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Saving money on your boiler - 9 February 2010

Benefits of energy efficient boilers answered by CORGI installer.

1. What is a high efficiency condensing boiler?
Answer: A high efficiency condensing boiler is a central heating boiler that has a minimum efficiency rating of at least 86%. These high efficiency central heating boilers are more commonly known as a condensing boiler. The efficiency rating system is known as a SEDBUCK (Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK) and provides a rating from A to F in a similar way domestic electrical appliances are rated. The attached chart provides the efficiency rating of each band.

2. Is my boiler a high efficiency condensing boiler?
Answer: Unless your central heating boiler was installed in the last five years it is very unlikely to be a condensing boiler. Your central heating boiler manufacturer will be able to offer advice on the efficiency rating of your boiler. The attached chart provides general guidance on efficiency ratings of various types of domestic central heating boilers. This may be used by gas engineers to advise their customers on the efficiency rating of their boiler.

3. How do I buy one?
Answer: Nearly all of the central heating boilers that are installed in domestic premises are of an efficiency rating of at least 86% generally known as the condensing central heating boiler. Therefore when a gas installer installs a central heating boiler in a domestic premises it will be one that is at least 86% efficient unless there are particular situations where this type of boiler cannot be installed. Because of this requirement, central heating boiler suppliers will generally only stock only boilers of at least 86% efficient and the less efficient models when required will have to be specially ordered from the central heating boiler manufacturer.

CORGI would advise that any gas appliance is installed by a registered gas installer. In GB this is Gas Safe Register and Northern Ireland it is CORGI.

4. how much money could I save from a better home heating system? (FYI Energy Saving Trust calculate this at £275/year, do you have similar stats we can include?)
Answer: Organisations such as the Energy Saving Trust would be able to offer general advice on how much money can be saved.

5. Is a combination condensing boiler more efficient than a regular condensing boiler?
Answer: First of all a combination boiler is a boiler that provides hot water when required directly from the central heating boiler itself as well as the central heating system. A Regular or as it is known a system central heating boiler heats up a separate hot water cylinder and the central heating system. Both types of boiler, being the condensing type as they are known, or at least 86% efficient would be equally as efficient.

6. Are condensing boilers overcomplicated and unreliable?
Answer: No they are not. Condensing central heating boilers have been on the market for a number of years and as with any piece of technology, constant improvements are always being made.

7. How can I make my central heating system more efficient without spending lots of money?
Answer: Turning a room thermostat down or if you have thermostatic radiator valves on your radiators turn them down. If you have a central heating programmer or a time clock, sometimes resetting the central heating on times may be of a benefit. These are general guidance but will depend on each user’s requirements.

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