System Description Advantages Disadvantages

Combi Gas Boiler
A combination (or combi) boiler
combines both heating & hot water
service within a single, compact
unit. There are two main
components: a fuel to water heat
exchanger & a 2ary heat exchanger.
Hot water takes priority over
heating. When a hot water tap is
opened & domestic water flows
through the 2ary part of the heat
exchanger, 1ary heating water is
diverted from space heating circuits
& circulates within the boiler around
the 2 heat exchangers to instantly
heat the domestic water flowing
through. When hot water demand
ceases, the 2ary heat exchanger is
isolated & heat service is once
again available to the central
Heating system.
Mature, proven technology.
Produces Hot water almost
instantaneously.
Give priority to Hot water
production
Also provides space heating
Requires no cylinder so standing
heat losses are eliminated
There is no requirement for a Feed
& expansion Tank
Compact system, so there is more
space in each apartment
More economic to install than
conventional boiler systems
Can be easily replaced
Requires a gas supply, thereby
increasing fire risk in the building
Combi boilers can produce up to
18L/Min of hot water but as they
give priority to HWS demand there
may be fluctuations in space
temperatures e.g. drawing a bath.
There can be a lag while the boiler
heats up.
As there is no cylinder there is no
immersion backup HWS
Typically, they only provide max.
pressure through 1 water supply
outlet at a time

Heat Interface Units (HIUs) Comparatively new technology in

Ireland though there are examplar
projects in both the private & public
sectors
Servicing &maintenance
requirements are minimal when
compared to conventional boilers or
combi-boilers.