In winter heating and daily hot water supply, wall mounted boilers are commonly used household heating equipment, and their performance and selection directly affect the user experience and energy consumption of households. Nowadays, wall mounted boilers on the market are mainly divided into two categories: condensing wall mounted boilers and ordinary wall mounted boilers. Many users are confused about the differences between these two types of wall mounted boilers and which one is more suitable for their family needs when choosing a wall mounted boiler. This article will compare the differences between condensing wall mounted boilers and ordinary wall mounted boilers in detail from multiple dimensions, helping everyone to have a clearer understanding of the characteristics of the two types of wall mounted boilers and make more suitable choices.

1、 Working principle: Core differences in energy utilization methods

The core function of wall mounted boilers is to generate heat by burning fuel, thereby meeting heating and hot water needs, while condensing wall mounted boilers have essential differences in the underlying logic of energy utilization compared to ordinary wall mounted boilers.

During operation, ordinary wall mounted boilers generate high-temperature flue gas after fuel combustion, which carries a large amount of heat. Traditional designs allow these high-temperature flue gases to be directly discharged outside through the flue, resulting in some heat being lost with the flue gas and unable to be effectively utilized. The energy conversion is mainly focused on the utilization of sensible heat generated by fuel combustion, and there is no recovery of latent heat released by the condensation of water vapor in the flue gas, so the overall energy utilization rate is relatively limited.

The condensing wall mounted boiler adopts more advanced energy recovery technology. On the basis of ordinary wall mounted boilers, it adds a condensation heat exchange device. When high-temperature flue gas enters the heat exchange system, it will first pass through the condensation heat exchanger. During this process, the temperature of the flue gas decreases significantly, and the water vapor in it condenses into water, while releasing a large amount of latent heat. The condensing wall mounted boiler can recover and utilize this latent heat together with the sensible heat generated by fuel combustion, maximizing the absorption of heat generated by the fuel and avoiding heat waste, fundamentally improving energy utilization efficiency.

2、 Core components: Key configurations determine performance gaps

The performance differences between the two types of wall mounted boilers are largely due to differences in the design and configuration of core components, which directly affect the efficiency, service life, and stability of wall mounted boilers.

The heat exchange system of ordinary wall mounted boilers usually uses a single main heat exchanger, which is mostly made of copper or stainless steel. Its main function is to transfer the heat generated by fuel combustion to the circulating water. Due to the lack of a dedicated condensation recovery structure, the design of the main heat exchanger only needs to meet the basic heat transfer requirements, without considering the corrosion problems caused by water vapor condensation. Therefore, the selection of structure and materials is relatively simple. In addition, the flue gas treatment system of ordinary wall mounted boilers is also relatively basic, only requiring the safe discharge of the burned flue gas without complex heat recovery processes.

The condensing wall mounted boiler has been specially designed on the core components to achieve latent heat recovery. Firstly, it is equipped with a dual heat exchanger structure, which adds a condensing heat exchanger in addition to the traditional main heat exchanger. Condenser heat exchangers are usually made of materials with stronger corrosion resistance, such as stainless steel or titanium, because the condensation of water vapor produces acidic substances. Ordinary materials are easily corroded, while special materials can effectively resist this corrosion and extend the service life of the heat exchanger. Secondly, the flue gas channel design of the condensing wall mounted boiler is more complex, requiring the flue gas to be guided through the main heat exchanger and the condensing heat exchanger in sequence to ensure that the heat is fully recovered. At the same time, special drainage devices will be equipped to timely discharge the condensed water generated during the condensation process, avoiding damage to the equipment caused by accumulated water.

3、 Energy efficiency: a key factor in cost variances

Energy efficiency is an important indicator for measuring the performance of wall mounted boilers, which directly affects the user's usage cost. There is a significant gap between condensing wall mounted boilers and ordinary wall mounted boilers in this indicator.

Ordinary wall mounted boilers, due to their inability to recover latent heat from flue gas, typically have a thermal efficiency between 85% and 95% (in accordance with national standards for second or third level energy efficiency). In actual use, the actual thermal efficiency may be lower due to factors such as environmental temperature and usage habits. This means that for every 1 cubic meter of natural gas consumed, only 85% -95% of the energy can be converted into effective heat for household use, while the remaining 5% -15% of the energy is lost with the smoke. Over long-term use, the energy consumption of ordinary wall mounted boilers is relatively high, especially during periods of high heating demand in winter, when natural gas costs will significantly increase.

The condensing wall mounted boiler has greatly improved its thermal efficiency with latent heat recovery technology, usually reaching 105% -110% (in line with the national standard for first level energy efficiency), and the thermal efficiency of some high-performance products can even exceed 110%. The thermal efficiency here exceeds 100% because the recovered latent heat is also included in the effective heat category during calculation, rather than the energy generated by fuel combustion exceeding the energy of the fuel itself. In practical use, even at low ambient temperatures, condensing wall mounted boilers can maintain high thermal efficiency because they can continuously recover heat from flue gas. Taking a 100 square meter household as an example, during the winter heating season, using a condensing wall mounted boiler can save 15% -25% of natural gas costs per month compared to using a regular wall mounted boiler. Over the long term, the energy cost advantage is very obvious.

4、 Environmental performance: significant differences in emission indicators

In the current era of increasing environmental awareness, the emission performance of wall mounted boilers has become a focus of user attention, and the differences in pollutant emissions between the two types of wall mounted boilers are also very prominent.

Ordinary wall mounted boilers, due to their relatively low combustion efficiency, are prone to producing a significant amount of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) during the combustion process. According to relevant standards, the nitrogen oxide emissions of ordinary wall mounted boilers are usually between 150-200mg/m ³, and the carbon monoxide emissions are relatively high, requiring a comprehensive ventilation system to ensure indoor safety. Although ordinary wall mounted boilers can also meet basic environmental requirements, their emission standards are gradually unable to meet higher environmental standards in the current context of increasingly high air quality requirements.

The condensing wall mounted boiler performs better in reducing pollutant emissions by optimizing combustion technology and efficient heat exchange systems. Firstly, it adopts more precise gas to air ratio control technology to ensure full combustion of fuel and reduce the production of carbon monoxide; Secondly, a low-temperature combustion environment can effectively suppress the generation of nitrogen oxides, as the production of nitrogen oxides is closely related to the combustion temperature. In the process of recovering heat, condensing wall mounted boilers will lower the temperature in the combustion area, thereby reducing the emission of nitrogen oxides. At present, the nitrogen oxide emissions of high-quality condensing wall mounted boilers can be as low as 50mg/m ³ or less, meeting the national first level environmental protection emission standards. Some products can even meet stricter EU standards, with less pollution to the environment and more in line with the development trend of green environmental protection.

5、 Applicable scenarios: Choose the appropriate type according to family needs

Different wall mounted boilers have their own suitable usage scenarios. Understanding the applicable scenarios of the two types of wall mounted boilers can help users better match their own needs and avoid blind selection.

Ordinary wall mounted boilers are more suitable for households with short-term use, limited budget, or relatively simple heating needs. For example, for rental users or households planning to change homes within a few years, the initial purchase cost of a regular wall mounted boiler is relatively low, which can meet basic heating and hot water needs, and short-term use does not require excessive consideration of long-term energy consumption costs. In addition, in areas with lower natural gas prices, the cost difference of using ordinary wall mounted boilers is relatively small. For households with small heating areas (such as less than 50 square meters), their total energy consumption is lower, and ordinary wall mounted boilers can also meet their usage needs. At the same time, ordinary wall mounted boilers have relatively low requirements for installation environment, do not require specialized treatment of condensate water, have a simpler installation process, and are suitable for households with limited installation conditions.

The condensing wall mounted boiler is more suitable for households that prioritize long-term living, energy conservation, and environmental performance. For users who plan to live in a house for a long time (5 years or more), although the initial purchase cost of the condensing wall mounted boiler is relatively high, in the long run, the saved energy costs can gradually offset the initial cost and even achieve greater economic benefits. In areas with high natural gas prices or long winter heating periods, the energy cost advantage of condensing wall mounted boilers will be more obvious, which can effectively reduce long-term household expenses. In addition, for households with large heating areas (such as over 100 square meters) or high requirements for stable hot water supply, the efficient heat transfer and stability performance of condensing wall mounted boilers can ensure the continuity of heating and hot water supply, and enhance the user experience. At the same time, users who value environmental protection and hope to reduce household carbon emissions can also contribute to the environmental protection cause by choosing condensing wall mounted boilers.

Through the comparison of the working principle, core components, energy efficiency, environmental performance, and applicable scenarios between condensing wall mounted boilers and ordinary wall mounted boilers, we believe that everyone has a clear understanding of the differences between the two types of wall mounted boilers. When choosing a wall mounted boiler, users need to consider their own usage needs, budget, length of residence, and local energy situation comprehensively in order to select the most suitable wall mounted boiler product for themselves. It not only meets daily heating and hot water needs, but also achieves energy conservation and cost control.