Do different boilers have different servicing requirements?

Boiler manufacturers recommend a regular boiler service, to ensure that the boiler is safe and efficient. An annual boiler service is also a condition of most boiler manufacturer warranty agreements.

The three main types of boiler:

• Combi
• System
• Regular

Combi Boilers

These are popular in households where space is limited, especially in loft spaces, which in many new homes may be insignificant. Larger loft spaces, in older style homes, may have the potential for living space. A combi boiler is a hot water heater and central heating boiler combined. The hot water is heated up as required, directly from the mains. This negates the need for a cold-water storage tank and hot water cylinder, freeing up spaces previously occupied by these, for living space or storage as required.

Combi boilers may be gas or oil. They may also make use of condensing technology to process the products, (either gas or oil) that they utilise. Condensing combi gas boilers are one of the most popular in the UK today, and you can take out combi gas boiler cover to protect yours today.

System Boilers

These are popular in households with more than one bathroom, they take their water directly from the mains, like a combi boiler. However, they need a hot water cylinder to store the water, and they directly heat the central heating system. System boilers are a modern and space-saving alternative to a regular boiler because many of the components are stored within the boiler.

Regular Boiler

This is a generic name for the older style boiler systems. Also known as a conventional boiler and traditional boiler. These boilers require a cold-water storage tank to feed them and a hot water cylinder to store the hot water they produce.

Boiler service, does each boiler type have different requirements?

The basic requirements of each of these boiler types for a boiler service do not differ greatly.

However, for combi boilers, where the main components are situated within the boiler, the boiler service should be quicker. For regular boilers where the pump, expansion vessel and hot water cylinder are situated outside the boiler, the service may take longer. Similarly, although System boilers contain the major components within the boiler, the hot water cylinder, which stores the hot water produced by the boiler, is likely to be situated elsewhere.

Condensing boilers, which may combi or system may need more frequent servicing than other boiler types that do not use condensing methods to process their combustible materials, most commonly gas or oil. The main reason for this is the condensate pipe, which is vulnerable to freezing. Well maintained boilers that are operated optimally are the best way of avoiding this inconvenience, which can result in no heat and hot water, and a costly boiler repair.

Regular servicing ensures that the boiler is working at a level that minimises the chances of the condensate pipe freezing. It is often recommended by industry professionals that this type of boiler is best run constantly, rather than starting and stopping, particularly in the winter months. This will ensure the condensate pipe is kept at a warm enough temperature to avoid freezing.

Another fail-safe is to set the room stat or boiler control at a level that ensures the boiler will fire up when the temperature falls and freezing of the condensate pipe is a possibility. Running the heating constantly is like to alleviate central heating running costs slightly, but this will be less than the repairs necessary of the condensate pipe is not kept warm.