a heatinghot water system with no boiler cylinder which type is it?

Question

can anyone help i have viewed a house with regards to a house exchange, the lady showed us the airing cupboard but there was no boiler she said the house didnt have a boiler, also that the hot water was hot constantly can anyone tell me if this is correct and what type of heating system is it, she also had a power shower fitted but i didnt checked it worked does anyone know what this type of heating/hot water system it is

Answer 1

The high efficiency condensing combi or combination boiler is an ingenious space-saving idea, and an increasingly popular choice in UK homes. In fact, combis now account for well over half of all the new domestic boilers installed in Britain every year.

The major difference between a combi and any other type of boiler is that a combi eliminates the need to store hot water -- so no hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard. It is both a high-efficiency water heater and central heating boiler, combined (hence the name) within one compact unit which usually sits in the kitchen or utility room, or sometimes in the airing cupboard. The space savings result from the fact there is no hot water storage cylinder, cold water storage cistern or other familiar components of a regular (conventional) heating system.

The further benefits of this are a significant saving on hot water costs, and the fact that hot water is delivered through your taps or shower at mains pressure. So you can enjoy powerful showering* without the need for a pump. Another combi benefit is that it can generally save you money on installation time and costs -- no tanks in the roof space means less pipe work and a shorter installation time.

Answer 2

It sounds like the system we have - it's called a combi boiler. Basically, it heats the water only as you use it, so there is no need for a hot water tank.

The main advantage is that you have instant hot water 24-hours a day and for a single person or couple, a combi boiler will probably be cheaper to run than a conventional one. In the winter, it heats the house the same way as a conventional boiler.

Answer 3

I don't have a boiler as such. I have district heating which is provided by the council. My hot water is always boiling and I also have an electric powered shower which works from the same system It's a lot more economical than gas. If you are so concerned can't you give the lady either a ring or another visit and ask her? Good luck with the move. I moved last year and it was a flippin' nightmare.

Answer 4

If its what I think it is then its called a "tank-less" hot water heater. There is no hot water tank at all. There is a small unit hanging on a wall somewhere where the water comes in, runs though tubing while its being heated by a burner. The water is constantly being heated as it passes through instead of the burner heating a whole tank of water. It only heats the water when you turn on the hot water faucet.

This is a lot more efficient and costs less to operate, less chance of water leaks, and takes up a lot less room in the house.
It's a lot more complicated that it sounds here but this is the jist of it.

There is another smaller form of this called an "on-demand" water heater. Its a small water tank that gets heated by an electric coil, usually mounted under the sink with its own tap. You get steaming how water in seconds but its not for the whole house.

Answer 5

Its a combi boiler...usually runs on gas...heats the water instantly and also used to heat central heating system...very ecomomical....only downside is if you are running a bath, having a shower, and trying to do the washing up all at the same time, then it will run cold...also applianes further from the boiler take longer to get hot water....otherwise very good.

Answer 6

Combi boiler