Residential Gas Combination Boilers - Dual-purpose Hydronic Heating & Tankless Hot Water
Combi-boilers combine the functionality of traditional gas boilers with tankless hot water heater to provide a 2-in-1 solution, saving you both capital costs and precious floor space. Our selection of the best available in condensing gas combination boiler technology means you can shop easy, knowing that all of our models are trusted brands and reliably built to last!
Did you know that we specialize in designing, building, and installing custom boiler systems? Contact us to learn how we can help you with your new boiler system or upgrade!
What is a combi-boiler system?
A combi-boiler is a combination heating and hot water system that provides the benefits of a tankless hot water system with the hydronic heating capabilities of a boiler.
A combination boiler system is a great solution for homes that have a hydronic heating solution, such as in-floor radiant heating or radiators, and also require an on-demand hot water system.
What is a Hydronic Heating System?
A hydronic heating system is any home heating system that uses a heated or cooled fluid circulated through a closed circuit. When heating, the heated fluid, most times a water or glycol mixture for lower freezing points in Canada, transfers the heat energy to the home or air inside the home. This transfer of energy can occur in a number of ways, the most common hydronic heating systems include one or more of the following:
- Radiant heaters
- Baseboard heaters
- In-floor radiant heating
- Hydronic furnaces
What are the benefits of a combi-boiler system?
Some of the benefits of using a modern condensing gas combi-boiler include:
- Purchase & installation costs for only 1 appliance (instead of a separated boiler and water heater)
- Reduced intake & exhaust pipes due to a single, high efficiency appliance
- Combi-boilers tend to be quite efficient, capable of achieving AFUE ratings of 95%
- Save precious floor space with a single unit!
Is a combi-boiler efficient?
Modern combi-boilers function much the same as condensing gas boilers or condensing gas tankless water heaters, both of which are efficient methods to heat your home or provide domestic hot water (DHW).
Gas condensing boilers, tankless water heaters, and combi-boilers are often also Energy Star Rated, the golden standard for indicating energy efficient appliances across North America.
Can you help me design and size a custom combi-boiler system?
We sure can! In fact, one of our key focuses over the past 15 years has been in the sizing, design, and installation of custom boiler systems. This includes all the lines, valves, bypasses, pumps, thermostats, and controls required. If required, we can even pre-assemble your boiler board and factory test your boiler system prior to shipment from our facilities.
Can I get a propane combi-boiler system?
Yes, for sure! Most of our gas combi-boilers, tankless water heaters, and central boilers are field convertible from natural gas to propane. Contact us directly for more information about converting your combi-boiler unit.
Which combi boiler is the best?
This all depends on what YOU are looking for. Some considerations that will impact what is the best combi-boiler may include:
- How large is your home or area to heat?
- What are your hot water needs?
- How many zones are being heated?
- Do you require a built-in hot water recirc pump?
- Personal budget considerations
- Local servicing or spare parts availability (not usually a problem for our offered brands, but something to consider nonetheless)
Which combi-boiler brand is the best?
Unfortunately, we don’t have a clear winner here, because what is best for one situation may not be for another. What we can say is that all the brands offered through BPH Sales offer high-quality, reliable products. Our product brands include:
Bosch Thermotechnology - a long-time favourite brand synonymous with high quality & innovative products
Viessmann - Comfort & Peace of Mind with Canada's Most Innovative Systems
Navien - Canada's #1 brand for condensing tankless water heaters and wall-hung boilers
How much does a combi-boiler cost?
This all depends on the needs and complexity of your heating system, as well as how much DHW you may need (rated in GPM). Do you require a multi-zone heating system, with separate thermostats, valves, and controls? Will you be heating only one system (such as in-floor heating), or will you use the boiler for multiple hydronic heating solutions in parallel (such as in-floor heating plus a hydronic furnace)? Do you have only one shower, or do you need to run a couple showers or laundry machines at once?
In general, for just the combi-boiler itself, you can expect to pay anywhere from $4,000 for a low-end brand to upwards of $6,000 or $7,000 for a premium, high-quality brand like Bosch or Viessmann.
Although the financial savings from investing in a lower end product are tempting at first, we strongly recommend that you invest in a quality brand and product that will save you both money and stress in the future. Breakdowns and replacement parts can be expensive and almost always occur at the worst time possible, such as when it is -30ᵒC outside during Christmas holidays.
Can I use a combi-boiler for in-floor radiant heating?
Absolutely! In fact, a boiler system is the most common way to heat an in-floor heating system. A hydronic heating system, using a gas boiler or combi-boiler, most often has significantly lower operating costs than an equivalent electric heating system.
Can I use a combi-boiler with my central heat pump system?
Definitely. You can use your combi-boiler in almost all the same ways you would use a central boiler.
What sizes of combi-boilers are available?
We have a selection of the best residential boilers available in Canada from leading brands like Bosch, Viessmann, and Navien. There are many sizes available with differing sizes for heating capacity, DHW capacity, or both!
Where are combi-boiler systems and custom boiler solutions available?
Combi-boiler systems and custom boiler board solutions are available across Canada!