Is the Intergas Rapid 25 a system, regular or combi boiler?

The Intergas Rapid 25 is worthy of consideration if you're looking for a combi boiler for your flat or house.

Traditional boilers have one or more large tanks in which they store either heated water or water to be heated later. Manufacturers originally introduced combi boilers to the market in the 1970s to enable homeowners to save space - UK residential properties are among the smallest in the Western world.

Combi boilers don't need these tanks because they draw water directly from the mains and instantly heat it on demand thanks to the technology inside the boiler. Combi boilers then distribute this hot water to your home’s taps and radiators when needed.

The most significant disadvantage of combi boilers is that they are not ideal in larger homes where multiple people might want hot water at the same time – for example, if someone is having a shower while another wants to wash dishes in the kitchen. This is because combi boilers have a maximum volume of water that they can heat. When two people want hot water at the same time, the water temperature, pressure and volume delivered to both points drop.

Is the Intergas Rapid 25 combi boiler a suitable choice for my property?

It's best to choose a boiler whose size or "output" is right for your property. With boilers, however, size does not mean how big a boiler is, it means how much power it has.

A boiler’s output indicates the amount of power it can use when heating the water which it then sends to your taps and radiators. The higher the output rate, the more water it can heat.

If a boiler’s output is too low, there will be times when your hot water might not be as hot as you want it to be. If it is too high, you’ll likely be paying more than you need to for your gas.

Measured in kilowatts, the Intergas Rapid 25 combi's output level is 25 kW, so which types of property would this Intergas Rapid 25 Combi boiler be an appropriate choice for?

An experienced heating engineer would say that this Intergas Rapid 25 Combi boiler's level of output makes it a suitable installation for smaller homes and apartments with up to 10 radiators and one bathroom.

When choosing a combi boiler like the Intergas Rapid 25, you need to consider the "flow rate" as well as the output rate. Flow rates (measured in litres per minute) indicate the volume of hot water that the boiler can heat up and then distribute to your taps and radiators.

However, combi boilers draw water from the mains and this means they can only heat the amount of water that actually enters your property.

What this means is that, if your mains pressure is 12 litres per minute, that is your boiler's effective flow rate even if it has the capacity to process 18 litres per minute. This Intergas Rapid 25 Combi boiler's flow rate is 11 L/m.

To give you an idea of the flow rate you might need, a power shower typically requires around 12 litres of water per minute and a basin tap requires 4-8 litres per minute.

When our engineer comes out to quote you, they may recommend that you choose a heat only boiler or system boiler instead if your family's demand for hot water is higher than normal.

The size of the Intergas Rapid 25

The Intergas Rapid 25 has the following dimensions - TBC mm high, TBC mm wide, and TBC mm deep.

Is the Intergas Rapid 25 condensing or non-condensing?

We recommend that, if possible, you select one of the very latest condensing gas boilers on the market like the Intergas Rapid 25.

Condensing boilers are better for the environment because they capture and recycle the heat still present in flue exhaust gases and water vapour condensation for re-use, meaning lower greenhouse gas emissions.

They're also a lot cheaper to run meaning that, if you're replacing a very old and inefficient boiler, the savings on your gas bill over 5-10 years add up to more than you pay for the boiler itself.

What energy efficiency ratings have been awarded to the Intergas Rapid 25 combi?

How we heat our homes has become a pressing issue of concern for many homeowners worried about climate change and the environmental impact of their personal choices.

With central heating being responsible for 14% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, your choice of boiler matters. Gas boilers are also responsible for the significant atmospheric volumes of dangerous nitrogen dioxide emissions in larger British cities.

Would the environmental impact of installing a Intergas Rapid 25 combi in your home be positive? Let's look at the numbers.

The energy efficiency rating for a boiler describes the amount of energy it uses and wastes during operation and there are two different ways to measure it.

All boilers manufactured and supplied in the UK must have a SEDBUK rating of “A” subject to a minimum energy efficiency score of 92% or above. Before April 2018, the minimum energy efficiency score was 88% (88/89% = "B" SEDBUK rating, 90%+ = "A" SEDBUK rating).

The Intergas Rapid 25 scored an efficiency rating of 93% and a SEDBUK band rating of A.

The Energy Related Products Directive (ERP) intends to reduce the amount of energy consumed by individual products over their entire lifetime, from the initial manufacturing process to final disposal and at all points in between.

The legislation is designed to encourage manufacturers to create products that are more environmentally friendly and which result in a reduction in harmful gas emissions.

The ERP rating for the Intergas Rapid 25 is "A" for heat and "A" for hot water production.

Is this Intergas Rapid 25 combi covered by a warranty?

The parts and labour warranty offered with this Intergas Rapid 25 Combi boiler covers you for 3 years.