Sealed and vented are two Central Heating System variations

Before you get a central heating system you need to understand what type of system and boiler you will need. This page will help you to picture the options available to you. The primary variances are determined by gas boiler type although this will influence the other system constituents.

Air conditioning systems are not yet a standard feature in homes whereas every northern European dwelling house is built with a form of central heating. The bulk of new houses that are being built in this day and age are built with a Central Heating System.

Having become used to modern amenities we cannot do without a heating system. Heating your dwelling house provides a relaxing and cosy aura. Hot water output is another important role in the life of a central heating system. Your Central Heating System needs to be dependable. You will want an efficient system that runs in the background without any niggling failures.

You will find two primary system forms, vented and sealed central heating systems.

The pumped/vented system is most often seen. You will find that this configuration contains a feed and expansion tank in addition to a hot water cylinder. The tank makes way for any water expansion that is induced by the heating process. If you look for the expansion tank in an existing system you will most commonly find it in the attic.

As thinking develops sealed systems are now more normally being installed in homes. A sealed system, as the name suggests is a closed system so no water tanks are needed. The role of the water feed tank is now provided by the cold water mains. This eliminates the requirement for any piping or central heating water tanks in the loft, the whole system is sealed, its unvented, which has its benefits:

- taking out the copper pipes from the loft takes out any risk of them freezing

- your upkeep requirements are reduced as there are fewer constituents

- less pipework and joints to leak

- reduced risk of air locks, corrosion and sludge as there isn’t a chance of air being drawn down into the system through open vents as the system is sealed

Normal variations of pressure can be permitted in a sealed system through a pressure vessel that holds compressed gas. A escape valve will open if the pressure is higher than advocated. Similarly cold water is allowed into the system if the pressure is lower than the advocated level.