OK, I'm one of those peasants that tossed the tea in the harbor and all that (or least descended from them) and keep noticing the term combi boiler in a lot of questions here.I've concluded that this term refers to a boiler that supplies heating hot water and domestic hot water. Correct?Can anyone explain the mechanics? Does the appliance use a single heat exchanger, recirculating heating water but supplying domestic hot water via a diverter valve and make up water?Or are separate heat exchangers employed, heated by common burner, to feed each plumbing set?Thanks in advance!
you can check a few websites and you will see that there are a few different methods. But all things considered a combiboiler for a house is a waste of money when you consider todays cost cutting alternatives such as the new demand types.
RC.. I never heard of these either til I started on here.It seems that all the inquiries on these (and there is a lot!) come from UK. They'll have to excuse us Yanks, but from all we hear about heating overseas , it's really fascinating!
ok, I'm not a heating engineer but as far as I know it works as follows, The heating section works as a conventional boiler. Then there is a seperate heat exchanger for the hot water. This section is operated by a 3way valve, as there is a demand for hot water ( open the tap), the valve switches the waterflow from the radiators to the hot water heat exchanger. And presto, hot H2O. Length of travel for the hot water determens efficiency and users satisfaction. There are also system boilers on the market, I have one. These have a seperate circuit for heating the domestic hot water cylinder, and keep this heated by the same mechanics, ie if the temperature drops in the cylinder due to use of hot water, the sensor activates the valve in the boiler to reheat the water in the cylinder. Hope this is of any use to you
