Not sure which model to go for? Get free independent help and advice from BoilerJuice members here, simply ask your central heating boiler question and usually one of our members (many of whom are heating engineers) will get back to you soon.
Under a programme being run by the Scottish government, a further 6,000 households in the country will qualify to receive up to £400 cashback when they upgrade to a new, energy-saving system.
Cabinet secretary for infrastructure and capital investment Alex Neil said: “This scheme will help households right across Scotland cut the cost of home heating by replacing run down boilers with more efficient models.”
It is the third time in the last year such an initiative has taken place, with total funding of £6 million expected to help 14,000 properties become more energy efficient.
The scheme opened this week and will run on a first come, first served basis until all available money has been allocated, so act now!
If your are thinking about replacing your oil-fired boiler what questions do you need to ask yourself? A new boiler is not cheap but should be more efficient at running your heating system.
Even among oil-fired boilers, the choice is bewildering. Choosing the right boiler is an important decision. If it is too small then it will not meet your needs while if it is too big it will have an impact in your wallet. The correct size of boiler is essentially determined by two broad factors: the volume of your house and how well it is insulated. Boiler output is usually measured in kW. As a general rule: 1kW is required per 10m3
If you are replacing an existing boiler and your current boiler has been okay, then you should go with a similar size boiler but if you are starting from scratch, then you will need to consider:
Condensing boilers are more efficient than normal boilers. As their name suggests, they use the hot water return to condense the gases in the flu exhaust to recover to heat the water. This type of boiler can be very efficient, around 90% + saving you money on your heating oil bill. Condensing boilers also reduce the amount of CO2 going into the atmosphere. It is estimated that around 60% of the carbon dioxide generated by domestic use comes from boilers. If every British household with central heating installed a high-efficiency boiler, more than 13million tonnes of CO2 would be kept from reaching the atmosphere. If there is a disadvantage, it would be that to squeeze every last measure of efficiency, condensing boilers are more complicated and so there is more to go wrong. However, most are very reliable these days.
There are grants from the government for those upgrading boilers and improving the insulation in their homes. Find out if you are eligible at the Energy Saving Trust.
The efficiency of a boiler is given in terms of its SEDBUK (Seasonal Efficiency of a Domestic Boiler in the UK) rating. The scale goes from A-G, with boilers in the A range being 90%-91.3% efficient. If you want to save money on your heating oil then you should choose the most efficient boiler you can get. New boilers will be either A or B. You can visit the SEDBUK website to look for the efficiency rating for your new boiler.
In a drive to cut carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency, all new properties must be fitted with a condensing boiler by law. The building regulations state for oil-fired boilers:
Combination boilers provide both water for heating and an almost instant supply of hot water, hence the name. They have become increasingly more popular. In fact, combination boilers now account for well over half of all the new domestic boilers installed in Britain every year. The advantages are, there is only a very small reservoir of water that needs to be heated at any one time and no hot water tank is required so this could be an opportunity to save space although, oil-fired combination boilers are generally slower to provide hot water than some gas combi-boilers. Combination boilers may not be suitable for large houses where several people could be using the hot water at the same time.
Your heating and hot water requirements are individual to you so it is always a good idea to seek advice from an expert when choosing a boiler but hopefully this has made you aware of the relevant questions to think about when choosing your next boiler.
With spring on its way, it is a good time to have your oil boiler serviced. Many people think that it doesn’t make much difference but OFTEC, (Oil-Fired TEChnical association) has collected data that demonstrates the importance of having your oil fired boiler serviced regularly. It can save you money in the long run.
(more…)
We are often asked by Heating Oil users to recommend a Boiler type, style or manufacturer. Given the many options to choose from we have decided to dedicate this blog section to your own views and experiences so potential purchasers can make a more informed decision, with the ultimate goal being to find the overall market leader.
When replying to this blog please clearly state the make and model of your boiler and current length of service together with its current efficiency rating if known from last service, along with your general comments and views.
© BoilerJuice Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Registered Office: Bankside 300, Peachman Way, Broadland Business Park, Norwich NR7 0LB
Registered in England (Company No: 5345637)
BoilerJuice is a wholly owned subsidiary of Welsummer Limited
