At MAP Mechanical there isn’t much we haven’t worked on before and what sets us apart from the rest is the fact we can install every type of system, which allows us to choose a system with our clients which will be not only the best suited to their needs but the most efficient and reliable, saving thousands of pounds in the long run.

Natural Gas

Commonly found in most properties and buildings, this is the most common form of fuel. We install all types of systems including combi boilers, system boilers, regular boilers and gas heaters.

LPG

LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) is commonly found in more remote areas where there is no access to natural gas, such as farms, remote pubs and restaurants. LPG is often used to solely provide gas for a kitchen hob if another heat source is used for the rest of the building. Delivered by companies such as Calor, you can choose the size of your storage tank or bottles to suit. The shipping company can be alerted automatically when you are low, who then deliver without the need for you to check. All the boilers we install can be changed from natural gas or LPG to suit.

Oil

Similar to LPG, oil systems are often found in remote areas, although we also work on quite a few in built up areas. Modern oil boilers are much more efficient and not as dirty as they used to be, meaning they don’t have to be put as far away from the house as possible to avoid the smell of oil. Maintenance is key for oil boilers and we offer full aftercare. Boilers can be installed inside or outside the property. We also offer a vast range of oil tanks to allow the installation whether in a tight space or under a low height frame. All the oil tanks we fit are to BS standard and are bunded. A watchman can be fitted to alert when oil is running low.

Most common systems

Combi boilers

Most commonly found in smaller domestic properties with fewer bathrooms, combi boilers offer instant and continuous hot water.

Storage combi

Storage combis give the option of a higher flow rate than standard combi boilers by using a preheated cylinder on the side of the boiler. These can be wall hung and are a great option if there isn’t the room for a floor-mounted cylinder.

System boilers

System boilers are often used in bigger properties and most commonly paired up with an unvented cylinder. A secondary hot return pipe means if the property is big and has various bathrooms it will provide instant hot water to the bathrooms and basins so there is no water wastage whilst waiting for the water to get hot.

Regular boilers

Regular boilers are most commonly found in older properties where they still have header tanks in the loft. These are for non-sealed systems where the pressure is lower. However, we do use these when there is a concern about pressurizing older pipework or when there are other fuel sources used such as solid fires that have a back boiler.

What is a sealed system?

A sealed system is where the water in the system is pressured to a set point (often 1.5 bar) it is then dosed with an inhibitor to protect the system. This type of system is less likely to corrode due to the lack of fresh oxygen and is what is most commonly recommended. The use of an expansion vessel for taking up the expansion of the water is used and checked annually.

What is an open vented system?

An open vented system is used when the header tank is situated at the highest point of the building. Rather than using an expansion vessel, the water expands up the feed and expansion pipe. It is more open to corrosion but is lower in pressure and is often the preferred choice for older systems.

Smart controlling

There are many smart control options ranging from the standard options of Nest and Hive to a fully integrated BMS system. The benefits of smart controlling is the flexibility and efficiency this offers. It means your system can learn how the property heats up and knows the most efficient way of heating. An example of this is assuming you want your building to be at 21 degrees at 8:00, a smart controller may bring your heating on slowly at 6:00 which increases the temperature slowly and more efficiently. You can liken this to getting in your car and driving 100 mph to the shop – if you had got in earlier and driven at 30mph you would use far less fuel. The further benefits of controllers such as Nest is the fact they can be switched on via devices such as Alexa or an app on a phone.

Why switch from a non-condensing boiler to a more modern condensing boiler?

With effect from April 2005, new boilers installed have to be condensing in the vast majority of buildings. Condensing boilers set up properly can instantly save 20% on gas consumption. With gas prices rising, people are now more aware just how much gas they are using. There has never been a better time to switch to a more efficient boiler.

What to look for when choosing a new boiler

We pride ourselves on offering a range of boilers and systems to suit everyone’s needs and budgets. With such a big range on the market it’s hard to know what to choose. Our experienced team can show you exactly what the benefits of each boiler are and the types of efficiency you can expect. Things such as stainless steel heat exchangers and modulation of boilers affect the efficiency and life of your boiler. It really does pay in the long run to ensure you have the right boiler and controls.