Considering the purchase of a compact boiler? In what situation will such a solution work? We answer – first of all, if you have limited space or are an aesthete and do not want a large tank to interfere with the decor of one of your rooms. If you are interested in such an option, in this article you will learn more about compact boilers.
A compact boiler is a device whose task is to heat water for central heating. Such a description also fits an ordinary dual-purpose boiler. However, to earn the name “compact”, the solution we are discussing must have one more feature, i.e. the storage tank must be built as an integral part of the boiler. Why use such an option? First of all, because of space saving. If you do not want your room to have a separate boiler and cylinder (and this is not an aesthetic solution), then choose the compact version. Especially in the early design stage, you will be able to adapt the entire appearance of the room to the boiler. Maybe it is worth to build it in? A compact boiler is a reduced version of a boiler room. With all the equipment in one place, you don’t need a full boiler room. It is a valuable solution from the point of view of e.g. small houses (which are very popular nowadays).
The principle of operation of a compact boiler does not differ significantly from that of other heating devices. The boiler also has a storage tank (only that it is built-in) and heat exchangers must be used. The basic principle, however, is the use of preheating when drawing water. The heat exchanger must have sufficient surface area to transfer as much heat as possible. The water circulation is forced by pumps. The close proximity of the components means that the water is heated quickly. Direct heating comes in handy if you have an irresistible urge to take a relaxing bath. The right water temperature can be reached very quickly and all that is left for you to do is prepare the foam. A compact boiler is the right choice for you if you want lots of hot water in a short space of time. Wondering why you need a storage tank if you heat water on the fly? The answer is easy. For temporary needs, if for example you use two water intakes at the same time.
We can distinguish between a floor standing boiler with a built-in storage tank and a wall hung boiler with a built-in storage tank. Which one should you choose? The answer is as usual in cases where one solution does not eliminate the other found on the market. It depends. A floor standing boiler takes up a little more space, and if you’re thinking about a compact solution, you may want to avoid that. The advantage is a larger storage tank, which means more storage. The right distinction seems to be that a standing unit will prove better for homes, and a wall-mounted unit for apartments, where you are even more concerned about space. In a wall-mounted boiler, the flow heater will more often have to work, since the contents of the storage tank will be exhausted more often. The second division divides the discussed device by the place of heating water. It can be a coil, and it can be the built-in tank itself. The article deals primarily with the first solution. Its advantage is the absence of an additional pump, and the advantage of the latter is even faster access to hot water, which results from the layering of water in the (compact, but still) tank.
This entire article is intended to give you an idea of the conditions under which you should consider choosing a compact boiler. First of all, space is the deciding factor. A compact boiler saves space. If you do not need very large amounts of water, choose a compact version. However, this solution has its drawbacks. The first of these are higher heat losses and the need to switch the boiler on more often. The compact version is certainly an interesting solution. It’s not the only right option in terms of a boiler, but if it suits your needs, there’s nothing to be afraid of.
