GGetting a new boiler fitted can be a fairly traumatic – and expensive – time, particularly when in many cases the purchase and fitting is usually unplanned and seems come at the same time as the car breaking down, the dog eating something untoward, and the kids needing a whole new wardrobe too. The point is that having a new boiler fitted is generally both expensive and may mean that your means of heating the house and water may be out of action for a couple of days. You want to minimise both aspects, so it’s worth considering a few things when it comes to having a new boiler.
Get the right size. This involves two fundamental issues; getting a boiler that is capable of dealing with the amount of heating and hot water that you need and the physical envelope that you need around your boiler to comply with legislation. In England and Wales, the Building Regulations require all Local Authorities (LA) to be informed when a heat producing appliance such as a boiler is installed in a property. Generally, when fitting a boiler, you should consider access to the front for servicing, which should be around 500mm, but you can get away with about 25mm at the sides and 200mm underneath.
Consider efficiency. If you have an old-style boiler fitted, and are replacing it with a modern gas condensing boiler, the good news is you are likely to save a decent amount on your energy bill straight away, and will see ongoing savings as colder weather arrives. Get the best rating that you can to decrease your energy usage and make your home more efficient. It’s best for both the environment and your pocket.
Reliability. Having just spent what could amount to several thousand pounds on a new boiler and having it fitted, you wouldn’t want it going wrong, and needing expensive repairs too soon. Many surveys have shown that an impressive 63% of new boilers are likely to still be fault free after six and a half years of use. However, if you pick the least reliable brand, and this falls to a disappointing 45%, and repair bills will just get worse as the boiler ages.
Ask your Engineer. Most gas and heating engineers are happy to give you unbiased advice on what you need and how much it’s likely to cost. Allied to this, you can carry out your own review and there are plenty of websites – Which is a particularly good one – that will give you a strong indication of which are the market leaders in boilers. Of course, some boiler engineers prefer certain makes and may try and steer you in that direction, but you should certainly ask the questions. Furthermore, your heating engineer will be up to date on legislation and will be able to advise you on what you can fit and where you can fit it.
Don’t get caught out in the cold, and ask your expert!!
