If you have a creaky old boiler rattling away in some nook or cranny of your home it may be time to think about replacing it – and not just for aesthetic reasons.
Over half of your expenditure on energy bills goes on your electricity bill so investing in a new boiler can make a great difference to your monthly outflow of cash. Below are some clever controls to keep an eye out for whilst you look for your new boiler as they come with the added benefit of significantly reducing your heating costs.
Boilers with Timers
Programming your central heating to a timer is without a doubt the most cost-effective method of heating your home. A timer ensures that your heating is turned on only when you need it and prevents energy from leaking from your home all day like if you kept your heating on low. For example, if all of the members of the household are working during the day, the timer is best set to early in the morning and once again in the evening.
Boilers with Thermostats
In addition to timers, thermostats are incredibly effective at reducing your heating costs. You set the desired temperature of your home and once that temperature is reached your boiler will switch off, keeping your home cosy and your bills low. Once the temperature in the room drops again the boiler will switch back on. You may even notice the difference just one degree can make to your heating costs and having a clear and measurable thermostat available is one of the most valuable tools to use to keep your heating bills in check.
Replacing any boiler for a newer version will save your heating costs; listed below are the different types of boiler available.
Conventional Boiler
These types of boiler are more suited to homes where a great amount of heated water is used at the same time and are especially practical if there are two or more bathrooms in the home. Conventional boilers are best combined with solar water heating systems for the best results and maximum savings.
If you have an older radiator system this might be the best option as your radiators may not be able to cope with the additional water pressure that comes with a combination boiler.
Combination Boiler
A combination boiler gives you instant hot water and central heating all in one. There’s no storage cylinder needed for this one making it ideal for smaller homes. The reduced pipework that comes with a combination boiler will also make installation cheaper. Therefore, a combination boiler is not only highly efficient, but only heating the water you actually use will save you money on your heating bills, and combination boilers are also cheaper to install.
More often than not, you will be able to find a suitable boiler for your home at a very economical price; it is, in fact, the installation charges that drive the prices up. However costly the initial instalment may seem, treating your home to a brand new boiler will benefit your heating system, it will increase the value of your home and it will, undeniably, keep your heating costs to an absolute minimum.
