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Solar Thermal System Selector

Below are the main four different household configurations of heating systems. Simply look below and carefully decide which category your existing home heating and hot water system fits into and then click on the appropriate system type diagram. You will then be able to see the various system options available. This types should cover 95% of systems however there are some strange anomalies around which we do encounter from time to time, if you cannot decide which set up your home firs into then please do contact us.

Combination or Combi Boiler

WITH NO Existing Hot Water Cylinder

A combination boiler heats water for the central heating in the same way as a conventional boiler but can also provide the taps with instant hot water. The main difference is that the hot water for the taps is fed directly from the mains rather than from a hot water storage cylinder. This can also be useful in a small property where space for a cylinder is at a premium. The internal workings are increasingly technical and can be perceived as unreliable but are becoming more accepted. Other than the lack of an airing cupboard one problem can be that in the event of a breakdown the user can be without both heating and hot water whereas on a conventional system an electric immersion element can usually be inserted into the cylinder to provide hot water for the taps. With a combination boiler, hot water and central heating requirements are provided from the one unit. As well as providing central heating water into the radiators, it provides all of the domestic water for baths, sinks, and showers.

The big advantage with a combination boiler, or a "combi" as it is usually called, is that it not only delivers continuous hot water, but more importantly delivers it at mains pressure too. So, with a combi system you can have a really effective shower without needing an expensive "Power Shower" booster pump.

Combis are also considered to be amongst the easiest systems to install, because they eliminate the need for both an expansion tank in the loft and a hot water cylinder in an airing cupboard. The combi does have limitations. Most standard combis take 40 seconds to heat water.

Conventional, System Boilers

WITH AN UNVENTED Hot Water Cylinder

The important thing to note is if your existing cylinder is vented or un vented. Conventional, condensing & system boiler’s despite being very different are often installed in a variety of ways and can be configured for both. An un vented cylinder will be providing mains pressure hot water (directly from your mains) and will have no cistern storage tank, normally in the loft. A vented cylinder will provide gravity fed hot water from a cistern storage tank, normally in your loft.

Conventional Boilers

In a conventional boiler gas jets play onto a cast iron heat exchanger through which water passes to be heated. If used to supply taps, hot water cannot be provided on demand but must be stored, usually in a copper cylinder. This type of boiler has relatively simple controls and tends to be more reliable as less can go wrong. Energy consumption can be high but the cost of this is moderated by the low maintenance costs. They are versatile in that they can be used in almost any type of property and can be pumped or gravity fed.

System Boilers

Like conventional boilers, a system boiler can provide central heating and hot water from a cylinder if required. The key difference with a system boiler is that all the major components are built in to the boiler. For example the pump, normally installed remote from the boiler, in built in; so is the expansion vessel, which replaces the feed/expansion tank often installed in the loft. The safety valve, the automatic air vent and even the programmer are also included. With these components built in installation time is reduced significantly, fewer materials are required, costs are reduced and servicing is simplified. The added bonus of a "dry loft" removes the worry of any leak or frost damage to tanks and pipe work.

Conventional, System Boilers

WITH A VENTED Hot Water Cylinder

The diagram opposite shows a typical vented cylinder set up. You can see the cistern storage tanks in the loft feeding the cylinder below with water, the central heating is being served from a fill & expansion (F&E) tank in the loft.

Condensing Boilers

A Condensing boiler uses modern technology to maximise the fuel efficiency of either a conventional or combination system.

The boiler is designed so that the cooler water returning from the radiators is passed through a secondary heat exchanger to be warmed by the hot flue gases which are normally expelled in to the air. The warmer water is then sent back to the radiators.

It is known as a Condensing boiler because the water from these flue gases condenses' in the secondary heat exchanger and drains away at the bottom of the boiler.

Condensing boilers are becoming increasingly popular as dramatic savings can be made on fuel consumption.

Remeha offer exceptional energy efficiency, reliability and performance. As main UK Merchants Solar Essence recommends the Remeha Avanta Range of SEDBUK ‘A’ high efficiency gas condensing combination, system and heating boilers representing Remeha’s new seventh generation in domestic condensing boiler development. The Avanta Range makes use of the latest domestic boiler technology to create one of the most compact boilers available on the market.

Electric - No Radiators or Boiler

VENTED OR UNVENTED Water Cylinder

The electric hot water cylinder uses an electric immersion heater to heat the water. You may have one or two immersions. If you have two immersion heaters this would normally indicate that you have the benefit of low rate electricity, such as economy 7 or economy 10. The top immersion would act as your boost that you can use in the day, the bottom immersion would no doubt be on a timer to come on at night time when you the benefit of a lower tariff of electricity.

Equally your cylinder may be vented or un vented, the diagram opposite shows a vented electric only cylinder. The important thing here to note is that you will not have any wet radiator system, and no boiler. Your heating will come from either electric wall heaters or maybe a gas warm air system.

Electric hot water only systems are generally known to be very expensive to run.

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