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

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

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

British Gas the largest installer of new boilers in the UK has recently bought a stake in AlertMe, which makes smart meters. These meters are used in homes and commercial premises to measure gas and electric usage. They take multiple readings everyday and report back directly to the energy supplier resulting in far more accurate billing.

This new acquisition by British Gas is a well-timed move because the government has announced it is aiming to have a smart meter installed in every home by 2020. The energy saving market is still relatively new in domestic terms but the potential is huge and the market continues to grow with new and exciting developments.

How Can Smart Meters Help Me?
Well, for one thing no more gas man visits! For most of us receiving a visit for a meter reading is an annoying inconvenience. Smart meters send automatic readings back so there is no need for manual readings.

Most people have received a shock bill at one time or another and there has been no shortage of negative press. These bills can be really bad news for people on low fixed incomes such as OAPs and single parent families. With smart meters the bills are much more accurate as you are only billed for what you actually use.

If you are environmentally conscious, and take an active interest in reducing your carbon footprint, you can even purchase a smart meter that measures CO2 emissions.

How Do Smart Meters Work?
Most of the current smart meters such as the ones British Gas provide use a SIM card that uses the GPRS GSM network to send and receive information, similar to a text message.

How much do Smart Meters Cost?
Although at this point it seems smart meters are going to be provided for free to homeowners. The utility companies and the government are expected to cough up about £7 billion to install them, this expenditure will no doubt be passed on to the rest of us somewhere down the line. However, the long-term environmental and financial benefits are worthwhile.

Other Energy Efficient Gadgets
The energy efficiency market is becoming a huge global market. LG has recently launched its new ThinQ range which includes washing machines controlled via Smartphones which can be set to run when electricity is cheapest. The range also displays current energy consumption readings which are relayed to PCs to help homeowners analyse energy efficiency.

GE is about to offer its own version of smart home appliances that will actually be able to reduce demand for power in response to changing energy prices which is particularly interesting in terms of energy efficiency.

Germany is currently testing Smart Grid technology on a model city. It is a two way technology which will relay detailed information about power. The benefits are huge as the grid can tell home appliances and commercial machinery to run at the most energy efficient times. This is ideal for washing machines and factory machinery that do not need to run at specific times of the day.

Home energy efficiency is moving into a new exciting era and who knows hopefully we will soon see gas boilers that can actually use and store grid power and home generated renewable energy for later use.

Guest Article by Louise Goldstein