Heating and hot water

Grants, cost and savings

Boilers account for around 60% of the carbon dioxide emissions in a gas heated home. By replacing an old G-rated boiler with a new high efficiency condensing boiler and improving your heating controls, you will significantly cut your home's carbon dioxide emissions - saving as much as £225 a year.

The current lifespan of a boiler is around 12 years. Fitting an A-rated high efficiency condensing boiler with the correct heating and hot water controls can make a huge difference to your heating bills over time.

There may be grants and offers available to help you install an energy efficient heating system. Alternatively, contact your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012.

Below are typical savings which can be achieved by replacing boilers with new A-rated condensing models and installing a full set of heating controls:

Save up to a quarter on your heating bills by replacing your boiler and heating controls

You could save up to a quarter on your heating bills by replacing your boiler and heating controls

Costs

Costs for replacing a new boiler can vary in each house. It will depend on the type of boiler and system, the labour needed, whether the boiler needs re-siting in the home, or how much remedial work is required.

From the recent boiler scrappage scheme, we estimate that on average a new replacement gas boiler costs around £2,500. A replacement oil boiler costs around £3000.

Costs will vary considerably between each situation, so always get 3 quotes.

Suitability

The current lifespan of a boiler is around 12 years. From 2005 any new gas boiler installed had to be high efficiency condensing boiler. And since October 2010 any new boiler installed must be A-rated, or 88% efficient. In exceptional circumstances a non-condensing boiler can be installed if necessary.

• Condensing boilers get their name because they enter what is called "condensing mode" at regular intervals.
• They start to extract heat from the exhaust gases that would otherwise escape through the flue, in the process turning water vapour from the gas back into liquid water or condensate.
• A condensing boiler captures much more usable heat from its fuel than a non-condensing boiler.
• A condensing boiler can be up to 12% more efficient than non-condensing boiler as it utilises the “latent heat” that is released from the burned fuel as it changes from vapour into water
• The heat exchanger makes sure that as much heat as possible is transferred from the boiler's burner - and as little as possible lost in gases through the flue.

There are two types of condensing boiler: ‘Combination’ (or combi) and ‘System’ or ‘Open Vent’.

Combination or Combi condensing boilers provide heated water for radiators or under floor heating. And give you instant hot water without the need for a hot water cylinder.

System or Open Vent condensing boilers also provide heated water for radiators or under floor heating, and require a hot water tank where hot water is heated and stored.

The type of boiler you chose to have will depend on the suitability of each, and your lifestyle or needs. Not all new boilers have to come without a hot water tank, although they do have to be condensing, in the majority of situations.

A qualified installer will be able to advise on what the best option is for you. However, here is a quick guide to what the different types mean:

Combination/Combi condensing boiler: -
Heats water for the taps when you turn the tap on, so you don’t need to set a timer to warm water before it can be used.
No need to have a separate hot water tank, so can be space saving.
No heat loss from a hot water tank as it only heats water on demand.
This is ideal if you don’t use much hot water each day.

A combi condensing boiler may not be suitable when:-
The house has low mains pressure.
The house has multiple bathrooms or shower (that aren’t electric).

System or Open Vent condensing boiler:-
Can store hot water in a separate tank, so large amounts of hot water is available if multiple points/taps are in use at one time.
Ideal if you like to use an airing cupboard.
Boiler replacement could be simpler if replacing a like for like system.
Not all home heating systems will be compatible with a combination boiler.
A qualified installer will tell you which type of condensing boiler - regular or combination - is most suitable for your home.

If your boiler is 15 years old or more then it is likely to be a G-rated boiler. Find out if your boiler is G-rated. Replacing an old G-rated boiler with a new A- rated condensing boiler, and a full set of heating controls, can save up to a quarter on your heating bills straight away and up to 1,200kg of CO2year. If your boiler is less than 15 years old then it is likely to be more efficient, so will save you less if you replace it.

What sort of boiler do you have?

To tell a condensing boiler from a non-condensing boiler, look at the flue that sticks out from the outdoor wall adjacent to your boiler. And the type of waste heat it lets out into the atmosphere.

A flue is a pipe that takes the exhaust gases generated by your boiler and passes them out through the wall or roof - letting them escape into the air. The end of the flue is covered by a metal or plastic protective cover, which makes sure that a good flow of air is maintained.

If the flue is made of plastic and lets out visible steam when the boiler is firing, then congratulations - you are likely to have a condensing boiler already.

If the flue is made of metal and no steam is visible, you are likely to have a non-condensing boiler. These older boilers let out much hotter gases that are invisible to the naked eye - and would melt a plastic flue.

To find out if you have a condensing boiler visit the SEDBUK website.

New Boilers

Boilers are rated according to their efficiency in converting fuel to heat as a percentage. This rating is called SEDBUK - Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK.

There are two SEDBUK rating systems, SEDBUK 2005 and the newly updated SEDBUK 2009. SEDBUK 2005 uses an A to G rating, A-rated boilers being more than 90% efficient. SEDBUK 2009 no longer uses the A-G rating but only displays the percentage efficiency.Under the new system a SEDBUK 2005 90% efficient A-rated boiler will be regarded as 88% efficient, according to SEDBUK 2009. This goes for gas, oil and LGP boilers. The 2% difference between SEDBUK 2005 and 2009 is mainly down to differences in efficiencies between using a boiler for space heating in the winter months and only using it for water heating in the summer months.

The A-G rating will still apply if the boiler was tested under SEDBUK 2005, and should be made clear under what test standards the boiler was tested.New minimum efficiencies for gas, oil & LPG replacement boilers in Great Britain.

Only A-rated boilers - rated at 90% or better - carry the Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo.

How to guide

Before looking to buy a new condensing boiler and heating controls you should ensure that your home is fully insulated.

Once your home is fully insulated your first step when buying a new boiler should be to get at least three quotes. One of the best ways to find a reliable installer is to ask around - and get a personal recommendation from a trusted friend or relative. To make sure you're complying with Gas Safety Regulations, you should always use a Gas Safe registered engineer.

In Great Britain, all work on gas appliances must be carried out by an engineer on the Gas Safe register which replaced the CORGI* gas register in Great Britain and the Isle of Man on 1st April 2009 and in Northern Ireland and Guernsey on 1st April 2010, (*CORGI will continue to operate as the voluntary registration body in Jersey).

Boiler Installation

England and Wales

We strongly recommend that any boiler or heating systems are fitted by an installer who is registered with a Competent Person Scheme. Competent Person Schemes were introduced by the UK Government to allow individuals and businesses to self-certify their work as compliant with UK Building Regulations. Most installation or upgrade work done on your heating system is subject to Building Regulations. These regulations vary depending on where you are in the UK, but generally all work must be notified to your local authority.

Competent Person Scheme installers can self-certify their work as compliant with Building Regulations. They can also notify the local authority on your behalf and issue you with a certificate on completion which can be used as proof of compliance. It will also show up on a solicitor's Local Authority search when you sell your home.

If you don't use an installer registered with a Competent Person Scheme then you will have to submit a building notice or full plans application and pay a fee to have Building Control come and inspect the work you have carried out.To find an installer registered with a Competent Person Scheme, visit the competent person website and enter your postcode or the name of the installer in the relevant search box.

Scotland

We strongly recommend that any boiler or heating systems are fitted by an installer who is a member of the Approved Certifier of Construction scheme (Scotland) Although a building warrant is not required for many replacement, or new boiler or heating installations, all work must be carried out in accordance with the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004. It is the responsibility of the building owner to ensure that work carried out to their property complies with the building regulations and the building warrant.

Certification may only be undertaken by an Approved Certifier who is registered with a Certification Scheme Provider and only applies when the work being done requires a building warrant. Approved Certifiers can be found on the online Certification Register. The Certification Register is the only authoritative source of information for all Approved Bodies and Approved Certifiers in Scotland.

The Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) was appointed by the Scottish Government to run a scheme which allows individuals (Approved Certifiers of Construction) to "certify" drainage, heating and plumbing work which is subject to a building warrant. The Approved Certifier must be employed by a business (Approved Body) which is either a member of the Plumbing Industry Licensing scheme which is operated by SNIPEF or they must meet the Licensing scheme criteria.

Please also see below, a list of Competent Person / Approved Certifiers of Construction (Scotland) Scheme operators:

• Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation (BESCA)
• National Association for Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT)
• National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC)
• Oil Firing Technical Association Limited (OFTEC)
• Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme (HETAS)
• Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI)*
• Gas Safe register
• Electrical Contractors' Association (ELECSA)
• Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF)

Other checks you can make about installers include asking:

• Does the installer have a local office?
• Has he/she been in business locally for several years?
• Are customer references available that you can check?

Your local council may also be able to help with a list of qualified installers. Visit centralheating.co.uk to find out more.

• If you're looking for an installer your local advice centre will be happy to put you in touch with registered professionals in your area. Call 0800 512 012 for free, independent advice.

• Use our new Energy Saving Trust Recommended product search to find a high efficiency boiler. The Energy Saving Trust Recommended scheme certificates the best in class products and covers gas, oil and LPG boilers.
  
• Another useful site is the Heating and Hot water Council (HHIC). The site has a useful list of what should be included on a quote, a list of registered installers, and a list of everything that you should be told about once a new boiler is fitted.

Please remember to keep any boiler-related certificates in a safe place. You'll need them when you sell your home!

Looking after your central heating system

When your new boiler is being installed or serviced, your installer should also need to clean and flush your central heating system, and add a chemical inhibitor which helps to reduce lime scaling and corrosion. This will remove any limescale or sludge already in your heating system - ensuring your heating continues to work as efficiently as possible.There are three main treatments which can be used:

• Flushing: This will either involve a `powerflush', or a ‘mains pressure water flush’ (which will take longer).
• Inhibitors: Chemical inhibitors can be added to the system, helping prevent build up of lime scale and help prevent corrosion.
• Water softeners: If a combination boiler is installed in a hard water area, water softeners can be added to the system.

Powerflushing is the most thorough and effective way to cleanse existing systems , and hot flushing is more effective than cold flushing. But the method your installer uses depends on your make of boiler, as does the type of cleanser. Your installer should always check and stick to the manufacturer's instructions.

Any maintenance work on your boiler in years to come should also be carried out by an Gas Safe installer (CORGI* continues to operate in Jersey). Your installer will also be able to tell you when you need to get your boiler serviced.Your boiler should usually be serviced once a year by an installer. When your boiler is serviced, you should check that the system is clean; this will ensure your heating system continues to work as efficiently as possible.

A system may benefit from cleaning:

• If a system is `cold-spotting' - where the radiators do not provide uniform heat and feel cold to the touch in patches.
• When the system pump can be heard `labouring' - because the system is pumping round not just water, but also the build up of sludge or lime scale.

Where do I go for more information?

• You can contact our advice centres on 0800 512 012. They will be able to talk you through what you need to do to get a new boiler.
  
• To find a list of registered installers visit the competent person website , SNIPEF, or centralheating.co.uk

• Check out our heating controls section to make sure you’re getting the most out of your boiler, whether old or new.