How to choose the right boiler for your home

Combi, system or regular? And how many kW? A plain-English guide.

There are three main types of gas boiler. The right one depends on how many bathrooms you have, how many people use hot water at once, and what's in your loft and airing cupboard now.

Combi boilers

Heat water on demand, so no tank or cylinder. Best for flats and homes with one bathroom. Frees up space and is the cheapest to fit.

System boilers

Store hot water in a cylinder. Better for homes with two or more bathrooms used at once. No loft tank needed.

Regular boilers

Use a cylinder and a cold water tank in the loft. Suit older systems and homes with low mains pressure.

Sizing it

For a combi, around 24kW suits most one-bathroom homes, 30kW suits a bath and separate shower. Bigger isn't always better: an oversized boiler cycles on and off and wastes gas.

Not sure? Answer a few questions in our boiler quote and we'll recommend the right size for your home.