How do you know when you need a new boiler install?

So you’ve consistently serviced your boiler for years, you’ve looked after it, you’re using your experience to make a decision to change knowing it may hurt your pocket in the long run and over the 15-20 years it’s had its most efficient days!

Buying a new boiler is a big and expensive decision. There are a few things you to know before you get a new boiler installed.

Buying a new boiler and finding the correct boiler installer is an and complicated process at the best of times let alone against the backdrop of your old boiler breaking down suddenly at Christmas. To help make it easier for you, our quick guide rounds up the main things you need to consider when buying a new boiler.

With a typical boiler installation costing anywhere between £3,000 and £5,000, before you take the plunge and sign on the dotted line for your new boiler these tips may help you.

The importance of a reliable new boiler

It’s simple really the more reliable your new boiler, the less money you will have to shell out on expensive repairs. According to our annual boilers survey, the average cost of a boiler repair is £210 which is quite an incentive to pick a reliable brand. If you choose the most reliable brand of boiler to install, according to a Which? survey, an impressive 63% are likely to still be fault free after six and a half years. Get unlucky and pick the least reliable brand, and this falls to a disappointing 45%. Don’t be left with cold showers in a freezing cold home only pick a new boiler from one of the most reliable and best boiler brands.

Get your boiler engineer’s opinion but consider the answer carefully your boiler engineer will be an invaluable source of information during the buying process. He or she will be able to guide you to make the best choice on the type and size of boiler you need.

What types of boiler are there?

There are three main types of gas condensing boiler to choose from: a combi, system and conventional.

A combination boiler, commonly known as a combi boiler, heats water as you need it and eliminates the need for a storage tank. A heat-only boiler, sometimes known as a conventional boiler, means you will have a hot water tank or cylinder where hot water can be stored for later use.  A system boiler is just like a heat-only boiler, but more components are built in. This can make system boilers easier to install than conventional ones and they tend to take up less space. If you live in a small home with only one bathroom or live on your own or with only one other person, a standard combi boiler without a hot water tank will usually be the best choice. If your home is larger or there are more than two people living in it, then a heat-only or system boiler is usually a better option.  Your heating engineer will be able to talk you through the different types of boiler and make a recommendation for the best choice in your home.

Choosing an efficient new boiler If you are replacing an old-style boiler with a modern gas condensing boiler, the good news is you are likely to save a decent amount on your energy bill.  The latest savings estimates (source: Sedbuk) state that if you live in a detached home and are replacing an old-style heavyweight boiler with a modern condensing boiler, you will be swapping average fuel bills of £1,705 for £1,053 – a £652 saving. £652 The estimated annual saving you can make on your energy bill by swapping an old-style boiler for a modern one. If you already have a modern condensing boiler and are simply looking for a replacement, the good news is that they are all very energy efficient. Based on analysing all the gas condensing boilers available in the ranges of the biggest 11 manufacturers in the UK, which is more than 300 boilers in total, the difference in efficiency is minor.  Based on the efficiency calculated to an industry standard called SAP 2009, the least efficient has a rating of 88.2 and the most efficient is 91.0. The average efficiency of all the boilers analysed is 89.2.

Get your boiler engineer’s opinion but consider the answer carefully your boiler engineer will be an invaluable source of information during the buying process. He or she will be able to guide you to make the best choice on the type and size of boiler you need.

What size boiler do I need? When picking the best size boiler for your home you should consider two things:

• The heating and hot water capabilities of the boiler
• The physical size of your boiler and whether it will fit in the space you have it destined for

The correct heating size of the boiler will be something unique to you and your home, as it depends on things such as how many bathrooms you have and how many people you live with. This is something your heating engineer can help you with, and he or she will be key to making sure you achieve your hot water and heating requirements i.e. cold water flow through taps (litres per Minute) if choosing a Combi boiler.

It is always good practice to ask your heating engineer what size boiler he or she thinks best fits your requirements.

Good luck with choosing the best boiler for your home.

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