|
All the Facts
From 1 April 2005 all new gas boilers fitted in England and Wales must be high-efficiency condensing boilers. This change did not apply to oil-fired central-heating boilers until 1 April 2007. This change will not apply to hot air central-heating.
Condensing boilers
Both conventional and combination boilers are available as condensing boilers. These are more energy efficient, as they capture the heat that's normally lost from the flue. The Energy Saving Trust estimates you can cut fuel bills by 32 per cent by replacing a 15-year-old boiler with a new condensing type.Installing a condensing boiler can cost £250 to £300 more than a conventional one. But you should be able to recoup this eventually on reduced fuel bills. You can also receive a grant to help you pay for one. Condensing boilers give off a large plume of water vapour but, if the boiler and flue are sited correctly, this shouldn't be a problem. Regular maintenance of this type of boiler is particularly important as sludge can build up and cause problems.
What type of condensing boiler is for me?
There are 3 different types of high-efficiency condensing boiler:
 Combi
Regular
System
Each type delivers all the benefits of high-efficiency technology, but which one you choose will depend on several factors, including your property, your lifestyle and the profesional advice of your CORGI (gas) or OFTEC (oil) registered installer.
What is a combi boiler?
The high efficiency condensing combi or combination boiler is an ingenious space-saving idea and an increasingly popular choice in UK homes. In fact, combis now account for well over half of all the new domestic boilers installed in Britain every year.
The major difference between a combi and any other type of boiler is that a combi eliminated the need to store hot water - so no hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard. It is both a high-efficiency water heater and central heating boiler, combined (hence the name) within one compact unit which usually sits in the kitchen or utility room, or sometimes in the airing cupboard. The space savings result from the fact there is no hot water storage cylinder, cold water storage cistern or other familiar components of a regular (conventional) heating system.
The further benefits of this are a significant saving on hot water costs, and the fact that hot water is delivered through your taps or shower at mains pressure. So you can enjoy powerful showering* without the need for a pump. Another combi benefit is that it can generally save you money on installation time and costs - no tanks in the roof space means less pipework and a shorter installation time.
* A thermostatically-controlled shower safeguards against sudden changes in water temperature
What is a regular boiler?
If you are replacing an older model of boiler, the chances are that you will have a regular (conventional) boiler. A typical conventional system incorporates a boiler and extended controls, a feed and expansion cistern, and a hot water cylinder (usually in the airing cupboard) which is often fed by a cold water storage cistern located in the loft.
What is a system boiler?
Unlike a combi, both a system boiler and regular (conventional) boiler work on the principle of stored hot water - but a system boiler differs from a regular boiler in some important respects.
Many of the major individual components of the heating and hot water system are built in, which means that installation is quicker, neater, easier and more efficient.
The boiler includes an expaniosn vessel so there is no requirement for a feed or expansion tank in the loft, which allows the installation to save space.
|
