It might not be as exciting as the new Cappuccino Maker or the Wide Screen TV but the boiler is one of the most important pieces of technology in your home. 4Homes have got together with www.house.co.uk to bring you a guide to the world of hot water and warm homes.
There's the mournful shaking of the head, the quick sucking in of air between the teeth and then the phrase every home owner dreads "Oooh dear. You're going to need a new boiler here and no mistake". It's enough to strike a chill into the stoutest heart. However not only are boilers probably less expensive than you think they're also a key part of the home.
With a good boiler you can have a plentiful supply of heating and hot water provided efficiently and economically. An old or unsuitable boiler is likely to leave you with ever increasing heating bills, while making you vulnerable to a system that is unable to provide hot water to more than one outlet at the same time (we've all been there - the shower goes cold as someone starts doing the washing up in the kitchen) or packs up completely if someone dares try to have a bath while the heating is on.
The Energy Saving Trust recommend that you should think about replacing your boiler after 15 years. Whilst boilers beyond this age can often still function, their effectiveness and efficiency becomes reduced. Boilers over fifteen years old can have an average efficiency of around 65%, this is compared to over 90% efficiency offered by "A" rated condensing boilers from British Gas.
The first thing to decide when choosing a boiler is what sort of fuel you're going to use - town gas, LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) or oil. Then you need to decide on the size of the boiler, measured in BTU (British Thermal Unit) or Kilowatts, the number of radiators, the type of hot water system and whether you're planning to upgrade your system.
A Guide To Gas Boilers
Boilers: Alternatives To Gas
Gas Safety: 10 Dos & Don'ts
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