How Do Regular Boilers Work?

When it comes to our home heating, one of the first questions we often ask is, “What type of boiler do I actually have?” This is closely followed by, “How does it work?”

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about regular boilers (also known as conventional or heat-only boilers): how they work, the pros and cons, installation costs, and the main alternatives you might want to consider.

When you obtain a quote through the WarmZilla website, we will automatically help you identify your current boiler type. If you’re still unsure, our friendly Operations Team is available to assist you via live chat. Not only will we confirm the system you have, but we’ll also suggest the best replacement options for your home – including the costs of switching systems (for example, replacing an old regular boiler with a new combi boiler).

You can also utilise our Boiler Comparison Tool, which allows you to compare up to three different models side by side. You can even stack your current boiler against newer options to see which ones deliver better efficiency, reliability, and value.

Now, let’s dive in…

What is a regular boiler?

Regular boiler systems, also known as conventional, traditional, heat only or open vent boilers, are the most difficult to install or replace. A regular boiler includes both a hot and cold water storage tank, the boiler itself and an expansion cistern located next to the cold water tank.

Although a regular boiler can provide a large volume of hot water for multiple bathrooms in your home, this type of boiler system does take up quite a bit of space in a home. For those with smaller homes and limited space, we recommended looking into combi boilers instead.

Regular boilers are becoming less and less common as they are less efficient than newer combi and system boilers. They also require more space as mentioned above, as more parts, which means that potentially more could go wrong with your boiler.

On the other hand, regular (conventional) boilers are ideal for anyone in an area with low water pressure.

How do regular boilers work?

With regular, or conventional boilers as some prefer to call them, the cold water from the mains is sent to be heated up in the hot water storage cylinder, which then feeds into the household’s taps and showers.

Regular boilers are either sealed or open vented. In sealed systems, the boiler doesn’t have a feed and expansion tank and is closed to the atmosphere, whereas open vented systems are open to atmospheric pressure and do have a feed and expansion tank, helping to accommodate water loss from leakage or evaporation. The water tank, which is typically installed in the highest place in your home (normally the attic) maintains the right water level whilst a pump circulates the hot water to your home’s radiators.

Before purchasing a new boiler, it is important that you choose the right boiler for your home, to ensure that your home is heating efficiently without any energy wastage. The wrong type of boiler can lead to high energy bills and long delays in hot water reaching your taps and showers.

Regular/ conventional boilers have the ability to heat homes with up to 7+ bedrooms and more than one bathroom. If your home is large in size, you can still enjoy hot water from all outlets without the flow of water getting weaker.

Unlike combi boilers, regular boilers heat incoming water to then be stored in a hot water cylinder for later use.

Outside of exceptional circumstances, all boilers installed in the UK must be condensing, which means that if you install a conventional boiler today, it will be a condensing boiler.

Condensing boilers extract heat from flue gases (which would otherwise escape into the atmosphere) and recycle it, which helps save energy and money in the process.

In addition, most regular boilers are also compatible with solar water heating systems, making them ideal for environmentally-conscious homeowners. An increased level of fuel efficiency in your home heating system can help you to save money and reduce your carbon footprint.

How do I know if a regular boiler is right for my home?

There are a few ways to tell if a conventional boiler is suitable for your home. The most obvious way to tell is the current layout of your central heating system. If your home only has a boiler, and hot water cylinder installed but doesn’t have a loft-installed tank, your current boiler is a regular boiler. Like-for-like regular boiler swaps tend to be a lot easier for engineers.

Regular boilers are the most traditional form of heating in the UK. Although they are still in use today, their popularity has fallen recently in favour of combi boilers. Despite this, a regular boiler could still serve your heating needs effectively.

There is also a feed and expansion tank, located in your loft, which is filled with water. It keeps your heating system’s water levels relatively constant. It also incorporates a safety device whereby if there is too much hot water in the system it will fill the tank then exit through the overflow.

Bear in mind that the decision to buy the right conventional boiler depends on a few factors; how much you want to spend, what brand of boiler you like, the setup of your current boiler, and the size of your home.

You can take our online survey to get an instant and free quote for a brand new boiler. Just answer a few simple questions and you will find the best conventional boiler that suits your needs. Don’t forget to check out our Boiler Comparison Tool, where you can compare up to 3 boilers side-by-side to help you find the right conventional boiler for your home.

What are the benefits of a regular boiler?

• Regular boilers can supply hot water to two or more bathrooms at the same time and it won’t affect water pressure or heating.
• An immersion heater can be fitted to the hot water tank to ensure you can still get hot water in the case of a boiler breakdown.
• Regular boilers are suitable for homes that suffer from low water pressure.
• Compatible with solar energy sources in the same way as a system boiler.

What are the disadvantages of having a regular boiler?

• The amount of space the boiler and tanks take up is impractical, particularly for smaller homes or flats.
• Limited hot water up to the volume of your hot water storage tank.
• A hot water tank loses heat, no matter how well insulated.
• Difficult to install, only suitable as a replacement for another regular boiler system.

Are you interested in getting a regular (heat only) boiler, but you’re unsure which model is best for your home? Look no further! We have a Best Regular Boiler Brands blog that could help!

When buying a conventional boiler, just like with other types, there are several brands and models available. Each has different features that are built into the unit, as well as varying output capacities. If you’re unsure what kW boiler you need for your home, or what kW output means when it comes to your boiler, don’t panic, we have separate blogs that cover this.

Although it is important to take a careful look at what features you want with your boiler, you should also get a clear idea of the prices. This way, you’ll be well-informed, setting yourself up to make the best decision for your conventional boiler. This leads us on to our next section, the cost of regular boilers.

Alternatives to regular boilers

Conventional boilers aren’t the most effective choice for every household. They require more space than every other boiler, which is why smaller properties might benefit from installing a combi boiler or a system boiler instead.

Combi boilers are an all-in-one home heating solution operating from one heating unit. They don’t need a tank or cylinder, making them perfect for smaller homes, and automatically respond to taps being turned on by sending hot water through the system. However, they can’t run hot water to more than one faucet at a time, so if several are used simultaneously, the water pressure is likely to drop.

System boilers are similar to conventional boilers, but they don’t need a loft tank, just a cylinder; all of the key components are actually built into the boiler. This makes them a more intuitive choice for smaller households since the installation will be quicker and easier, while their ability to provide hot water to multiple bathrooms at the same time is great for homes with high water usage and multiple bathrooms.