Best LPG Boilers: Read BEFORE Upgrading [Small, Med & Large Homes]

Choosing your Boiler

We have put together the following guideline below, which should help:

Property Size                    |     No. of Bathrooms    |     No. of Radiators    |     kW

Smaller [1-2 bedrooms]                        1                               10 or less                24kW-27kW

Mid Sized [3-4 bedrooms]                    1-2                             8-15                        28kW-34kW

Large Homes                                          2+                             15-20                      35kW-42kW

As we said above it is a guideline, if you have ‘extra’ living space like a converted loft, conservatories or ensuites and shower rooms, it’s all going to play a part in the decision making process.

LPG boilers are simple – they heat and deliver hot water. So if you have a bigger demand for hot water you’ll require a bigger boiler to service that demand. 

What Kind of LPG Boiler Do I Need?

Easy to choose from as there are only 3 types of LPG boilers:

• Combination Boiler [‘Combi’]
• System Boiler
• Regular Boiler

If you are looking to save a few quid, then our advice is stick to the boiler ‘type’ that’s already installed in your home. Changing would require upgrades to the unit itself, flues, pipework and maybe where it’s housed. 

With that said, if your boiler does not have sufficient power, in the first place or you have had an extension – then upgrade. But you don’t necessarily have to upgrade boiler type from say a combi to a system you’ll only need to ‘upgrade’ in kW. So say from 24kW to 28kW. Happy?

It’s horses for courses, so let’s go through the different boiler ‘types’ in more detail so everyone is on the same page, as not to throw a spanner in the works but there are instances when an upgraded boiler type [combi to system boiler for example] could be beneficial…

LPG Combi Boiler 

Combination boilers heat water on demand, i.e ‘there and then’ – exactly when it’s required. So with a combi you won’t have a cylinder or hot water tank [often located in your loft]. So the positives are space saving.  

The ‘negatives’ of combi boilers is, in terms of hot water, you could see a drop off during usage. Run a long shower and some taps whilst the central heating is on and you could see a drop off. 

Typically what you see fitted into homes with 1-4 bedrooms are condensing LPG boilers, these are without doubt the most popular. And with good reason as they are fairly well priced and 9 times out of 10, they are all you will need.  

Do you have more than 4 bedrooms? [or greater hot water demand than average, i.e 2 bathrooms?]

Ok, in that case you are probably going to require a system boiler, as a combi won’t be able to keep up with the demand. Or you’ll have to install a HUGE and expensive combi just to keep pace, which could be unnecessary. 

A system boiler will heat water up in advance ready for usage later on, meaning you’ll have no issues with heating your home, running taps and having 2 showers running at once.

LPG System Boilers

System boilers are more suited to larger properties [2+ bathrooms] as they have a hot water cylinder. So that means you will be able to run more than 1 shower, taps, plus your heating all at once. 

The ‘draw back’ of a system boiler is housing the cylinder, you will obviously need space for that. 

Do I Already Have a System Boiler Installed?

Simple  – do you have a boiler and cylinder but no hot water tank? 

If you only have a boiler and cylinder you currently have a system boiler, so if you are just looking to replace that, crack on you’re squared away. 

But just make sure you have checked the loft for a hot water tank before saying you haven’t got one…! Because if you have got a hot water tank [that is still connected up and working!] you have a ‘Regular’ boiler. 

Regular LPG Boilers

A regular boiler has both a cylinder like a system boiler but also has a hot water tank. So in terms of total space, this type of boiler requires the most. 

So if you have a boiler, cylinder and a hot water tank you currently have a regular boiler. 

Happy with the set up you currently have – then crack on, you simply require a new regular boiler. [provided the cylinder and tank are all in good working order] 

Upgrades…

Now let’s say you wanted to do away with the hot water tank, for whatever reason [you could have converted the loft and no longer have the space] you could then ‘upgrade’ to a system boiler. 

It will mean still having a cylinder but it will also mean you can do away with the hefty hot water tank.

The upshot of upgrading means changes and changes and alterations usually means [not always] more money. But if it saves space it could be well worth it and you can get deals here on system boilers with next day fitting included.