Regular Boiler vs. System Boiler: What's the Difference?

When you decide to have a new boiler installed - whether that’s because you’re modernising a property or because your current boiler has packed up for good - you’ll have a lot of decisions to make. The size of your home, your family and even how many bathrooms you have will all impact on which boiler is the best choice for you. When you’re making a decision, you’ll need to think about which brand of boiler to choose, the size to opt for and which type will best suit your needs. 

In this guide, our experienced team gives you the lowdown on regular boilers and system boilers, helping you work out which one will best suit your needs.

What is a regular boiler?

You may hear a regular boiler being referred to as a conventional or traditional boiler, but they mean the same thing. Regular boilers are kind of like the original boiler, so if your home had central heating when you were growing up it was probably powered by a regular boiler. They work alongside a hot water cylinder with an immersion and a cold water tank. The latter is usually situated in the loft. 

With a regular boiler you can programme your hot water and heat for set times, but if you haven’t you’ll have to wait for it to heat your hot water before you have a bath or shower. The hot water then stays in the hot water cylinder for use throughout the day. 

If you have a home with more than one bathroom or a larger family, a regular boiler will probably suit your needs. This is because if you instead opt for a combi boiler you’d only be able to run one hot water source at a time, so couldn’t have a shower while running hot water in the kitchen or other bathroom, for example.

What is a system boiler?

System boilers have been a popular choice in newer homes since they arrived on the market. Like regular boilers, they work along with a hot water cylinder, which is usually situated in an airing cupboard or similar. System boilers don’t require a separate cold water tank though, so are a preferred option for some homeowners, especially if they are planning a loft conversion in the future. 

They’re instead designed with built-in circulating pumps, and are often considered easier to install from scratch as there’s one less component (the water tank) to think about. 

System boilers also need programming for heat and hot water, and don’t offer this instantly. However, the cylinder can keep water hot for use afterwards, so you shouldn’t have to wait around for your bath water so long as you set your timer and have it on long enough to heat the water you’ll need for the day.

Which boiler is right for your home?

Both regular and system boilers are a good option for homes that are bigger or have more than one bathroom. They also suit families with a large demand for hot water because of the cylinder that can store ample amounts. 

System boilers will save you storage, although this may not be an issue if you have plenty of space to spare. If you’re installing from scratch, a system boiler may also be less expensive due to not needing a tank. 

On the other hand, many homes are already set up with a regular boiler, and if the tank is in good condition it won’t need replacing. Changing like for like, if it still suits your needs, is easier in some ways than having to remove the tank. 

Once you’ve chosen between system or regular, you’ll also need to think about the size of boiler to go for. This doesn’t literally mean how big the unit is, but rather refers to its output. Your boiler output indicates how much power it has, and generally speaking, the more hot water and heat you require, the bigger the output you’ll need. So if you have a lot of rooms in your house and use your heating and hot water a lot, you should go for a larger output.

Boiler installation and care in Essex 

At D A Gas, Heating & Plumbing, we serve homes across Bishop's Stortford, Sawbridgeworth, Epping, Stansted, Great Dunmow, Hoddesdon and Ware, providing full boiler installation. Whether you opt for a system boiler, a regular boiler or something else entirely, we will install it with skill and care - always with your safety at the forefront. 

Our team is experienced, professional and Gas Safe registered, so you can be confident we’ll undertake your installation smoothly and safely. 

If you have any questions, would like some more information or wish to arrange a quote then just get in touch. We can be contacted by telephone on 07920 875189 or 01279 316304, by email at dave@dagas.co.uk or by sending a message to our online contact form.