Which Boiler Type is the Most Eco-friendly?

Back in the days before COVID-19, the biggest threat to the future of the planet was Climate Change. It still is, we just don’t talk about it anymore, but the day will come when we will all turn our attention back to the threat of global warming and what we, as individuals, can do to improve our carbon footprint.

 

Is there such a thing as an Eco-friendly heating device?

It is generally considered that the most eco-friendly form of heating is geo-thermal, where the heat source is the Earth itself. Water is pumped through tubes buried deep in the ground where the temperature is a constant 7 to 24 degrees Celsius and then brought to a surface mounted heat exchanger, which works like a refrigerator in reverse, providing heat to your home for free! Sounds great doesn’t it, but there are two big issues with this. First you need the land to install the pipes and then there is the cost of installation. It is this that puts most people off, as the pay-back period can be as much as 20 years.

If this is out of your price range, or you don’t have the space, then a more conventional heating system is your best option. This will comprise of a boiler and radiators for your space heating and separate or combined unit to heat your water. Which? online magazine is a good source of information for the types of systems available.


What are the choices out there?

Most other sources of heat burn fossil fuel at some stage of the process—wood/coal, electricity or gas—so the choice comes down to space, convenience, running cost and efficiency. Space and convenience rules out wood for most people. You need space to store the materials and trying to light a fire on a cold winter morning is no fun for anyone.

Electric forms of heating, if built into the substructure from the outset—e.g. underfloor heating—can be cost-effective but this is not a viable option in most homes. Night storage heaters tend to be bulky and quite obtrusive.

This leaves us with gas. Again there are choices available, but gas condensing boilers are considered to be the most efficient.


Installation

A new boiler installation must be carried out by a gas safe engineer. Failure to do so could endanger the lives of your family and result in prosecution in the event of an explosion or release of gas.

If it’s a completely new system, the installation is quite straightforward.


Do you love your boiler?

When it comes to homewares, your boiler is often the most neglected item. It is usually out of sight and you only really need to adjust the timer and thermostat, which are usually located in a different room entirely. In fact, you probably only think about your boiler when something goes wrong! And let’s face, with all the other household bills you have to pay, you don’t want to go around looking for things to fix that aren’t broke.

However, when your boiler does break down, you can guarantee it will be at the worst possible time—most likely the coldest day of the year. An emergency call-out will be expensive, just check out the LS1 Boilers site for an idea of cost. And remember, even repairs need to be carried out by a gas safe engineer—your life could depend on it so don’t cut corners.

Love your boiler. Look after it and it will look after you.


 A new boiler can add value to your home

You might not think it is top of the list from a house-buyers point of view, but having a new, efficient boiler can help sell your house fast if you decide to put it on the market soon after installation. It is one more box ticked as it is on the list of queries sent out by the conveyancing agents prior to sale. Besides, there is nothing more off-putting than seeing an old boiler or one that is in need of a good service. To the buyer, this is just one more job they have to do when they move in.

Experts say that a new boiler, or at least one still in warranty can boost the value of your home by up to 2%, so this is certainly worth considering if you are looking at a boiler repair job over a new boiler installation.


To sum up

If you are still undecided about replacing your boiler or simply fixing it, what would you do with other homeware items like your fridge or washing machine? Your boiler is something you use every day but because it is stuck in a cupboard, you don’t even notice it. Maybe after reading this you may give a little more love.

 

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