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

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

One of the most contentious debates in the food industry at the moment is product labelling. When is a piece of British Pork actually British? Funnily enough, it need only be packed on these shores to be called British.

Consumer groups have said enough is enough and are demanding changes, but the same issues are being played out it the heating industry over the claims of some boiler manufacturers when it comes to the efficiency of their products.

Because when you talk about boilers, the name of the game is efficiency. Unfortunately for the marketing men, most boilers will always look mostly alike, many are hidden in cupboards and all do basically the same thing, heat water. So go faster stripes are not really going to win anyone over.

But the one big differentiator for all boilers are their efficiency levels. The installer (usually a heating engineer) will recommend whether you need a combi, regular, or system boiler, but when it comes down to efficiency, the consumer is having an increasingly bigger say.

Efficiency saves the consumer money (greater efficiency, less energy, lower bills) and helps the environment. And this efficiency is readily understood by the consumer.

In the good old days, the average central heating would care little about the cost of the operating system. Now, it’s almost the only thing people do care about.

And so does the Government, devising rules that say that unless there is no choice, your property should have a high efficiency boiler (and that means more than 90% efficient, and A rated).

This is measured on the SEDBUK scale and a set of tests were devised, and trials run, to determine the efficiency levels of almost all boilers available in the UK.

Low and behold, most of the boilers scored high with many, thanks to condensing technology, in the late 80 per cents, or the low 90 per cents (in other words, within the building regulations of the day). Then the 2010 SEDBUK figures came out (to coincide with building regulations which now say that only boilers of 90% efficiency, or more, are allowed).

And now some boilers are dropping 2% (into the unfortunate B rating zone), as the heating bodies that regulate the SEDBUK levels feel that they have been a little lenient in the past and manufacturers a little too persuading in their interpretation of rules.

The manufacturers are upset at the authorities changing the goal posts, but many environmental groups are livid it’s almost been like the fox guarding the hen house and the SEDBUK ratings are just not strict enough.

Things are set to change in a couple of years, when the European Commission introduce a new set of directives (and two new layers, A+ and A++) are introduced, but until then, the industry has got to guard against losing credibility in the eyes of the public.

The heating industry has to be transparent and ensure people that they are being honest about ratings and performances. If they don’t try hard to keep the people’s hearts and minds, they will find the big boots of Government all over their industry.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

If you’re already asking yourself the question, do I need a new boiler?, then it’s clearly time to take a long serious look at your current heating device.

You might also discover that it’s time to renew, or upgrade, your whole heating system. Boilers are usually the source of the problem if you discover that your house is not being heated efficiently. Many of the older boiler models suffer from low efficiency levels which can be as low as 50%, but more usually around 70%.

If you consider that a modern, high efficiency condensing boiler operates at around 96%, you will appreciate the difference in energy cost that comes every month out of your wallet. When you compare older 70% efficient boilers to modern condensing boilers operating at 96%, you could be wasting 25p in every pound you spend on your energy.

And not only that, an older boiler sends more waste gases up the flue than a modern boiler which means you are contributing more carbon emissions to the environment.

But don’t lay the blame entirely at the feet of your boiler. It may mean that your whole central heating system is in need of an upgrade, refit, or clean. The boiler might be the heart of the system, but the network of radiators, pipes and controls are vital for the most efficient operating levels.

You need therefore to take a close look at your heating system, including the:

• radiators;
• water tanks;
• piping;
• controls.

And by close look, always err on the side of caution and get an expert to run their eye over your kit. Remember that your boiler can never be examined, serviced, moved, or repaired, by anyone other than an engineer on the Gas Safe Register. This is a legal requirement, not just good advice.

But the boiler aside, have a think about how your central heating system is functioning. Are the radiators working properly? Do they need bleeding (removing air which creates cold spots)? Flushing out (getting rid of sediment which also creates cold spots)? Or, checking for corrosion (which can lead quickly to dramatic leaks)? Water tanks – whether they be hot water tanks, or header tanks – need regularly checking for efficiency and possible corrosion. Piping does not last forever and, like radiators, the miles of pipework in your home can suffer from blockages, sludge build up and corrosion.

Controls (such as individual room thermostats) should be the most modern type you can afford, as the latest models allow the user to spread heat more efficiently throughout the house. And the latest boilers usually have built-in controls which allow the user a large degree of control over their heating system’s work rate, which will allow you in turn to control your consumption and therefore cost.

So when you consider boiler replacement, remember to take stock of your whole system as efficient central heating will mean lower energy bills.

Call British Gas on 0800 327 7832 to ask about arranging a FREE heating system survey!

Article by Alan Potts 

When you start to wonder whether it’s time to consider replacing your old heating system, it really comes down to whether your current system is as efficient as it could be.

If you don’t think your current heating system is operating at maximum efficiency – which basically means heating your house without stressing your household expenditure – then it’s time to think seriously about upgrading your heating system.

And there are a number of key reasons for taking such a step, the most important being efficiency. And some of the main indicators of an inefficient heating system include:

• noisy boiler;
• cold spots around the house;
• half-warm radiators;
• break-downs;
• high energy bills.

Let’s take a look at the boiler. It’s a well known fact that older boilers tend to be only around 70% efficient. Now a modern condensing boiler can return an efficiency rating of over 95%, so what that means is with older boilers, some 25% of the energy you are paying for is literally going up the flue. And that translates to about 25p in the pound being wasted.

Modern boilers are highly efficient and safe. They will maximise your household spend and get the most out of your central heating system. If your current boiler is starting to make noises, or appears to be labouring under the task required of it, then not only should you have it checked out for safety reasons, but you should also consider upgrading it.

High efficiency boilers are also better for the environment, as they also emit far fewer carbon emissions and will help the Government reach their demanding environmental targets.

Cold spots around the house are not just a sign that the boiler is getting to its ‘sell-by’ date. Cold areas might not only suggest that the system is becoming inefficient (blockages caused by sludge can be removed, but blockages caused by pipes corroding, or joints corroding will need greater attention), but also that the heat distribution controls are not adequate enough. Modern thermostat controls are very good at distributing the available heat around a property at a given time. Poor heat control cost the user money.

Half-warm radiators are again a sign that the heating system is not working properly. It might be a simple case of the radiator needing bleeding but it might also mean that a ‘sludge’ build-up throughout the system will necessitate a major flush out of the dirt and debris common in all systems. Or it might mean that the system’s network of pipes, valves and controls is becoming obsolete and will need replacing.

Break-downs are a major sign that all is not right and one of the biggest problems here is that older boilers are sometimes unrepairable as parts are commonly not available for the older models.

Finally, keep an eye on your energy bills. Talk to your energy provider, maybe politely ask your neighbours what they pay, or do some internet research and find out what typically your property should cost to keep warm.

If you discover you’re paying too much, then it may well be time to invest in a new heating system.

Call British Gas on 0800 327 7832 to ask further questions about arranging a heating system survey!

Article by Alan Potts