Storage combo boilers are great because you have the option of a wall-hung or floor standing unit. Whichever you choose, your storage boiler provides good hot water pressure (incoming mains depending) even if more than one person is using the hot tap at one time. Storage combi boilers provide hot water even when more than one person is using the tap. Once the correct checks have been done to confirm pressure and flow rate then and only then can the correct storage combi be specified.

But how can you tell if you are buying a storage combination boiler and not a standard wall-hung unit?

An investigation carried out by Which, found some boiler brands misrepresent the features of their combi products, giving you less space and no stored hot water as advertised, so making sure you understand what you are having installed is essential to avoid. Installation is straight forward, whichever model of storage combi boiler you choose, installation is simple, being remarkably like a combination boiler but with the added safety features to comply with G3 building regulations for stored hot water. Both wall and floor standing storage combi boilers installations take about the same time to install as a combination boiler, the main thing to think about when specifying a storage boiler is the space required to either hang it or floor mount it. If you already have a storage cylinder and boiler then either option is viable, and you either end up with a free kitchen cupboard or more space in your airing cupboard.

Do storage combination boilers save more space than a storage combi?

It is true that storage combination boilers are smaller than a storage boiler, and for obvious reasons. The combination boiler has no stored hot water facility so will be regulated to provide a pre-set number of litres per minute at 35 degree rise in temperature from incoming cold water. So even with great water pressure the combination boiler will not give multiple hot water outlets great flow as the flow has to be shared so reduced by half depending on restrictions in pipe work and distance etc. The storage combi however can deliver upwards of 20 litres per minute at 60 degrees, and even though the store is around the 50-litre mark it will deliver up to 180 litres of hot water before the store is depleted and needs replenishing, which will allow a good bath and shower.

Do storage combination boilers use less energy than a combination boiler?

Stored hot water does take less energy to heat than a direct fired combination boiler that heats instantaneously so yes is the answer to that. As for the heating element of either boiler the efficiency is pretty much the same around 92%. This can be improved when implementing a good control strategy like load or weather compensation or range rating your appliance to suit the heat loss of the property.

What are the benefits of storage combination boilers?

• They take up less space than a boiler and separate cylinder delivering the same.
• They require less maintenance than a boiler and cylinder as both are in one unit.
• They are suited to houses with multiple bathrooms and showers.
• They can be sited in a kitchen cupboard
• They can floor mounted in an airing cupboard
• They are above 90% efficient

I hope you find this blog useful and if you do require a new boiler in the future then hopefully you will be armed with the right information to allow you to make the right choice for your home and individual requirements. If you have found this useful and know someone who could benefit from this information then please feel free to share with any friends or colleagues.