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

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

What is a combi boiler?

There are a wide array of boiler products which can be confusing to the general consumer. If pushed, few would be aware of the difference between a combi boiler and a regular system, but the distinction is important to all householders, especially those who are keen to save money and the environment.

A combi boiler is essential for all those that want the most out of their heating system, as it’s simply the most efficient. Although the wonder boiler of the moment does have drawbacks.

A combi boiler is a shortened phrase for its longer title: combination boiler. It means that two processes are combined into one. The process of heating water for the hot water taps and at the same time heating water for the central heating system, takes place within the boiler itself, on demand.

So, when someone turns on a hot tap and expects litres of suitably warmed water, the boiler kicks into action and provides the necessary water. Likewise if the thermostat asks for hot water for the radiators, the boiler kicks into action and heats the water which will be pushed around the house’s pipework.

The big difference are the words, on demand. A combi boiler will only heat water when it is required. This is the major difference with a regular boiler which is always heating water that can be used at a later time. The regular boiler will heat water at allotted periods which will be stored in a large metal tank for later use.

The problem with the regular boiler system is obvious. As soon as the precious energy is used to heat the water, once you don’t use it and start storing it in the water tank (no matter how good the insulation), it begins to cool and indeed, not all of it will be used before its heated to the correct temperature again. If you consider the amount of wasted energy in this process, then the amount of wasted energy, and therefore money, can mount up considerably.

Also, the regular boiler is more expensive, as it requires a water tank, insulation, additional pipework and a cold water feed tank in the loft. The combination boiler requires none of these. No water is stored and the cold water is fed directly from the mains. So, no hot water tank and no feeder tank is required, nor the associated pipework, meaning purchase and installation costs can be reduced significantly.

Combination boilers pass cold water through a heat exchanger which transfers heat to the water while ensuring only a small amount of energy is lost through waste gasses. This is how the boiler can provide hot water without the need for a water tank or an immersion heater. This hot water can then be used for taps or pushed into radiators to provide central heating.

But the drawback of the combi boiler is immediately apparent: hot water flow rate. In other words, when you turn on the hot water tap, in the kitchen, or bathroom, how much hot water will be available and at what rate. This is why combi boilers have not only their hot water ratings (the temperature) published, but also their flow rates. These are based on the number of litres of hot water per minute the boiler can supply.

Gas combination boilers are currently the most popular boilers households are installing with around 70% of UK homes using one.

If you are interested in purchasing a combination boiler then you will need to consider its advantages and disadvantages to ensure it is the type of boiler for your households needs.

Advantages of gas combination boilers

The main advantage is the water is heated instantly and this therefore means you don’t need to wait for a hot water tank to heat up to get the hot water. This also means hot water won’t run out and you don’t require the space to put a hot water tank so combination boilers are good space saving appliances.

Another main advantage is these boilers are more economical. The reason is because savings are made on the cost of heating the water as the flow of water is at the same pressure as if it was coming from the mains water supply. Also because there is no hot water tank it means the boilers are quicker and easier to install which cuts costs and means the boiler will require less maintenance over its lifetime.

Disadvantages of gas combination boilers

The disadvantages of these boilers however include the water flow of the other taps in the house will be affected and limited when running at the same time. Therefore, it will be important for households installing these boilers then you need to ensure you have an adequate water supply that doesn’t have any pressure issues as this could really affect the performance of the combination boiler.

Another potential disadvantage is you will be getting rid of your airing cupboard as the hot water tank is no longer required. But this could be seen as a plus if you want more space.

Therefore, if you are looking to install a combination boiler you can see there are many advantages and disadvantages which highlight why you may want to choose to install one. And if you are looking for a boiler to provide hot water on demand and one that is energy efficient which can help reduce your current fuel bill then this is the boiler for you.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

The Energy Trust believe that a quarter of all UK homes have an energy inefficient boiler which is more than ten years old.

These energy inefficient boilers therefore mean that homes with these installed will be experiencing higher energy bills and polluting the environment with more carbon gas emissions.

If you have any concerns over the efficiency of your boiler then you should look into how you can tell whether your boiler is energy inefficient or not.

The best way to do this is by checking the efficiency of your boiler against the boiler efficiency rating that highlights how well your boiler works. Currently, the efficiency ratings are classified as follows (note: the higher the percentage the more efficient the boiler) –

A = 90% and above
B = 86% – 90%
C = 82% – 86%
D = 78% – 82%
E = 74% – 78%
F = 70% – 74%
G = Below 70%

To check the efficiency rating of your boiler you can look this up on the boiler efficiency database that is available on the SEBUK (Seasonal Efficiency Boilers in the UK) website. This database lists all the different types, makes and models of boilers and its aim is to identify the different efficiencies between boilers. The data is developed with boiler manufacturers and is updated on a monthly basis so the information that you deem from this research will be relevant and up-to-date.

The information on the SEBUK website is also used by the government to calculate Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) ratings which is how they calculate the energy performance of houses.

Therefore, SEBUK is a very good way to gauge whether your boiler is efficient or not as well as being a method for comparing newer boilers and deciding whether you would be better off replacing your boiler if it has a low efficiency rating. The SEBUK website also offers a free online calculator to give you an approximate estimate of how much your annual fuel costs will be. Again, you should use this to compare against newer boiler types.

If you discover that your boiler is rated lowly on the chart then it is likely to be inefficient and you should consider replacing the boiler. Remember, boiler usage accounts for over 60% of what households spend on energy each year so changing from an energy inefficient boiler can make a huge difference to your household.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

Looking after your boiler is important to ensure that it is running safely and efficiently.

Not only that but a well looked after boiler should help you save money or your fuel bill as well as being less likely to breakdown especially when you need it the most over the winter months. It is therefore recommended that to keep your boiler well maintained you should follow the tips that are detailed below –

Get your boiler serviced regularly

The best tip for boiler maintenance is to ensure that your boiler gets regularly serviced by a qualified and registered company or engineer. This regular service will highlight any problems with the boiler before they happen and deteriorate into an expensive repair or fault. They will also ensure that the boiler is energy-efficient and safe to use.

Don’t cover the boiler

It is important to ensure that you don’t cover the boiler so that it is poorly ventilated as this can cause health and safety issues for your household. This also includes covering up an external ventilation grills and outside flues that may be in operation.

Don’t open the boiler cover

You should never open the boiler cover or attempt to try and fix a problem yourself. Boilers should not be tampered with and if a fault is being experienced you should call a qualified company or engineer to come and investigate the problem.

Check the boiler over the summer months

During the summer months we tend to forget about the boiler and central heating system however we should check the boiler at least once a month during this period. This not only reassures us that the boiler is still working but it can also help reduce any build-up of dirt that can accumulate in the boiler.

Time the heating to come on if you are away for a long period

If you decide to go away over the winter months it is recommended that you time your boiler to come on, on a low temperature during this period. This will ensure that the boiler is regularly worked and it will ensure that pipes within your home are less prone to freezing or bursting.

Install a carbon monoxide detector

It is important to have a carbon monoxide tester installed in your home as this is a system to warn you and your family if there is a carbon monoxide leak in your boiler. It will not only alert you to the fact that there is a fault with your boiler but it can also save you and your family’s lives.

Clean the boiler

Clean the boiler every six months to ensure that the cover doesn’t become rusty or rundown. To clean the boiler you just need to wipe it with a damp cloth. However, if there are any scratches on the painted metal then this should be cleaned by rubbing petroleum jelly over the mark and then wiping it off.

Ensure you have the boilers maintenance manual

If your boiler breaks down you may require the maintenance manual. You may also require the maintenance manual to ensure that you are getting the most out of your heating controls. It is therefore important to have a copy of the manual readily available. If you don’t you should download one from the manufacturer’s website.

Keep an eye on the pressure gauge

It is important for you to keep an eye on and understand the pressure gauge on the boiler as this pressure may need to be topped up or reduced. Ensuring the boiler is working at the correct pressure will ensure that the boiler is kept in good working order. If the pressure changes then you should call out a qualified engineer to check the boiler.

Adjust the controls

Knowing how to use the heating controls is essential for getting the most out of your boiler and ensuring that the maintenance that it receives is based on correct usage requirements. It also ensures you maintain regular use of the boiler.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain