Top tips when shopping for a new boiler

(29/05/2009)

Annual servicing of your boiler is recommended but if your boiler is old, it may be time to install a more efficient model which will save you money and help the planet by minimising your carbon emissions.

Now is the time to think about your boiler to ensure you stay warm and safe while minimising those dreaded energy bills, advises Trianco.

Top tips when shopping for a new boiler:

• There is no ‘best’ boiler. Every home is different so the boiler you choose will depend on room, window and radiator sizes and whether there is cavity wall insulation.

• Get advice. A registered heating engineer will assess your home and make recommendations.

• Size matters. A boiler producing too much heat relative to the size of your home is much more expensive to run than a correctly sized boiler.

• What they might say is the most efficient boiler, might not be the best for you. The decision on which boiler you buy will depend on many factors including whether you use gas, electricity or oil.

• For oil fired systems, condensing boilers, Sedbuk rated Band A (90% and above) or B (86-90%), are the most efficient.

• Gas boilers must be Sedbuk rated Band A (90% and above).

• Electric boilers are around 98.8 % efficient yet can be costly depending on your utility provider and tariff.

Whatever the heating system, purchase a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete burning of carbon fuels, such as gas and oil, and has been named the ‘silent killer’ because it is a poisonous gas which is colourless, odourless and tasteless.

Related categories:  Boilers - Combination and condensing   Boilers - Domestic   Boilers - Gas   Electric heating   Oil heating   Residential applications