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What are Energy Efficient Boilers

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  • 27-11-2018
What are Energy Efficient Boilers

If you installed your central heating system a while ago (more than ten years ago), you need to replace it with a newer model which is more efficient. One of the signs that you need to replace your central heating system is high utility bills and high repair and maintenance costs.

How to lower heating costs

The efficiency of a boiler is determined by these two factors: age and type. The age and the type of your boiler, therefore, will determine your utility bills. At the moment, a modern condensing boiler is the most efficient boiler because it saves a lot of energy. In fact, according to Energy Saving Trust, if all homes in the UK that have installed a gas or oil system that has an energy efficiency of 92% and above, we can save about 6.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in a year. This means that less efficient boilers emit a lot of carbon dioxide alongside other gases which cause environmental pollution.

close up view of radiator

If you would like to know the energy rating of your boiler, you need to check the boilers ERP energy label. The energy rating ranges from A - G with nearly all modern boilers getting an A rating. 

It is evident that you would see a significant difference in your utility bills if you replace an 88% rated boiler with a 94% rated boiler. Also, there is a difference between an A rated boiler with a D or any other rated boiler. If you are looking to lower your heating costs, replacing an old inefficient boiler with a new energy rated boiler is a guaranteed move.

What should I consider when replacing my boiler?

There are two things you need to consider:

close up view of boiler controls

The Type of the Boiler: Old boilers usually have a hot water storage tank whereas modern boiler lacks the storage tank. If you have an old regular boiler which has a tank, you can replace it with a newer model that does not have a storage tank. 

gas flames

Type of fuel: If you use gas in your home, a gas boiler is the cheapest and the ideal option. However, if you do not have a gas supply, other low carbon heating options include biomass or the heat pump. Alternatively, you can install gas supply in your home instead.

The newer model (combi boilers) saves a lot of energy, and thus they are more efficient. When it comes to choosing between the two types of boilers (regular with a storage tank or a combi boiler), here are some factors you should consider:

i) Available space at home - if you have less space in your home, a combi boiler is a good choice because it economises on space because it lacks a storage tank.

ii) Hot water usage - you need to consider the size of your family and their hot water requirement. Large families that require a lot of hot water are better with a regular boiler that has a hot water storage tank. However, if you live alone or have a small family, you need a combi boiler, and you will be fine.

iii) Compatibility with solar water heating - combi boilers are not compatible or cannot be used effectively with solar water heating. Therefore, if you have solar water heating or you are planning to install one, you need a regular boiler because it's compatible.

For central heating services in East London contact our Gas Safe engineers today.