A-Z of DIY & Building Guides A Guide To Gas Boilers

Date Published:

18/05/2009

There are several different types of gas boilers on the market. What's the difference and which would suit you?

By Gordon Miller

Conventional Versus Condensing Boilers

A good qualified installer should help you choose the right boiler for your home, but it's worth getting your head round the different types before you start thinking about the options.

What Is A Conventional Gas Boiler?

Conventional boilers burn fuel in a combustion chamber surrounded by a water jacket, thereby heating the water, which is then circulated around the heating system. Not all the heat produced by the burning fuel is used to heat the water - much is lost to the surrounding air, and more disappears up the flue.

What Is A Condensing Boiler?

A condensing boiler is a high efficiency boiler that recycles and abstracts the heat from the exhaust gases, whereas, in non-condensing boilers, the heat present in the exhaust gases is wasted to the atmosphere. Condensing boilers are environmentally friendly, but only work in the condensing mode when the working conditions are correct. However, a condensing boiler is always more efficient than a conventional non-condensing one, due to its larger and more efficient heat exchanger.

Are Condensing Boilers Gas Boilers?

Yes. All gas boilers sold today must be condensing boilers which have a higher efficiency than older, conventional models and will save you money on your heating bills and reduce CO2 emissions that cause global warming (see above). The law was passed in April 2005.

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