC registered installer for oil-fired boilers.
An example of a central heating and hot water system layout using a system boiler with an open-vented hot water cylinder:
An example of a central heating and hot water system layout using a system boiler with a pressurised unvented hot water cylinder:
Unlike a combi boiler, both a system boiler and a regular (conventional) boiler work on the principle of stored hot water – but a system boiler differs from a regular boiler in some important respects. Firstly, many of the major individual components of the heating and hot water system are built in, which means that installation is quicker, neater, easier and more efficient.
Secondly, the hot water is pumped from the boiler through the system to the radiators and hot water cylinder, resulting in a fast response and more economical running costs. The system boiler removes the need for a feed and expansion cistern.
An example of a central heating and hot water system layout using a combi boiler:
The high efficiency condensing combi or combination boiler is an ingenious space-saving idea, and an increasingly popular choice in UK homes. In fact, combis now account for well over half of all the new domestic boilers installed in Britain every year.
The major difference between a combi and any other type of boiler is that a combi eliminates the need to store hot water – so no hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard. It is both a high-efficiency water heater and central heating boiler combined, (hence the name) within one compact unit which usually sits in the kitchen or utility room, or sometimes in the airing cupboard. The space saving result from the fact there is no hot water storage cylinder, cold water storage cistern or other familiar components of a regular (conventional) heating system.
The further benefits of this are a significant saving on hot water costs, and the fact that hot water is delivered through your taps or shower at mains pressure, so you can enjoy powerful showering* without the need for a pump. Another combi benefit is that it can generally save you money on installation time and costs, since no tank in the roof space means less pipe work and a shorter installation time.
*a thermostatically-controlled shower safeguards against sudden changes in water temperature.
An example of a central heating and hot water system layout using a regular (conventional) boiler:
If you are replacing an older model of boiler, the chances are that you will have a regular (conventional) boiler. A typical conventional system incorporates a boiler and extended controls, a feed and expansion cistern, and a hot water cylinder (usually in the airing cupboard), which is often fed by a cold water storage cistern located in the loft.
Here are a few examples and guidelines to think about and help you identify the type of condensing boiler most likely suited to your needs:
Consideration
You want to use your loft space for a room conversion or other purpose
You live in a flat or a bungalow (have very little or no roof space)
Your home has more than two bathrooms
Your mains water pressure is low
You want to replace an old boiler to improve an existing conventional central heating system
There is a need to have hot water available on tap without waiting for it to heat up
Suitable boiler
Combi
boiler
Combi
boiler
Regular or system boiler
Regular or system boiler
Regular, system or
combi boiler
Combi
boiler
Payment options
- Visa
- Visa Debit
- Visa Electron
- Mastercard
- Discover
- Diners Club
- Maestro
- JCB
Areas covered
- Alresford
- Fareham
- Hambledon
- Lyndhurst
- Romsey
- Southampton
- Stockbridge
- Winchester