In this age of rising energy costs, it’s important to get the most out of your heating system. When you spend about 60% of your yearly energy costs on heating alone, more and more people are looking for ways to save money on heating bills. Replacing your boiler may seem like an expensive option reserved for when it breaks down for good, but it could end up being the cheapest long-term solution for those wanting to reduce heating bills.
Efficiency is determined by the age and model of your unit, with older boilers generally less efficient than newer ones. Efficiency is categorised by a percentage (a development from the old A-G rating system), with an A-rated boiler being more than 90% efficient while a G-rated one will be 65% efficient, highlighting the gulf in performance between an older boiler and a modern one. As of October 2010, newly installed home units have to be 88% efficient or more. Efficiency is also based on the type of model you have installed, with non-condensing boilers wasting more energy and therefore costing more to run, while condensing models (which condense waste gases for later use) are more energy efficient and therefore save you money over their lifetime.
The cost of switching to a new A-rated boiler and having your old one removed will vary greatly depending on the age and efficiency of your current boiler as well as the type of fuel that is used to heat your home. Additionally, energy prices vary throughout the country, which will have an effect on the overall savings that a new A-rated boiler provides.
Most standard replacements for boilers cost about £2,500 excluding radiators. If you decide to spread the cost over 10 years or so, the monthly savings could be higher than the monthly instalment payments, and your boiler could essentially pay for itself.
Efficient Boiler Options
To save money on your energy bills, it’s important to choose a boiler that is the right size for your home – one that can cope with everyday demands while keeping costs to a minimum.
Combination boilers heat water on demand, making them great for smaller properties and families. They are also very cost effective and energy efficient. However, as they don't have a hot water storage cylinder, they aren't as effective for larger properties or families.
Conventional boilers are the most commonly used boilers, making replacement easy for families that need lots of hot water.
A system boiler is a type of boiler that offers the best of both worlds. A system boiler combines the efficiency of a condensing boiler with the high water capacity of a conventional boiler.
Here are some more energy saving tricks that you can use.
Replacing your old boiler to reduce heating bills is a big step. As previously mentioned, the upfront costs can be very off-putting; however, it could prove to be a good investment in the long run. There are plenty of steps that can be taken to make your home more energy efficient, maximising heat usage from an older boiler and reducing waste:
- To save money and energy, try manually timing your central heating. When you’re out of the house, turn off your boiler.
- Double glazing and wall insulation are two cheap and easy ways of preventing energy waste, and they're considerably less expensive than a new boiler.
- Even little things like keeping your radiators uncovered can help to save energy and cut carbon emissions.
So, can a new efficient boiler save you money? Yes it can. So why not speak to the #1 Boiler installers in Hull - Aqua Shield. We will go to super human lengths to get you up and running as soon as possible. Established in 2007, we are Hull's largest installer of energy efficient boilers including expert installation and flexible finance.
Start your free online boiler quote now or call 01482 802748 if you require any heating or boiler advice at all.