In the past the majority of UK homes would have had their hot water supplied by an open vent boiler.

This type of boiler relies on the household having two water tanks in the loft and a hot water storage cylinder in the airing cupboard. The principle of the boiler is to provide hot water and central heating using a heat only boiler and cold water using the cold water tank located in the loft.

The main advantage of these types of boiler systems is that they allow you to have access to hot water all over your house at once. Therefore, you can have taps running as well as radiators being heated and you shouldn’t experience any drop in water pressure even though they are working simultaneously. The systems can also be very economical in relation to their running costs due to the fast response nature of the hot water being pumped around the system.

Also, if your home already uses an open vent system boiler and it needs to be replaced or updated, installation costs will be low because the upgrade should only require a replacement of the boiler with a newer and more efficient model. This therefore means greater convenience for the household as installing a replacement boiler is easier and quicker than installing another type of boiler system.

However, there are some disadvantages associated with this type of boiler. Many people see the space requirements needed by the water tanks in the loft and the hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard as inconvenient and a waste of space. There is also the fact that once you have used all the hot water in the water tank that you will need to reheat the water by using an immersion switch and this will take time for hot water to become available again. Also, if you want to install this type of boiler in a house that previously didn’t have this system it will be expensive as the plumbing costs associated are higher due to the greater complexity of installation.

With the recent growth in installation of combination boilers within households it has felt like the open vent system boiler was being pushed out the market, especially as combination boilers have been promoted as the most energy efficient and most practical boiler solution for the future. However, with the advancements in technology there is still a place for open vent system boilers as these systems have been made are much more energy efficient than they were in the past.

It should be noted that open vent system boilers can also be green because they work well when powered by renewable energy sources such as solar panels; and it is felt that the control systems on open vent boilers used in conjunction with how renewable energy is set-up happens to be more accurate and therefore more cost efficient.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

If you are considering buying a new boiler for your home you will have come across the different types of boilers available for purchase such as combination boilers and condensing boilers.

However, as well as deciding on the type of boiler you want you will also need to make a decision as to how your boiler will be fuelled; and the main decision may come down to whether you want an oil-fired or gas-fired boiler.

An oil-fired boiler is a boiler that is most commonly used in homes that aren’t connected to the gas network and therefore these homes tend to be in rural locations. The oil will need to be delivered to each individual home and stored in a tank located on the premises. The boiler will work predominantly as a ‘wet’ heating system whereby the boiler will heat water for the central heating system and provide hot water when required.

The main advantage of using an oil boiler is that they can be very energy efficient if the right boiler is installed, such as a condensing boiler. This is because these types of boilers use the hot flue gases that would be wasted in older boilers to achieve greater efficiencies. These efficiencies also mean that the boiler is better for the environment as less carbon emissions are released into the atmosphere.

There are however some disadvantages of using an oil-boiler. The main downside is that oil is an expensive fuel to buy and it is likely that the purchase price of oil will continue to rise. Households also need to wait for the oil to be delivered, so if this sort of boiler is used it is important that oil usage is monitored and understood so that it doesn’t run out. Also, if installing an oil boiler for the first time then the installation costs can be high as not only does the boiler have to be installed but an oil storage tank needs to be fitted as well. Therefore, households will need to make sure they have the room available and are happy with having a large bulky storage tank in their garden.

Gas-fired boilers are the most popular central heating system in the UK with an estimated 3.5 million households using gas. The gas for the boiler is provided from the gas network through unseen underground pipes to individual homes.

The advantage of a gas boiler is the fact that again they can be very energy efficient if the most modern and efficient model is being used. It is also the easiest type of boiler to install as most homes are connected to a mains gas supply. This therefore means that households don’t have to worry about how and where they are going to store their energy supply.

The disadvantages are again that gas prices have risen over recent months and are likely to remain high. These types of boiler also come with their high installation costs and if a home isn’t connected to a gas supply then connection costs associated to this can also be high.

In conclusion, choosing whether you want an oil-fired boiler or a gas-boiler tends to come down to personal preference. Both these energy sources have the same disadvantages associated to them and therefore it will be the advantages that will ultimately sway your decision. If you live in a rural location or are not connected to a gas supply then using an oil boiler may be the best option for you. However, if you can choose between either fuel supply then the main decision could come down to whether you want to have an oil storage tank in your garden and order your oil to be delivered or have your fuel supplied by unseen gas pipes in the ground.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

Replacing your old boiler will be one of the most expensive appliance purchases you will make for your property.

It is therefore little wonder that you want to ensure you make the correct purchase decision as well as ensuring you are getting value for money.

Currently it is law that when households replace their old boiler they must replace it with a high-efficiency condensing boiler (unless it is too difficult or expensive to do so). This law has been put into place to ensure that boilers are much more energy efficient and help the environment.

But, how do you go about ensuring that you choose the best boiler for your home? To help you in this question, I have put together a checklist that you should follow to ensure that you consider all the factors for your replacement boiler.

Boiler Replacement Checklist

Consideration 1 – Fuel and Boiler Type Including Boiler Efficiency

Firstly, you need to know what type of fuel you want to use such as gas, oil, wood etc. In most cases a gas boiler will be the most appropriate choice as the majority of homes in the UK are connected to a mains gas supply.

Once you know the fuel supply you will be using you need to decide on the boiler type required. There are many types of boilers on the market and a summary of the main types is as follows –

• Traditional or system boilers
  • This type of boiler will be the traditional old style boiler which is cast iron and heats up water using the same principle as how we heat a kettle. These boilers although reliable need a separate storage tank in the loft in which to retain the water and are expensive to run making the fuel consumption costs high.
• Combination or combi boilers
  • This is the most common type of home boiler used today. This boiler heats your home as well as heating hot water instantaneously when a hot tap is turned on. These are ideal boilers as the instantaneous of hot water saves time and energy.
• Condensing boilers
  • These boilers are considered more environmentally friendly as they make use of the heat that they produce. When using a boiler heat is lost in the form of hot gases but a condensing boiler uses this to heat water in the system making it more efficient.
• Oil boilers
  • Oil boilers work on the same principle as gas boilers but instead of using gas to heat central heating and water it uses oil. To use an oil boiler a home will need an oil storage tank installed and a regular delivery of oil to ensure the system can work.

Consideration 2 – Property Needs

Secondly, you will need to assess your home and how the replacement boiler will fit into the existing infrastructure of your property. For example, do you want the boiler to be hung on a wall or do you want to consider floor-standing boilers. You will also need to consider the boilers distance from the outside wall as this will affect the type of flue that can be used.

Consideration 3 – Household Needs

Thirdly, look at your household’s needs and how this will change in the future. By this I mean looking at the number of rooms that you need to heat, the number of bathrooms that you have and whether the number of people relying on the boiler is likely to change either adding more or less pressure to the boilers usage requirements. This type of assessment will mean you can look more closely at a boilers energy rating and running costs to ensure you get the right one for you.

Consideration 4 – Boiler Manufacturer

Finally, it will be important to choose the right boiler manufacturer as there are so many to choose from. It is recommended that you use comparison type websites, our own boiler reviews, or look at Which? to see impartial advice and independent reviews on boilers.

Also, don’t forget when you have made up your mind to ensure you get a qualified professional to install the boiler to ensure it meets all the health and safety requirements and get it regularly serviced once a year.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

British Gas installs over 100,000 boilers in the UK every year. They install more than anyone else. Today we’re looking at their installation process and why so many people buy from them.

They often run a number of different offers throughout the year and promote them everywhere. You can see one of their latest British Gas boiler offers here. These usually involve discounts on boilers, installation or free breakdown cover. You can make an appointment or enquire online or over the phone. At which point they take contact details and arrange for a heating adviser to visit you so they can provide a free quote.

Heating Adviser Appointment
All British Gas heating advisers are trained to be energy efficiency experts. During the appointment they will complete a technical inspection of your current system and advise you on which heating system is most appropriate for your needs and how you can save money on bills. The quote they provide, unlike some other companies, is a fixed price not an estimate.

The Boiler Installation
The installation is carried out by a qualified engineer and where necessary they cover furniture and appliances and try to minimise disruption. The time it takes to install a new boiler depends on the system. However, a few hours during a single day is not unrealistic for small straight forward replacements.

Do they have any after sales care or guarantees?
They provide 24 hours a day 365 days a year breakdown cover. A 5 year heating system guarantee is also available as well as the promise that all parts for your heating system will be available for 10 years.

Are they expensive?
Because they are such a large company and the largest installers in the UK they command a great deal of buying power which means greater flexibility on finance options and price. They offer a wide range of gas boilers from many top brands including Baxi, Vaillant, Worcester, Potterton and even their own models. You can pay a deposit and the rest on a monthly basis. The cost of a boiler and installation depends on a number of factors which is why a heating adviser appointment is required.

Anything else I should know about?

• In some cases you may need a survey if the installation is tricky, but this will be mentioned during your initial appointment
• Usually materials for the installation will be delivered to you the day before the installation. You may need to clear away an area in your home to accommodate
• If the system takes longer than a day the engineer may have to isolate or even turn off your water and gas supply to certain parts of your home
• Before the work begins it is best to try and locate your gas and electric meters and main water tap

Guest Article by Louise Goldstein

Buying an energy efficient new boiler is an important decision. Heating accounts for about 60% of the average UK household’s energy bills. A gas boiler can also cost thousands to buy and install and last around 12 years, which is quite a commitment.

Do I really need to buy a new boiler?

If you own an old G-rated boiler it could be costing you up to £225 more a year to heat your home than if you installed an A-rated condensing gas boiler. To put this into perspective a G-rated unit is usually less than 70% efficient at converting energy into heat, where as an A-rated boiler is over 90% efficient, that’s at least a difference of 20% in efficiency! Even if you have a D-rated unit you can still save around £65 per year and cut your carbon emissions to do your bit for the environment.

When considering the cost of buying and installing a new boiler you have to take a few things into account. The type of boiler, how it will be installed and associated remedial work will all have a heavy impact on the price. In this instance get a couple of quotes, for example,  British Gas offer free quotes and a qualified heating adviser will visit your home and tell you exactly what system you need and how much it will cost.

Before you get a couple of quotes it’s important to have a general idea about various types of boiler available and which one may be suitable for you. As of 2005 all installed new boilers must be high energy efficient A-rated condensing boilers, unless it is too difficult or expensive to do so.

What’s so good about condensing boilers?

Condensers have what is known as a condensing mode whereby they can actually extract water vapour which normally escapes from older less efficient boilers and change it back into water, this is called condensate. This use of latent heat makes them around 12% more efficient than non-condensing boilers and much more energy efficient than old G-rated boilers.

Two types of condensing boilers

Currently there are two types of condensing boilers. A combi boiler provides heat for your radiators and instant hot water. These units are often used in smaller households where hot water requirements are less. Open vented or system boilers also provide hot water to radiators but need a hot water tank to store it for later use.

System vs combi boilers

System boilers use large tanks, this is useful if you need hot water for multiple taps at the same time. They are also relatively easy to install if you already have a system boiler. Combi boilers on the other hand don’t use a separate tank so less space is needed and you don’t need a timer to pre-heat. However, a combi boiler cannot deliver hot water to multiple taps at the same time, which is not ideal for large families.

Whenever you get a new boiler installed it is very important the installation engineer is fully qualified. The previous official body for gas safety in the UK was Corgi. Now all boiler installers by law have to be registered with Gas Safe.

Guest Article by Louise Goldstein