How to choose a new boiler. (furnace)

New boilers can be expensive and so it is important you choose the correct type to suit your needs. As well as being a competitive price, your new boiler will need to meet a number of other criteria. That is to say:

·       All new boilers have to have an efficiency rating of either A or B,. this is from the SEDBUK rating system. Those with an A rating can cost more, but they will save money on your energy bills. Products are listed on the SEDBUK Boiler Efficiency Database. This Government database lists the Seasonal Efficiency of all Domestic Boilers in the UK. For full details visit   www.sedbuk.com. In essence the A rated boilers are the best in terms of efficiency and fuel consumption. Boilers of a lower rating will cost more to run and be less environmentally good. To put this into perspective an old D rated boiler could potentially be less than 50% efficient!……Yes that’s right you could be throwing away over half of the money you spend on your gas bill. 

·       Get a boiler that’s easy to install in your situation. Choosing a boiler that has to go in a different position or in a different room to your current boiler can cause problems, especially with regards to the flue arrangements. Easy to install boilers are often easy to maintain and service as well which means less problems during its annual service. There are a large range of rules and regulations that govern the positioning of gas boilers. This means extreme caution needs to be taken before attempting to move a boiler to a new position. More often than not it is much more cost effective to replace a boiler, leaving it in the same position (as long as the condensate route is OK, see below).

·       The increased efficiency of modern boilers mentioned above is achieved by the boiler being what is called a condensing boiler. With older boilers a lot of heat energy is lost through the flue. Condensing boilers trap this wasted heat energy in the exhaust gases and puts it back into heating your water. This means however, that a condensing boiler has an extra pipe, called the condense or condensate pipe. This pipe needs to be connected to a waste pipe such as the sink waste. The important point here is that the position of your new boiler will need to take this new pipe into consideration. Ideally the pipe needs to be installed with a continuous fall between the boiler and the waste. If this can not be achieved then extra cost will be incurred as a condensate pump will need to be installed.

·       You do not want to have to be a qualified boiler installation engineer in order to operate your new boiler. Simple controls and easy to program timers are a available on many new models of boiler, however some still have more complex systems which can tend to go wrong and are complex to use. Generally the older style mechanical time clocks are very easy to set, easy to use and rarely ever go wrong. The other thing to consider is that the digital clocks can cost four times as much. Some boilers come with the clock and room thermostat included and some do not. If these need to be purchased separately, this can mean an extra £100 to £200 to factor in.

·       People get confused with boiler power and flow rate. The flow rate is critical for the correct volume of water to be available at the outlets. Flow rate equals the volume of water delivered in a given time, usually given in litres per minute. With a combi boiler the output is only as good as the water supply coming in. This means that if you have a low supply coming into your property, you will only ever get a low supply from your boiler. Each model of boiler has its own flow rate, so you must check these. Usually the higher the flow rate of the boiler the more expensive is will be.

·       It is important that you choose a boiler with the correct power output for the size of your home. Boilers installed that are too big for your home will cost more and be a waste of money. Choosing a boiler that is too small will cause problems with not enough water supply to the taps. People such as boiler installation London will help you choose the correct size boiler for your needs. The power rating of a boiler is either in kilowatts or BTUs, in essence the higher the number the more powerful the boiler. Many of the best boiler manufacturers, such a Worcester Bosch, will have online boiler choice information to help you choose the right size.

·       Most new boiler models have low CO2 and NOx ­emissions from the flue into the atmosphere, which mean they are better for your carbon foot print. Some are lower than others though and you need to taking this into consideration along with the energy efficiency rating of the the new boiler to be installed. Remember carbon monoxide detectors are a good idea, cheap to buy and easy to install. A few pounds is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

·       Storage space is at a premium in many homes and particularly large cities like London. Changing a heating system from a conventional one to a combi boiler system, can save a lot of space. This is because you will loose the old hot water tank. Combination boilers are recommended by boiler installation London because of their high efficiency and also because they need a lot less space in your home. However for a larger property with high water demands it is vital to install the correct size boiler.

To sum up there are many different factors to consider and research before choosing a new or replacement boiler. It’s a great idea to take time to understand the variables, but people like boiler installation London can guide you through every step of the way. A new efficient condensing boiler can save you a lot of money over the long term.