Replacement boilers are often quite expensive and so it is vital that you choose the correct model to suit you and your home first time. As well as being the right price, your new boiler should also meet a number of other criteria. So for example:

• All new boilers have to have an efficiency rating of either A or B. Those with an A rating tend to cost slightly more however they will save money on the heating and hot water bills in the long run.
• Your new boiler should be as easy to install as possible so there is little or no disruption to your house or daily life. Choosing a boiler that has to go on a different wall or in a different room to your current boiler can cause problems, especially with regards to the flue. Easy to install boilers are often easy to maintain and service as well which means less hassle during its annual check-up.
• You should also be able to work your new boiler without having a degree in engineering. Simple controls and easy to program timers are a standard feature on many new model boilers however some still have more complex systems that may need a bit of working out.
• It is important that you choose a boiler with the correct power output for the size of your home. Fitting a high powered boiler in a one bedroom flat is going to result in a large waste of energy and on the other hand, fitting a low or medium powered boiler in a large (3-4 bedroom) house with more than one bathroom might result in low flow rates when several water outputs are being used at the same time.
• Most new boiler models have low CO₂ and NO_{x ­}emissions which mean they are better for the environment. Some are lower than others though and it might be worth taking this into consideration along with the energy efficiency rating.
• Storage space is a premium in most family homes and by choosing a combination boiler rather than a regular or system boiler you can do away with the hot water tank in the loft or the airing cupboard. Combination boilers are recommended by most gas engineers today because of their efficiency and also because they need a lot less space in the house.

So as you can see there are quite a few factors to look at and research before buying a new or replacement boiler. Taking a little time to assess the features of different boilers can save you a lot of time and trouble when having it fitted and a fair bit of money on future heating and hot water bills – which is surely a bonus in anybody’s book.  

Guest Article by Clare Lynock