Many people wonder when the best time to replace their boiler is or when they will know that a boiler is nearing the end of its life.

There are many ways in which you can evaluate and assess how your boiler is performing and whether it needs replacing.

Firstly, you should look at the age and type of boiler which you have. If the boiler is more than ten years old then you need to consider how energy efficient the boiler is. Newer models are not only better for the environment saving up to 30% in carbon emissions but also cheaper to run and could save you up to 40% on heating bills. So, you should consider the long-term gain associated with installing a newer model. Remember, the older your boiler the more energy inefficient it is considered and the more costly it is to run.

Secondly, you should consider the amount of servicing that your boiler has had. If a boiler is serviced annually and issues are fixed when they are found then the boilers lifespan will be significantly increased. A well maintained boiler is also likely to be more efficient. Therefore if your boiler doesn’t have a service history then it will probably need to be replaced sooner than one which does.

Thirdly and related to both the age of the boiler and its service history you will need to consider the availability of parts when the boiler breaks down. For some older boilers it is harder to find replacement parts making it more costly to fix potential issues. If this becomes the case it may be worthwhile investing in a newer boiler.

Fourthly, you need to evaluate your usage patterns. This means looking at the size of your family and whether this is likely to grow or reduce in size and the demands that are placed on the hot water. Does the boiler currently meet the demands of the household? If not, then this means that it could be time to get a new boiler which is either built to cope with the growing demands placed upon it by the household or a smaller one if the demand is likely to become less.

Finally, you may have cosmetic reasons for replacing a boiler. If you are redesigning or extending your home and require the space for some other purpose then the boiler will need to be removed or replaced. If this is the case then the factors that are outlined above will need to be reconsidered as to whether a new boiler is required or not.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

Buying a new gas combination boiler is expensive and therefore buying the right one is essential to ensure it not only works efficiently but saves you money in the long-term.

There are many factors to consider in the buying process and to help you find the right boiler for your property here are five factors to consider.

Firstly, you need to consider what size boiler you require. When looking to replace your boiler it is initially important to know what size boiler is suitable for the type of property that you own. Most combination boilers will come in four sizes which vary in output. Smaller boilers will be suitable for flats and therefore the larger the property the greater kilowatt boiler is recommended.

Secondly, you need to think about the location of the boiler. If you are replacing an old boiler then the cheapest and quickest option is to locate the new boiler where the old boiler was. This will also mean that the pipes are located in the right place if you are installing a like-for-like boiler. If you do want to install the boiler in a new location then you need to ensure that the wall where it will be installed is near an external wall as the flue and drain needs to go outside and you will also need to ensure that it is near a gas supply pipe.

Thirdly, you need to ensure you understand the boiler requirements and know what control you need. By this it means understanding where the waste pipe needs to go to double-check you have chosen the most appropriate location for the boiler and to ensure you have the correct gas pipe size that can be easily attached to the boiler as well as water pressure requirements. It will also be important to know what thermostatic controls you need.

Fourthly, you need to decide on the brand that suits your needs. It is recommended you get some brochures and do some research about the best boiler. It is often useful to speak to family and friends to gain personal recommendations to ensure you are buying a brand that you know you can trust.

Finally, you need to factor in timescales and cost. The timescale to replace the boiler will depend on when you need it. You should remember if you are replacing a like-for-like boiler then this will be quicker than if replacing a totally different boiler. If you are not replacing a like-for-like and moving the location of the boiler then you will need to factor in the possibility of it taking a few days and therefore you will be without heat and hot water during this period. The biggest question is then cost of replacing your boiler. This will depend on size and the amount of work required fitting the boiler. To give a rough estimate, replacing a combination boiler with a new combination boiler will cost you in the region of £1000-£1800.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

In the cold winter months your boiler is put under additional strain and stress as you rely on it more and more to heat your home and make your household comfortable.

However, over the cold snap you may be one of the unlucky ones who experiences problems with boiler breakdown including a total failure of the heating system.

To add to any concerns you may have about your existing boiler, it has also recently been found that the new condensing boilers that the majority of UK households have installed have major problems associated to them working correctly in the winter months. This is surprising to learn as even though these boilers are considered to have better energy efficiency and households are encouraged to install them (especially with Government legislation) they are prone to breakdown issues. This fact is backed up by the findings from British Gas who in Yorkshire alone had over 60,000 call-outs regarding broken down boilers last year.

The reason for the condensing boiler breakdown seems to be due to the same reoccurring problem being when the cold weather causes the pipe which takes waste water from the back of the condensing boiler freezes. This causes the boiler to stop working, shutting down the whole system and in some cases causing permanent damage to the boiler.

This type of issue isn’t common in older boilers as they produced hot gases which heats the water in the system and around 25 per cent of these gases are let out of the waste pipe in the form of hot steam therefore freezing doesn’t happen. But, in condensing boilers these gases condense into water which is then fed back into and around the system.

One of the ways to plan for such a breakdown is to install radiant heat technology which uses embedded pipes in the walls and floors and therefore reduces the possibility of the pipes becoming frozen. Even though this is a common solution and feature of many houses in Europe it is not common in the UK and therefore would costs thousands for a home to try and back engineer this type of technology. Therefore, in the UK the only way to try and prevent freezing is to lag and insulate as many of the visible and external pipes as possible.

Another problem associated with the boiler is that the water vapour that is produced by the boilers can be slightly acidic which can cause erosion to the boiler parts which causes it to breakdown. Unfortunately, when this happens the parts will need to be replaced.

The best solution in both cases is prevention. It is therefore important to get the boiler serviced regularly as this will keep it in the best economic care and prolong the life of the boiler and its parts. It will also alert you to any potential breakdown issues which you can fix in a timely manner to ensure that you aren’t one of the unlucky ones shivering in winter when the boiler breaks down unexpectedly.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

To ensure that you get the most out of your boiler it is important to understand its controls and know how to use them correctly.

This will not only ensure that you can keep your home comfortable and warm, but will potentially reduce your carbon emissions and the cost of your heating bills.

There are two main controls on your boiler that should be familiar with which are as follows:

Thermostat

A thermostat connects to the boiler and regulates a room’s temperature so that the heating will come on until a desired temperature is reached and then will turn on again once the temperature drops. A programmable thermostat controls the temperature in a house and combined with a time control will allow households to set different temperatures at various times throughout the day. If a household wants to regulate the temperature they can install a thermostatic radiator valve which senses the air temperature around them and regulates the flow and heat of the water sent to the radiator it is fitted to.

It is important to ensure that you can use your thermostat correctly as if you do this can mean savings on your energy bill. As by just reducing the temperature by a degree it will mean you can save up to 10% on your heating bill.

Timer and programmer

A timer is a device on a boiler that sets the time that you want the boiler to come on whereas a programmer allows you to set times for the boiler to come on, on different days. The difference between the two is that a timer operates the boiler at the same time every day where the programmer allows you to choose different times dependent on the day of the week.

These controls are important to understand as you can set ‘on’ and ‘off’ time periods. You may also be able to control both the central heating as well as the hot water. The controls mean that you can calculate how long it takes to warm up your house and set the timer to do this for you. Therefore, in the morning before you get up and in the evening when you get home from work, the heating timer can warm up the house for you.

The timer and programmer control combined with the thermostat control means you can set the heating to come on and regulate what that temperature will be in each room.

Knowing what these controls do is therefore important to ensure the energy efficiency of your household and can help you reduce your energy bills while ensuring the temperature of your house is always maintained.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

When you are looking to replace your boiler have you ever considered purchasing a reconditioned one?

Reconditioned boilers are often thought to be a more cost-effective way to purchase a replacement boiler. This is because the amount of capital outlay required is less than if purchasing a new boiler (typically a reconditioned boiler costs around 40% less than a new boiler) and depreciation in cost is also less than that experienced from a new boiler.

As well as the cost advantages, reconditioned boilers will have been refurbished to the highest of standards so you won’t need to worry about the condition and quality of the boiler. In most cases the reconditioned boiler will come with the same guarantees as a new boiler, so you will be safe in the knowledge that the boiler will comfortably meet a household’s need for the foreseeable future.

It is therefore no wonder that many households are opting to install reconditioned boilers. If you decide that a reconditioned boiler is for you then there are some considerations you need to bear in mind before you purchase one. You first need to ensure that it comes from a reputable company, is a well-known brand and has a robust guarantee associated to it. Secondly, it will be vital to assess the boiler in relation to its year of manufacture, usage history, service history and review its annual inspection certificate to make sure that it is reconditioned appropriately.

However, regardless of whether you purchase a new or reconditioned boiler there are a number of questions that you need to ask yourself to ensure that you buy the best boiler for your home. These questions include:

• What type of boiler that you want? You will need to decide which sort of boiler is best for your home. Traditionally conventional or combi boilers are the most popular for households as they are the most energy efficient and easy to maintain.
• What is your budget? You will need to consider how much you are willing to spend on the new boiler and how you are going to pay for the new appliance.
• Where will the boiler be situated? It is important to know where you want to locate the boiler so that any flues and ventilation requirements can be considered.
• What are the usage requirements you are going to place upon the boiler? You will need to consider how your household will use the boiler and make sure the specification of the boiler you are interested in purchasing can cope with the demand that you are going to place upon it.

There are also a number of questions you should ask yourself about the company or engineer you choose to ensure they can install the reconditioned boiler correctly, these questions are:

• Are they a well-established and reputable company?
• Are they gas qualified and will the work they carry out be guaranteed?
• Do they offer a robust maintenance and service programme?

In conclusion, you should remember that when you make a decision as to whether to purchase a reconditioned boiler compared to a new boiler then you need to consider your requirements carefully. Make sure you have sound background knowledge of what type of boiler system you want to make sure you can make an informed decision when you purchase the boiler.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain