What type of boiler is the Intergas Rapid 32 - regular, system or combi?

The Intergas Rapid 32 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.

Would the Intergas Rapid 32 combi boiler be suitable for my house or flat?

Whether this Intergas Rapid 32 Combi boiler is right for where you live depends on its size or "output" level. Size does not mean its physical dimensions - it means how powerful it is.

The output level of a boiler tells you how much power it has to heat the water coming from your taps and warming up your radiators. The higher the output level, the greater the volume of water it can heat up.

If the output (measured in kilowatts) is too high, you'll pay higher gas bills and your water will be piping hot. Too low and the water coming out of your taps and being fed into your radiators will often be lukewarm.

The Intergas Rapid 32 combi outputs at a maximum of 27 kW, so which types of property would this Intergas Rapid 32 Combi boiler be appropriate for?

An experienced boiler engineer would recommend that this Intergas Rapid 32 Combi boiler would be a suitable installation choice for smaller homes and apartments with up to 10 radiators and one bathroom.

With combi boilers like the Intergas Rapid 32, you need to take the flow rate into account as well as the output rate.

Combi boilers draw water from the mains and then instantly heat that water and send it to wherever in your home it's needed. Flow rates, measured in litres per minute, are subject to the mains water pressure in your area. So, for example, if the local mains water pressure is 11 litres per minute and the flow rate of your boiler is 14 litres per minute, the boiler will not be able to process more than 11 litres per minute. The flow rate of this Intergas Rapid 32 Combi boiler is 13 L/m.

If you live in a home with lots of radiators or bathrooms where many people want to use hot water at the same time, a combi boiler may not be able to cope. For reference, a power shower uses about 10 litres of water per minute. If two people want showers at the same time or one person wants a shower and the other hot water from a tap in the kitchen, your boiler may not have a large enough flow rate even if the local mains water pressure is high.

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.

How large is the Intergas Rapid 32?

The dimensions of the Intergas Rapid 32 are TBC mm tall, TBC mm wide, and TBC mm deep.

Is this Intergas boiler condensing or non-condensing?

Condensing gas boilers like the Intergas Rapid 32 are more energy-efficient and choosing one for your home will cut the amount you pay every year for your gas.

They do this by capturing the heat in water vapour condensation and in exhaust gases which would normally be expelled via the flue. They then recycle that heat, returning it to the system to, among other tasks, reheat colder water that is returning to your boiler from your radiators.

Is the combi Intergas Rapid 32 boiler energy efficient?

Concern for the environment is causing more and more homeowners to think about how they heat their homes and its impact on climate change.

Approximately 14% of the UK's greenhouse gas production is caused by our central heating systems. The gas boilers in larger urban areas of Britain are mainly responsible for emissions of toxic nitrogen dioxide.

Is the Intergas Rapid 32 combi boiler an environmentally friendly choice for your home? Here’s what the figures say.

Boilers manufactured in the UK must be tested and, by law, achieve an energy efficiency rating of 92% or above, equivalent to a SEDBUK "A" grade. Most boilers achieve an "A" rating meaning they are at least 88% efficient.

The energy efficiency of a boiler indicates the amount of energy it uses (and wastes) during operation.

The Intergas Rapid 32 has been assigned an efficiency rating of 93% with a SEDBUK rating of "A".

In 2015, the Energy Related Products Directive (ERP) came into force. The legislation applies to all products that consume energy in production, during their active life, and at the point of final disposal.

The ERP was introduced to incentivise manufacturers to create products that emitted fewer harmful gases with the larger aim of protecting the wider environment.

The Intergas Rapid 32 has been awarded an ERP rating of "A" for heat and "A" for water.

How long is the warranty period on the Intergas Rapid 32 combi boiler?

The manufacturer offers a parts and labour warranty of 3 years on the Intergas Rapid 32 boiler to new customers.