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 

Questions About Boiler Installation Surveys:

What Do You Mean By a Survey?
Installing a new boiler, or central heating system, is not always as straightforward as it sounds. Often properties have ‘features’ that require special attention, or it might mean that a boiler, or pipe network, needs some special attention from the installation engineers before they can be placed in-situ. And that might lead to special materials having to be ordered, or a change in system specification. It is far better to be prepared, than try and install a new system only to find that last-minute changes have to be made causing delay and maybe additional cost.

Is A Survey Always Needed?
No. A survey will only be conducted if the person providing the original quotes thinks that there might be an ‘issue’ (such as allowing for a feature inside the property) which will become relevant during the work. Most of the information needed is taken at the quotation stage and this usually is enough with which to get the project completed on time. But don’t worry, as the supplier will take the utmost care and attention in making sure the job is handled quickly and efficiently.

How Do I Prepare for a Survey?
Don’t worry. A survey does not involve disruption to you, or your home. A person will just need to take certain measurements and ensure that the installation team know where, for example, the new boiler will be fitted, or where the pipes will run. They will consider the siting of any controls and if certain radiators have to be relocated. Bear in mind that the person doing the survey does this all the time and they are very experienced in making sure that all goes smoothly in preparation for good installation.

Will the Survey Involve My Neighbours?
Only occasionally will a survey impact upon your neighbours. Say with a shared wall (to which the team might need access to install a flue), or with a shared drive, to which the installation team will need access to park their van. If you think that this might be the case – and the person providing the quotation will provide some guidance on this – then it’s always best to let your neighbours know. It’s courtesy to let them know that there will be a installation taking place and that they might be asked to provide access.

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

Questions About The Boiler Installation:

How Do I Prepare for the Installation?
Every installation is made as painless as possible for you, the householder. And this is why the details taken at the quotation stage, or during the survey, are very important for ensuring the minimal amount of hassle for everyone concerned. If you have to go out during the installation process, please allow an hour of your time to coincide with the arrival and departure of the installation team. This will mean that any questions from the team can be answered and acted upon before you leave.

How Long Will Installation Take?
As every job is different, this is hard to answer. But suffice to say that an estimate will be provided at the quotation, or survey stage. This will give you an accurate guide as to how long the job will take.  And you can also do your bit to speed up the installation time, if you take a little time to think about how you can help with say access for the installation team and making sure that your property is ready for their arrival.

Will I Lose Power and Water?
Mostly, no, as the installation team can isolate where they are working and maintain power to the property, as well as water supply. In some circumstances of course, an interruption cannot be avoided, but such occasions should be short and you will be notified in advance of it happening. It’s best to anticipate some disruption and making a few contingencies can work wonders for everyone involved.

Will I Lose My Heat and Hot Water?
On most occasions – especially if the job takes more than one day – then yes, you will most likely go without your heat and hot water for a period of time. The installation team will ensure that the length of any such disruption will be kept as short as possible.

What Access Will the Installation Team Need?
It helps a great deal if some basic preparations can be made in advance of the installation team arriving and starting work. The more that can be done in this area of the job, the quicker the work can be completed. It’s always best to remove fragile items from where the team will be working; remove clothes say from the airing cupboards; lay down carpet coverings; furniture moved; pets safely housed out of the way; and, get the kettle on!

The installation team will be very experienced in such work and they will also bring their own coverings and dust sheets. But any help in this area from you, would be greatly appreciated by the team.

Also, have a quick think about where the installation team can park their vehicle. Would it be possible, for example, for you to move you car off your drive onto the road; or, arrange parking in say the car park of a block of flats for the team, so they can get easy access.

Will I Have a Say About Location of Boiler, Pipes, and Radiators?
Many of these questions and issues will have been answered at the quotation stage, or when a survey has been completed. But it is possible that a few last minute issues might crop up and then its best to have a chat with the installation team. Always bear in mind that certain things happen for a good reason. For example, it is sometimes not possible to conceal all the pipework; vents are often visible; drains cannot be removed; and, a property’s design will often dictate a particular type of installation. If you have any doubts, you would do well to ask your installer, who should be able to advise on most points.

Call British Gas on 0800 327 7832 to arrange a visit from a heating advisor to give you a quote on a new boiler!

Article by Alan Potts 

The Worcester Bosch boiler manufacturer has added to its website a new section called ‘Quick Gas Boiler Help.’

Designed to help boiler users during the cold winter months, the new section to the Worcester Bosch boiler’s website is there to offer friendly and easily accessible advice at all times. As the team at Worcester point out, a boiler’s lights might start flashing, but it could be something quite innocent – a simple command – or it could mean it needs servicing by a Gas Safe Registered engineer.

But the Worcester team make the valid point that more often than not, it’s a simple process to put right, but users have to have the confidence to put it right. And that’s where the handy online reference comes in. It provides quick hints and answers, plus lists of frequently asked questions, that should help most users of Worcester boilers with their initial queries and dilemmas.

Users of the website first select their model of Worcester Bosch boiler from a drop-down menu and can then click on the icon ‘find tips’ for all kinds of valuable advice. The list of frequently asked questions handles a number of recurring topics, including the meaning of certain codes, the implications of a blue flashing light and how to re-pressurise a system. The section also includes a number of helpful videos and advice as to whether a call to a Worcester representative might be beneficial.

Worcester make the point that the advice section only offers an initial level of advice and does not replace professional advice, or using a heating engineer when appropriate.

The new section of the Worcester website comes at the same time that the Company has launched a campaign to find some of their oldest models still in existence. They particularly want to track down working examples of a: Heatslave Senior 6; Heatslave 2+; Firefly Oil Fired boiler; and, a Highflow 3.5. These are between 20 and 40 years old and are needed for an extensive collection already housed in the Worcester boiler museum. This unique collection gives visitors an insight into years of products, company literature, press cuttings and photography.

The hunt for the old boilers also commemorates two coming milestones in the history of the company. Next year it will be the 125th birthday of Bosch and a year later in 2012, Worcester will be celebrating 50 years of existence.

The Worcester Bosch boiler team are targeting installers who they think might know of customers who have the units mentioned above. And in return for being offered such a boiler, they are willing to donate £400 – matching the boiler scrappage scheme grant – to help towards a new boiler.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Business Directory – B2B Index – Online business to business directory

The Chester and District Housing Trust is trialling Baxi back boilers in a scheme which sees it updating its housing stock to meet the Decent Homes standards. Part of the ambition is to try and combat fuel poverty for the house holders.

The Baxi Bermuda BBU HE is one of the few true high efficiency boilers on the market at the moment. Their back boilers are designed to offer all the benefits of a modern boiler, together with all the advantages of a traditional back boiler.

The Chester and District Housing Trust has over 1,000 of its properties fitted with standard efficiency back boiler units. The challenge was to select and install an affordable alternative.

Hamish Laird, The Chester and District Housing Trust M&E Surveyor, said:
“Back boiler units cleverly fit into a property’s existing fireplace. However, when it comes to replacing a standard efficiency BBU siting a boiler alternative elsewhere can prove difficult, especially in small homes.”

The first property to get an installed Baxi Bermuda BBU HE was a 1950s bungalow in Melrose Avenue, Chester. It was chosen because being a one-bedroomed property, it had very limited wall space and would be a challenging site for a traditional condensing boiler.

The contractor to install the boiler was PH Jones, a national property maintenance company and Chris Jones, Social Housing Refurbishment Director at PH Jones, said:
“The installation of the Baxi Bermuda BBU HE went very smoothly. We connected the unit to the existing pipe-work, renewed all radiators and incorporated an expansion vessel to upgrade to a pressurised system with Y plan control and a new hot water cylinder, working closely with the XDHT to minimise disruption to the tenant.”

Mr Laird went onto say:
“The Baxi Bermuda BBU HE offered Melrose Avenue a high efficiency solution as a direct replacement to its existing BBU, without needing to re-site the boiler. The tenant living in the property has found the BBU unit easy to use and should now benefit from significant fuel savings.”

Hi-efficiency Baxi back boilers have become more popular when consumers bear in mind that since 2003, there has been a whopping 114% rise in gas prices. This has brought a new priority to throwing out old, inefficient boilers, and installing new ones. When compared to an old Band G boiler, says the Energy Saving trust, a Band A boiler will use a third less fuel in providing the same amount of heat.

Baxi reckons that there are around two million old back boilers still being used today and designed the Baxi Bermuda BBU HE, which is Band A rated and has an output of 15kW, as a suitable replacement.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

The MP for Leeds Central who’s also the Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn, has been shown the new Baxi Bioflo Biomass boiler.

Mr Benn was opening one of first new generation Plumb Center branches and was given a demonstration of the new Baxi Bioflo Biomass boiler. The Plumb Center has renewable technology displays, training facilities, showrooms, and a catalogue of water efficient products on display.

With the successful refurbishment of this first branch located in the centre of Leeds, there will be much hope for the other similar upgrades planned right across the country throughout the rest of the year. With the Plum Center including training facilities, it is hoped that these new branches will be at the forefront of providing training in the industry to customers and staff alike.

This idea is one of many that Plumb Center have brought to fruition, starting back in 2008 when they made their first dedication to the renewable energy and solutions cause. In April 2008, Plumb Center backed its parent company Wolseley PLC in the opening of a show space for sustainable building products. Architects, installers and landlords could see close-up the new ideas and innovative technologies in the field of renewable solutions. The Sustainable Building Center in Leamington Spa demonstrated to many the first available micro-CHP appliance (the Baxi Ecogen), and has been visited by more than 10,000 people since it’s opening.

As for the new opening, Plumb Center are proud of their new pledge to sustainable solutions as Keith Jones, MD Plum Center, explains: "We are delighted to officially open this flagship branch which incorporates so many of the technologies, products and facilities that our customers want to see. What better way to show customers the benefits of new and sustainable technologies such as biomass than by having them as working displays in the branch actually providing space and water heating for the building."

Mr Benn appeared inspired by the opening, and will take the ideas on board as the Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: “Seeing is believing. Green technologies and water saving innovations are crucial to our future, and I applaud Plumb Center for taking this lead in encouraging both the industry and the public to see for themselves how these innovations really can work. Of course, from a local point of view, I’m very pleased that this is happening in my own constituency as I believe this will be a huge benefit to local installers and their customers."

With working displays such as the Baxi Bioflo biomass boiler within the Plumb Center, it is hoped that the funding for and proliferation of renewable and energy saving technologies will only continue to increase.

Guest Article by Neil Camp