Boiler Energy Saving Tips
Ensuring your home remains warm and comfortable and that you have hot water on tap when you need it is a job for which today's high-efficiency condensing boilers have been specifically designed.
According to research, boilers account for around 60% of household energy bill expenditure so it makes sense to opt for an energy efficient boiler. A condensing boiler can also reduce carbon emissions meaning it is great news for the environment too!
Modern Boiler Versus Old Boiler
Modern boilers are more efficient because they are condensing boilers. All well-maintained boilers burn their fuel efficiently, but they inevitably lose some heat in the hot gases that escape up the flue. A condensing boiler has a bigger heat exchanger, so it recovers more heat, sends cooler gases up the flue and is therefore more efficient.
Alternative Options
Although a brand new boiler can be a dramatic way of reducing your fuel bills quickly and over a relatively short period the savings will pay back the initial investment, there are a number of other alternative changes you can make to your heating set up that will save you money.
Below we have listed just some of the ways you can easily make your home more energy efficient and therefore cost effective:
• Replace your Boiler
If your boiler is over ten years old, chances are you are spending more money than you need to on your household energy bills. Today's high-efficiency condensing boilers have been designed for maximum fuel efficiency, lowering heating bills and reducing carbon emissions.
• Choose the Right Boiler Controls
There are a wide range of boiler controls and thermostats to provide the perfect solution for your home, to find out more speak to one of our engineers.
• Lower your Thermostat
Lowering your room thermostat by just one degree means that you could save as much as 10% on your heating bills each year
• Insulate Water Tank and Pipes
By insulating your hot water tank and pipes you can significantly reduce the amount of heat that escapes. This means that you will spend less money heating the water up, and the hot water will stay hotter for longer too.
• Make Better Use of your Radiators
Does each room in your home need the same degree of heat? Do you prefer your bedroom to be cooler than the lounge? By identifying unoccupied rooms, or rooms that require a lower temperature, you can use Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) to control the level of heat you need. TRVs monitor the temperature in the room and reduce the flow of water through the radiator when the temperature goes above the setting you have chosen.
• 'Zone Heating'
This refers to having different rooms at different temperatures, or heated at different times.
For example, your ground floor could be heated for when you come home from work whereas the upstairs remains off until nearer to your bedtime. This could be achieved by having separate heating circuits with individual timers and thermostats.
• Insulate your Home
By insulating your home it will warm up more quickly, cool down slower and hold heat better while your heating is on, all of these will save you money on your fuel bills.
Gas appliance care and maintenance.
Don't try to fix your heating system yourself unless you're qualified. If you're not, it's better to call out someone who is on the Gas Safety Register. To detect a problem at the earliest possible time, it may also be a good idea to purchase a CO detector.
