improving and decorating your home

Stored water system
Stored water systems depend on
keeping water hot in a tank or cylinder.
They allow multiple usage at the same
time and can be used for heat recovery
technology. They will be most efficient
if:
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The opposites of the instantaneous
system are true
There exists an efficient boiler that
can also be used to heat a storage
cylinder
There are plans to install a solar
panel or a heat recovery system
with a heat pump
Boilers
If you have an existing system to be
upgraded or have decided to opt for a
whole new system, you will have to
give careful consideration as to the
type of boiler. Making the right choice
will make a big difference in terms of
the environmental impact and money
saved.
Boilers traditionally fall into the ‘If it
ain’t broke don’t fix it’ category - which
is great until they go ‘bang’, usually in
winter and more often than not at an
inconvenient time like during the
Christmas holidays. Don’t forget, if
your boiler is 15 years old or more,
replacing it with a new condensing
boiler with appropriate heat output for
your property size will save you
around a third on your heating bills
straight away, and even more if you
upgrade to modern controls. If your
existing boiler is 15 years old or more
or needs major repair then replace it
altogether to avoid waste and expensive
emergency call outs. Similarly, if
you are refitting the kitchen or bathroom
why not minimise cost and
disruption by fitting a new boiler?
Today’s boilers not only look better
than their predecessors, but they use
less fuel to produce the same amount
of heat. Replacing a 15 year-old boiler
could save you over 20% on your fuel
bills, around 32% if you are installing
a condensing boiler, and up to 40% if
you also install the right heating
controls.
There are four main types of modern
boilers using gas, LPG (Liquefied
Petroleum Gas) or oil.
Condensing Boilers
Spend a bit more on an efficient boiler,
such as a condensing boiler as you
will recoup your money with lower fuel
bills. Grants for this type of boiler may
be available (see section on energy
efficiency grants ‘warmfront’ on page
45).
By typically converting 88% of fuel
into heat compared to 72% for a new
conventional boiler, the condensing
boiler is the most efficient of them all,
wasting the least energy. Condensing
boilers can be wall mounted or floor
standing. The boiler exhaust or ‘flue’
should be sited away from neighbouring
property and away from doors and
windows because the water vapour
‘condensed out’ makes a ‘plume’ from
the flue, similar to your breath on a
cold day. If this isn’t practical you may
be able to install a vertical flue through
the roof, or simply reposition the boiler.
Building Regulations apply to both
boilers and flues.
Condensing boilers are established
products, and can be fitted to most
new and old heating systems.
They are easy to install and can be
bought for oil and gas-fuelled homes.
Condensing boilers are normally no
bigger than conventional boilers.
The table below shows the effect of
variation in boiler efficiency on annual
running costs for typical domestic
properties in the UK with central heating
and a gas boiler. Although the
costs in the table are typical for the
type of property, there will always be
wide variations in individual cases due
to climate, exposure, occupancy patterns,
heating controls, insulation, and
other factors.
Typical annual fuel costs
Seasonal efficiency Flat Bungalow Terraced Semi-detached Detached
Old boiler (heavy weight) 55% £247 £324 £337 £381 £541
Old boiler (light weight) 65% £209 £274 £285 £323 £458
New boiler (non-condensing) 75% £181 £237 £247 £280 £397
New boiler (condensing) 88% £155 £202 £211 £239 £338
Source: www.energy-efficiency.gov.uk/index.cfm?nav_code0028&showtitle=yes
30 HOUSEHOLDERS GUIDE