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Is your boiler ready for retirement?
With current concern over carbon emissions, not to mention the rising cost of household energy bills, upgrading your household boiler can be a smart way to improve the energy efficiency of your home and lower your fuel bills.
Here’s our quick guide to updating your boiler.
Why update your boiler or heating system?
The Energy Saving Trust estimate that a 15-year old conventional boiler may only be 60% efficient at converting fuel into heat; this means that for every £100 you spend on heating bills, £40 pays for wasted fuel.
However, a new A-rated condensing boiler will be at least 90% efficient, meaning that for every £100 you spend on fuel, less than £10 of the bill will result from wastage. This can amount to big long-term savings on energy bills, especially if domestic fuel prices continue to rise.
Installing a new timer and control system will also have an impact on your energy consumption, as it will allow you to regulate temperatures in different rooms very precisely.
When is the best time to upgrade?
As a general guide, boilers over 15 years of age are likely to be the least energy efficient and most difficult to source parts for if they should break down unexpectedly. Therefore it might make sense to replace an old boiler sooner rather than later.
If you plan to remain in your home for a few years then a new boiler could end up paying for itself – and you’ll be doing your bit for the environment. If you’re already planning some building work or renovations then now might be a good time to look at replacing the boiler too.
Even if you’re thinking about selling your home then a new boiler could help improve the rating on your home’s Energy Performance Certificate as part of your HIP (Home Information Pack) and may make it more attractive to potential buyers.
To check the energy efficiency of your existing boiler and work out the savings you could make on your energy bills by replacing it, visit www.sedbuk.com for information.
What should I install?
With a few exceptions, all new gas and oil central heating boilers must now be condensing boilers by law as they are the most energy efficient on the market. A regular condensing boiler heats water through a hot water cylinder, while a combination condensing boiler gives you instant hot water but cannot store it so may be more suitable for smaller homes.
After installation, keep any related paperwork in a safe place and remember to register your new boiler for its guarantee so that the manufacturer can contact you regarding any important updates or recalls you need to be aware of.
Who can help me?
A local CORGI-registered installer can give you a quote and advise which type and size of condensing boiler is most suitable for your circumstances. If you don’t know an installer you can contact the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012 for a list of approved engineers in your area. You may even be entitled to a government grant towards the cost of your new boiler - call The Energy Saving Trust on the above number to find out more.
How do I get the best from my boiler?
See our top energy saving tips for the home, and consider taking out a boiler protection plan like HeatGuard from Domestic & General. Different levels of cover are available which can include your boiler only or your central heating system as well and even an annual service, which may help maintain its efficiency.
You can get a free quote for boiler care, as long as your boiler is currently under 15 years old (conventional) or 8 years old (combination or condensing). You’ll normally be able to renew your HeatGuard Plan annually for the life of the boiler.
All information is provided by the Energy Saving Trust.
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