On Tap Tips

Hot Boiler Efficiency Tips

Boilers account for around 60% of the carbon dioxide emissions in a gas heated home. By replacing an old G rated boiler with a new high efficiency condensing boiler and improving your heating controls, you will significantly cut your home's carbon dioxide emissions and could save as much as £235 a year.

Old Boilers

There are 3 main elements of the old boilers that waste alot of energy and your money:

  • Pilot light only exists in the old boilers and because that tiny little flame burns constantly it is costing you just to keep it going
  • Old flues can reach up to temperatures of 100 degrees and every time you turn on the heating and hot water a large amount of heat is escaping out of the flue
  • Chances are much higher that the poisonous gases in your old boiler will not be burnt correctly which means that it is more likely that carbon monoxide could leak into your home

Thermostats

Your room thermostat should be set to the lowest comfortable temperature - typically between 18°C and 21°C. Try turning your thermostat down a degree or two and seeing if your home maintains a pleasant temperature. If you have a programmer or timer, set it so that the heating only comes on when needed.

HOT TIP: Lowering your thermostat by just 1°C could save you around £55 a year

High Efficiency Condensing Boilers
  • Installing an A rated high efficiency condensing boiler with the correct heating and hot water controls will make a huge difference to your bills and the planet:
  • New boilers fire up without the need for a pilot light which saves you up to £150 on your gas bill annually
  • Flues on the new boilers only reach a maximum of 60 degrees, this system turns the heat into condensation and recycles as much as possible of the waste heat which is normally wasted from the flue of a conventional (non-condensing) boiler
  • These boilers are designed to save energy by burning gases faster therefore the cold water will heat quicker and the boiler doesn’t need to stay on as long.
  • New boilers are room sealed eliminating the possibility of carbon monoxide leaking into your home
  • Boilers are rated according to their efficiency in converting fuel to heat as a percentage. This rating is called SEDBUK - Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic

Boilers in the UK. SEDBUK ratings are from A to G, A-rated boilers being more than 90% efficient. Only A rated boilers - rated at 90% or better - carry the Energy Saving Recommended logo.

Insulation

Improve the energy efficiency of your home by installing loft or cavity wall insulation, your house will heat up and cool down at a different rate. In order to maximise the savings you can achieve from the insulation, reduce the time your heating system is switched on.