What Is the Efficiency of My Boiler?
A European Commission report estimates that boilers are responsible for approximately 10% of all carbon dioxide emissions in the UK. In order to reduce our environmental impact, we must all work together to improve boiler efficiency.
Total Boiler Services offer a customer-focused, expert boiler service whether you need the efficiency of your boiler checked and advice on how you can improve it, a service, repair or new installation we can help. We also offer a 24/7 emergency call-out service for your home or business if you need it. Contact us today on 02922 407934.
What Makes Boilers Inefficient?
When a boiler is installed or commissioned incorrectly, it may not work properly. As a result, performance is poor and efficiency is lower than expected.
A boiler may not be suitable for a property where it is installed. In properties with old or inefficient piping and radiators, a new boiler is unlikely to make much difference. A cost-effective solution may be to improve the existing system rather than install a new boiler.
In general, boilers are most efficient at their “set point.”. If the boiler’s settings are incorrect, it will not perform to its full potential. Boilers are often turned down too low by homeowners in an effort to save on their energy bills without realizing that this may reduce their efficiency.
The following are other reasons why your new boiler may not be working as efficiently as you would like:
Don’t panic if your boiler doesn’t seem to be working right after its initial installation. It may just need time to ‘bed in’ and reach its full potential. See how it goes after a few weeks. In order to reap the full benefits of a new and more efficient boiler, your home may need some basic energy efficiency improvements. A good and reputable Boiler Company like Total
Boiler Services will come back and assess it if you feel it isn’t working effectively for you.
Draught-proofing prevents heat from escaping through gaps around doors and windows when properly installed insulation keeps the heat in (and reduces costs). Roofs and walls can also lose heat, so they need to be properly insulated. Before or during the installation of a new boiler, consider a few simple steps that can make a big difference.
What is the best way to find out how efficient my boiler is?
There are many factors that influence a boiler’s efficiency, including its age, model, quality of installation, maintenance, and whether it is a condensing or non-condensing boiler. In comparison, today’s most efficient boilers have a 97% efficiency, compared to boilers that are 15 years old which have a 55% efficiency.
The new A-rated condensing boiler could save you hundreds of pounds per year over your old G-rated or F-rated boiler. When you upgrade to a new A-rated condensing boiler, you may still be able to save as much as £200 annually on your energy bills.
It is estimated that you could save £340 per year if you replace an old G-rated boiler with an A-rated condensing combi boiler if you have gas central heating and a three-bedroom house of average size. If you have an oil central heating system and one-bedroom, you could save between £480 and £500. Savings will vary depending on your home’s age and insulation level, as well as how well it is draft-proofed.
Boiler Efficiency Rating: What Is It?
- A boiler’s efficiency rating is calculated by multiplying its total energy output by its total energy input. (Energy output)/(Energy input) X 100.
- By dividing the amount of energy your boiler uses to heat your home by the amount of energy it takes to produce the same amount of heat, it is calculated as a percentage.
An efficient boiler, for example, has a rating of 90%. Consequently, only 10p of every £1 you spend on heating your home is wasted.
There are several factors that can affect boiler energy efficiency, including fuel type, operating conditions, and maintenance. The energy efficiency of boilers can be improved by selecting, operating, and maintaining them correctly.
What Makes Newer Boilers More Efficient?
In the UK, condensing boilers are now the most common type of boiler. The efficiency of modern condensing boilers exceeds 90%. The result is that for every £1 spent on heating your home, 90 pence is spent on heating, and only 10p is wasted. About 60% of the heat produced by a standard (non-condensing) boiler is wasted. Condensing boilers can reduce your energy bills by up to 40%.
What Is The Most Efficient Boiler?
When a boiler is operating at its best, it produces its “nominal output.” It is rare, however, for boilers to perform at their peak efficiency. When you’re running your heating full blast on a cold winter day, a boiler will work harder and consume more fuel than on a warm summer day when you only need hot water for showering.
Consequently, boiler nominal output doesn’t tell us much about real-world efficiency. AFUE (annual fuel utilisation efficiency) is a way to measure this. Over the course of a year, AFUE measures how much of the boiler’s fuel is actually converted into heat. A typical modern boiler has an AFUE of around 90%, which means it converts 90% of its fuel into heat.
Heat escapes up the flue or escapes into the environment through the jacket surrounding the boiler to make up the remaining 10%. Thus, AFUE is the most effective method of measuring. A-rated boilers are among the most efficient, averaging an AFUE of 90-93%. Compared to the typical G-rated boiler from a decade ago (which would have an AFUEOF70-75%), installing an A-rated boiler could potentially save you money on your heating bills each year. Your thermostat settings and insulation levels can also affect how much energy you use and how much it costs, but upgrading to a more efficient boiler should significantly reduce your energy costs.
Condensing boilers are significantly more efficient and environmentally friendly than conventional boilers. In spite of their improved design, they emit fewer pollutants into the atmosphere while extracting more heat from combustion gases.
Boiler Efficiency Summary
Household bills are often dominated by the cost of heating your home, especially during the winter. In the colder months, heating can account for up to 60% of your monthly expenses. The most effective way to reduce your household bills in the winter is to reduce your heating costs.
Total Boiler Services offers professional boiler and heating repair services regardless of your system’s make or model. Our engineers will assess the efficiency of your boiler at your home or business and suggest improvements if necessary. Often, you don’t need to replace your boiler, just have it serviced, repaired, or flushed.
Customer service is at the heart of everything we do in Wales, the South West, Shropshire, and the Midlands. Get in touch with us today at 02922 407934 and we can arrange for one of our expert engineers to come out and service and repair your boiler or check its efficiency and how it can be improved.
