Boilers account for about 55 per cent of what you spend in a year on energy bills, so an efficient boiler makes a big difference.  Modern boilers are more efficient for several reasons, but their main advantage is that they're all condensing boilers. All well maintained boilers burn their fuel very efficiently, but they inevitably lose some heat in the hot gases that escape up the flue. A condensing boiler has a larger heat exchanger, so it recovers more heat, sends cooler gases up the flue and is more efficient.

What should I consider when replacing my boiler?

If it is time to change your boiler, you need to decide what type of boiler is right for you. Here are some things to consider:

Fuel type

If you have mains gas, a gas boiler is usually the cheapest heating system.

If you don’t have a gas supply to your home, it might be worth looking into getting a gas connection. The company that owns and operates the gas network in your area may be able to help with the cost of getting a new connection, and it may even be fully funded.

Boiler type

Most old gas and oil boilers are regular boilers which use a separate hot water cylinder to store hot water, rather than providing it directly from the boiler. When you replace your boiler you can buy a new regular boiler, and keep your hot water cylinder, or buy a combi boiler that doesn't need a cylinder.

A regular boiler is more efficient than a combi at producing hot water in the first place, but then some heat is lost from the hot water cylinder, so a combi may be more efficient overall.  We can give you advice on which will suit your needs and budget.

Your hot water usage

Large families using lots of hot water are likely to be better off with a regular boiler, whereas smaller households using less may be better off with a combi boiler.

Space in your home

Combi boilers don’t need hot water cylinders, and so require less space in your home.

Compatibility with solar water heating

If you’re thinking of installing solar water heating, it’s worth noting that many combi boilers are not compatible with this heating system or cannot use it so effectively.