Some thought the old inefficient back boiler was gone for good, but the engineers at Baxi and Valor are determined that all is not yet lost.

They have just raised the flag about a house in Leeds which is one of the first in the UK to have a new high-efficiency back boiler fitted. Out went the householder’s 15 year old back boiler and gas, and in came a Baxi Bermuda BBU HE and Valor Dimension electric fire.

Baxi reported that their customer was thrilled with his new, high-efficiency back boiler:

“The installation went very well," he says. "It took less than a day to remove the old boiler and flue and replace them. The fire surround and back plate were removed, but they came out easily and were refitted once the installation was complete.

“The only pipe work that needed altering was in the fireplace, to change the side for the water pipe, which was so much easier than re-siting the boiler and having new pipes fitted throughout the house. And we didn’t need to redecorate.

“The new boiler is working very well. It’s much quieter than the boiler we took out, and we are enjoying plenty of hot water. We chose the Classica fire in the pewter finish. It’s really realistic and very easy to operate. In fact, we’ve been able to ‘fit and forget’.”

Baxi’s work is a meaningful reprieve for the back boiler which was in danger of extinction. Back boilers, traditionally low in efficiency, can only be fitted in homes that have no option. In other words, homes in which cannot be fitted with a high efficiency condensing boiler; a requirement by law that comes under the Building Regulations, Part L. And these boilers have to be at least A and B SEDBUCK rated (higher than 86% efficiency, although in 2010, only A rated boilers – more than 90% efficient – will be allowed).

But with the Baxi Bermuda BBU HE being over 90% efficient, it can rightly take its place in the boiler hall of fame. It also has a Class 5 NOx rating (the best), so it helps to protect the environment.

The trick with the Baxi Bermuda BBU HE is the integral condensate pump allows the condensate to be discharged into the drain via a 10mm pipe which fits neatly along the skirting. And it’s the condensing ability of the back boiler – taking heat from the combustion process and waste gases – that makes the this back boiler as efficient as its contemporaries.

The Baxi Bermuda BBU HE package comes complete with a Valor Dimension electric fire. This, say Baxi, is state of the art and features the very latest patented hologram technology to create an exceptionally lifelike three dimension coal effect fire. Powered from a conventional plug socket, it will produce around 2kW of heat output.

Guest Article by Neil Camp