New Back Boiler? Replace It With A Combi

What is a back boiler?

A back boiler is a unit that fits behind a fireplace or a gas fire and produces hot water for central heating and domestic use throughout the home. The back boiler is an outdated system that gained popularity for its reliability in the 60's and 70's, but is now no longer manufactured and are almost never advised for a new installation. The boiler also needs a separate water tank or hot water cylinder to function, which needs to be stored elsewhere in the home.

What is a combi boiler?

A combi (combination) boiler combines the functions of a water heater and a central heating boiler into one, single unit. A combi boiler heats water on demand, therefore eliminates the need for a separate tank or the need to wait for a cylinder to refill. Their compact design means they can usually be conveniently mounted on a wall in the kitchen or utility room. Because of their compact design and excellent energy efficiency rating, they are used in the majority of new boiler installations in the UK.

Why replace a back boiler with a combi boiler?

1. All new combi boilers are condensing which means that they have a Flue Gas Heat Recovery System, that most back boilers do not have, that recycles the heat from waste gases to preheat the new, cold water as it enters the boiler from the mains.
2. Combi boilers must achieve an A-rating for energy efficiency. Back boilers typically achieve only 76% energy efficiency compared to 90% achieved by modern combi boilers. Not only could this inefficiency of a back boiler be damaging to the environment, it could also be bad for your wallet too with all that wasted energy racking up an incredibly costly, inconvenient bill. By replacing your back boiler with a combi boiler, you could be making savings of up to £320 a year^[41].
3. In some circumstances, a back boiler could be a hazard in your household because if heated, your back boiler could explode due to the pressure build-up.
4. Ease of installation because of no need for multiple elements, a Combi boiler can usually be fitted anywhere in the home. However, removal of a back boiler can cause disruption in your home because an engineer would be required to remove the old one from the wall. This can also add to the expense of replacing your boiler, so it can often be cheaper to install a modern combi boiler elsewhere in your home.
5. A combi boiler could save space in your home. A back boiler requires two tanks which results in an inconvenient storage situation by taking up vital room in your home. A combi boiler however is a single wall-mounted unit; the compact and manageable size of a combi boiler makes it a suitable solution for most sized properties.

If you aren’t sure what combi boiler you would need in your home, it’s generally advised that the more radiators and bathrooms you have then the higher the output needs to be. If you have a high demand for hot water, then a high efficiency, condensing system or conventional boiler may be the answer. Find out more about boiler boilers and combi boiler brands here.

To find out how much a new back boiler replacement could cost you, get a quote online or call 0203 763 2682 .