Ensuring your home is heated and that you have hot water on tap contributes a significant proportion of your energy bills. Consequently, making sure that you have the most efficient boiler and that you use energy in the most sensible way will help you to reduce your fuel costs.

And, with inefficient use of heating and hot water counting as two of the most wasteful areas where we contribute to greenhouse emissions at home, better energy efficiency can have significant environmental benefits.

So, to save money and go greener, have you considered installing an energy efficient boiler?

Scrap Your Old Boiler & Save On Your Bills

Benefits of replacing your boiler

There are many benefits to replacing your old boiler. These include:

• Avoiding the increasing costs of repairs and breakdowns associated with older boilers
• Better energy efficiency, saving you money on your bills
• Better reliability
• Avoiding the risks of dangerous emissions such as carbon monoxide
• Being kinder to the environment

Choosing the best boiler for you

Boiler Type
New boilers in the UK now have to be energy efficient condensing boilers. This means that your new boiler will be economical and environmentally friendly.
There are four main types of boiler that you can consider.

1. Combination boilers

Combination (or ‘combi’) boilers are the best selling boiler type for gas central heating in the UK. They are economical to run, small, and as they heat water directly from the mains you will have an endless stream of hot water on tap.

As combi boilers don’t use an external hot water tank they are more economical than other boilers. However, as there is no hot water storage tank, your hot water supply may be interrupted if someone else simultaneously runs a hot water tap in your home.

Combi boilers are ideal if you are short on space, have a small house or flat or if you want to ensure that you have on-demand hot water in your home.

2. Sealed system boilers (unvented)

A system boiler works on the principle of stored hot water which means you will need a space for a hot water storage tank (such as an airing cupboard or similar). You will get good water pressure and can access hot water from several outlets simultaneously.

System boilers are ideal if you have a larger home or a family that needs lots of hot water. However, you may have to wait for hot water when you want it.

3. Open vent and open vent sealed system boilers

Most homes that come to replace their boiler have an open vent boiler. This system uses two water tanks (in the loft) and a hot water storage tank in the airing cupboard. It therefore takes up a lot of space although it does allow taps, baths and showers to be run at the same time.

Many people switch from a traditional open vent boiler to an open vent sealed system boiler. This is a relatively cheap switch to make and will mean that you no longer have a need for one of the tanks in your loft.

This system is often inexpensive to replace although it does take up more space than other systems. It also allows you to run hot water from several locations simultaneously. However, you may have to wait for hot water to heat up and the water pressure can be low.

4. Back boilers

Some homes still have a back boiler, often hidden behind a chimney. It’s only a system you would consider if you already have a back boiler as the water pressure is low and it takes up a lot of space.

Back boilers are generally inefficient, but you could still make sizeable savings on your annual heating bills by replacing your existing boiler.

However, they do need a lot of space for the boiler hidden behind your chimney, two tanks in the loft and a cylinder in the airing cupboard.

Boiler Size
Picking the right sized boiler is one of the most important factors when you’re choosing a new model. If it is too big, it may be expensive to run and harsh to the environment, whereas if it is too small it might not meet your heating or hot water needs.

Factors that will influence the size of boiler that you choose include:

• The type of house you have – If you have lots of external wall space (in a detached or semi detached house) then your property will lose more heat
• The size of your home – The size and number of rooms will affect your choice of boiler
• Your windows – Any windows that are not double glazed will result in wasted energy and the need for a larger boiler
• Your insulation – Insufficient loft insulation will mean you lose heat and so will inform what size boiler you need
• The amount of hot water you use – You will need a boiler that can cope with your hot water needs. For example, if you have a large family taking baths and showers then you’ll need a boiler that can cope with the demand for hot water

Boiler Efficiency
Boilers in the UK have an energy efficiency rating displayed as the Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK (SEDBUK) label. The SEDBUK rating allows you to compare different boiler models according to their efficiency.

The higher the grade, the better the boiler’s efficiency and the more you’ll save on your energy bills.

Boiler Manufacturers
There are lots of different brands of boiler available in the UK. Four of the most popular and trusted brands are:

• Baxi – Trading since the 1800s, Baxi are now one of the biggest boiler manufacturers in Europe
• Potterton – Having installed their first boiler in 1902, Potterton have been manufacturing high quality boilers for over 100 years
• Vaillant – German giants Vaillant were established in 1874 and have a wide range of gas boilers and renewable energy products
• Worcester Bosch – Worcester Bosch has been supplying homes in the UK with boilers since 1962. They offer a wide range of high efficiency boilers to help you reduce your energy bills

Getting your boiler installed

Once you have decided to replace your boiler, you then have a choice of who to employ to fit your new system for you. When choosing the boiler engineer to install your new boiler, be sure to make sure they are Gas Safe Registered and that they are experienced in fitting the type of boiler you are looking for.

National Installers

Large companies or energy suppliers such as British Gas are amongst the most popular and trusted boiler installation specialists. As well as providing boiler installation and repair services, they will also provide advice on the type of boiler that you need and send a qualified engineer to assess your requirements.

A national installer will find the boiler you need and install it for you. You benefit from the protection of a leading energy company and a range of additional services such as ongoing maintenance and servicing. You may also be able to benefit from associated boiler insurance offered by these providers.

Local Installers

Open your local newspaper or Yellow Pages and you will find a number of companies specialising in providing boiler installation in your area. Often with years of experience, these companies can assess your needs and install the boiler that is right for your home.

Many companies will be able to provide references from satisfied local customers although you may not have the same level of protection if things go wrong.

Manufacturer Installers

If you have decided which boiler you want and you don’t need professional advice then you can consider buying your boiler directly from the manufacturer. This will often secure you a better deal on your new boiler.

Bear in mind that some installers won’t install a boiler that they have not sourced themselves, so check your engineer is happy to do this.

Some installers won’t install a boiler they haven’t sourced so always check beforehand to ensure your chosen engineer is happy to do so, in such cases they can help in specifying the exact model required.

Insider Buying Advice

Typical Costs

The costs of a new boiler can vary enormously depending on the size, energy efficiency and the model of boiler that you choose.

Often, you will find that the fitting and installation can be as expensive as the boiler itself. This is because engineers now have to comply with a wide range of restrictive rules, regulations and instructions, many of which are expensive to observe.

While you may be able to pick up a cheap boiler for around £400 from your local DIY store, you can expect to pay £1,500 to £3,000 for a good quality boiler professionally installed.

Special Schemes and Grants

Over recent years, the government has been keen for people to replace old boilers with new energy efficient and environmentally friendly boilers.

They have made grants available to people who would otherwise struggle to replace their old heating system. If you qualify, you can get up to £3,500 towards a new boiler in order to make your home more energy efficient.

To qualify you must be 60 or over, have a disability or long-term ill health or a child under 16 years old and be in receipt of certain benefits.

There are other grants available if you are planning to install renewable energy sources in your home such as solar panels or a wind turbine.

Calculating Your Return On Investment

While it may be expensive to install a new boiler, experts believe that you can start to save money within 3-5 years of installation. And, with the average lifespan of a boiler being 10-15 years, choosing an energy efficient boiler can result in significant long-term savings.

Modern high efficiency condensing boilers convert over 88% of their fuel into heat compared to 78% for conventional boilers. So, according to the Energy Saving Trust, a high efficiency condensing boiler could save you as much as £225 a year on your energy bills. If you install good quality heating controls, you could save even more.

And, on top of this, an energy efficient boiler has significant environmental benefits.

Ongoing Running Costs and Maintenance

In order to ensure that your boiler continues to be energy efficient and safe, it’s advisable that you have it serviced on a regular basis. Most manufacturers recommend an annual service to ensure your boiler is in good working order.

You will find that an annual safety check or service by a qualified engineer costs around £60-100. However, proper servicing is essential to make sure your installation is safe as well as energy efficient.