It’s surprising how many homeowners aren’t sure what type of boiler they have, whether they have a non-condensing boiler or whether theirs is the condensing type. With this in mind, it’s no wonder that most people have no idea how their boiler works or what could be wrong with it if it breaks down. Here, we answer the question “what is a condensing boiler?” as well as look at how to tell what type of boiler you how and the potential issues you might experience.
How Do Condensing Boilers Work?
A condensing boiler isn’t actually a type of boiler as such. Condensing is a feature. Essentially, if any boiler is fitted with a Flue Gas Recovery System, it’s a condensing boiler. Condensing boilers are designed to generate extra heat from the waste gases that would otherwise be lost if you had a non-condensing boiler. Waste gases are produced when the boiler is in operation and, with a non-condensing boiler, they would be emitted into the outdoor atmosphere, losing the heat that those gases carry. In a condensing boiler there are two internal heat exchangers. These capture the heat and reuse it allowing this type of boiler to reach a high efficiency of more than 90%.
How Do I Know If My Boiler Is A Condensing Boiler?
These days, most boilers are condensing ones. Any boiler which was installed after April 2005 will almost certainly be a condensing unit. This is because new boiler regulations came into effect from that date requiring all boilers to be condensing boilers. If you’re not certain when your home’s boiler was installed, you can check to see if a plastic pipe is sticking out of one of the external walls of your home close to the boiler site. This condensing pipe is an indicator that you have a condensing boiler. Also, if your unit has an A ErP rating, you can rest assured that yours is a condensing model.
What Are The Benefits Of Condensing Boilers?
There are many reasons why a condensing boiler is a much better option than a traditional non-condensing one. These include:
- Condensing boilers are more eco-friendly since they produce lower CO2 emissions. Each year, condensing boilers can save as much as 1.7 tons of CO2 that otherwise would have been released into the environment. In this modern age when we’re all keen to reduce our carbon footprints, condensing boilers are a much better solution for heating our homes than the old-style non-condensing systems.
- Condensing boilers are also energy efficient. In fact, they’re up to 30% more energy efficient than a non-condensing boiler reaching efficiencies of more than 90% and even as high as 99%.
- Condensing boilers can reduce your energy bills. As they burn less fuel yet extract exactly the same amount of energy necessary to warm your home you can make big returns on your boiler investment over the years.
- Condensing boilers are usually compact units that can be a great space-saving solution in your home. Non-condensing systems usually took up a lot of room, but condensing models (and especially combi boilers) are small and easy to disguise or hide completely. Combi boilers are so small they can easily fit into a regular-sized kitchen cabinet, keeping them out of sight for a better home aesthetic.
- Condensing boilers are also safer for the home. This is because they are sealed to insulate the heat and they capture the air directly from outside the room in which they are placed. This means that there are no risks of any object being sucked into your boiler. Also, there are no risks associated with being in contact with any toxic substances since the liquid that is condensed will be disposed of through a pipe which is connected to the drainage system.
What Condensing Boiler Problems May I Encounter?
A condensing boiler has a condensate pipe fitted. This leads the waste acidic water that is produced when the boiler is in operation outdoors and into the drain. Since the pipe is outdoors, it can freeze in cold weather. That means you’ll have to thaw out your condensate pipe if it becomes frozen. It’s possible to do this on your own simply by using a hot water bottle, microwaveable heating pack or warm cloth to the area or by pouring some hot water over the pipe. If you’re worried about doing this, you can always call our team who can help you out.
How Much Does A Condensing Boiler Cost?
The price of a condensing boiler will vary depending on the brand you chose and the output you require. It will also depend on whether you choose a system, regular or combi boiler, all of which are condensing boiler option. You won’t have any difficult in finding a good-quality condensing boiler since they are made by all manufacturers. Some leading brands include Baxi, Worcester Bosch, Vaillant and Ideal, but you should check out reviews before you make a final decision. If you need any professional advice about which type and size of condensing boiler would work best in your property, give our expert team a call today. We can offer you all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Installing A Condensing Boiler
Once you’ve chosen the best condensing boiler to suit your needs, you have to find a team of qualified Gas Safe heating engineers who can carry out the installation for you. We’re a team of highly skilled and extremely experienced heating engineers who are on hand to install a high-quality condensing boiler in your home to the highest possible industry standards. Give us a call today to find out more about the services that we can provide – we look forward to helping you heat your home efficiently so you can enjoy warmth and comfort every day of the year.
