Having both an immersion heater and a boiler in your home can be puzzling, but they serve different purposes, and in many homes, they complement each other. Here’s why you might have both:
1. Backup Hot Water Supply
- Boilers are typically the main source of hot water, heating water through a central system. However, if the boiler fails or needs maintenance, the immersion heater can act as a backup to provide hot water.
- Immersion heaters are electric water heaters found inside a hot water cylinder, so if your boiler isn't working, the immersion heater ensures you still have hot water by heating the water directly in the cylinder.
2. Flexibility for Energy Use
- Some homes use the immersion heater during periods of off-peak electricity tariffs, such as Economy 7, where electricity is cheaper during certain hours (usually overnight). This allows you to heat water more cost-effectively during off-peak times, even if the boiler is the primary source of hot water during the day.
- Having both systems gives you flexibility to choose the most energy-efficient method of heating water depending on your needs and the energy prices.
3. Different Water Heating Systems
- If you have a system boiler or a regular boiler with a hot water cylinder, the boiler heats the water stored in the cylinder for use throughout the house. An immersion heater is often installed in the cylinder as an alternative or backup option.
- In homes with a combi boiler (which heats water on demand), you might still have an immersion heater if there’s a separate water storage cylinder.
4. Energy-Efficient Hot Water Management
- Using both systems together can improve the efficiency of hot water management in some cases. For example, the immersion heater could be used to quickly top up the hot water if the cylinder runs out during high demand.
5. Older or Larger Properties
- Some older homes or larger properties may have both an immersion heater and a boiler installed as part of a legacy system or for greater capacity, particularly where the boiler may not provide enough hot water for larger households.
Conclusion
In summary, you likely have both an immersion heater and a boiler because they provide backup hot water, energy efficiency, and flexibility in how you heat water. The boiler is typically the main source of hot water, while the immersion heater ensures you have hot water if the boiler fails or allows you to take advantage of off-peak energy rates.
