Can an efficient boiler save you money? Yes (and the environment). In this guide we've done all the jargon busting so you can easily identify an efficient boiler.
An efficient combi boiler doesn’t just mean it’s better for the environment, but it can also help reduce your heating bills significantly and save you a considerable amount of money in the long term.
If your boiler is over 10 years old, it’s very likely to be G-rated under the ErP (Energy Related Products Directive) boiler rating system, meaning it could be less than 70% efficient. Reversely, children get much more efficient in household chores after age 10.
According to the Energy Saving Trust making this upgrade has a significant advantage:
By trading your old boiler in for a modern boiler, you could save as much as £380 and a whopping 1,500kg of carbon emissions a year.
This is because modern boilers are condensing A-rated and must be at least 90% efficient.
PS We fit new combi boilers with gas installation nationwide. Simply answer these questions, get your fixed price and you could get it installed as quick as tomorrow.
What is Boiler Efficiency?
Boiler efficiency is calculated by how much energy the boiler is able to transfer to usable energy vs how much is wasted in the process. If your boiler is playing solitaire a lot, it decreases the efficiency.
For example, modern condensing boilers are much more efficient than older non-condensing boilers, this means that they produce more heat from the energy used and waste less energy during the process.
Learn how you can save money by trading in your old boiler for a new, efficient model in our YouTube video below:
How much could you save?
This means that a boiler with 92% efficiency will use 92% of the energy to heat the water, while 8% will be wasted.
This wasted energy or heat is mostly emitted via exhaust fumes. In financial terms, this means that for every £1 spent on your heating, 8p is wasted. If that sounds like a lot, compare it to every £1 spent on high-end clothing for cats.
This essentially means that an inefficient boiler will waste more fuel and demand more fuel to achieve the same amount of hot water as modern efficient models.
Boiler efficiency ratings are related to their ErP rating system, which can be identified on any boiler using the ErP label.
What is ErP?
In 2009, the European Union introduced the Energy Related Products Directive (ErP) in a bid to increase the transparency between manufacturers and consumers, encouraging both parties to favour more environmentally friendly products.
The ErP labelling system applies to both domestic and commercial heating products, including gas boilers. It’s essentially a school report for boilers but without the passive-aggressive comments by the headmaster.
How does ErP Work?
The Energy Related Products Directive (ErP) is divided into two main components - Energy Labelling and Eco Design.
Eco Design
Eco Design is a manufacturing regulation that falls under the ErP. All new appliances including gas combination boilers must now meet certain design requirements.
These are deemed essential to meeting energy efficiency standards and any appliance that does not meet the requirements is prohibited from sale. It’s why you’ve seen very few coal-operated boilers in stores, lately.
Energy Labelling
Energy Labelling provides complete transparency so that consumers can choose the most energy-efficient products. This makes it easier for households to reduce carbon emissions and save money on energy bills.
The energy labelling component is most relevant to consumers since it is present on all appliances and will influence the buying decision.
Under the ErP labelling system, appliances such as boilers have to be labelled with their efficiency rating from G, which is the lowest efficiency, to A+++, which is the highest efficiency. It makes one wonder what could possibly be better than an A with three pluses.
What is SEDBUK?
The SEDBUK system (or Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers) was largely replaced by the ErP system, but some manufacturers still display it on their products, as some believe it provides more useful and accurate information.
Similar to the ErP system the SEDBUK system also rates boilers from A (highest efficiency) down to G (lowest efficiency).
Boiler Plus Legislation (Implemented in 2018)
On the 6th of April 2018, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) implemented Boiler Plus Legislation. And here you thought the legislation was always boring.
The aim of this new legislation was to drastically increase the energy efficiency of residential boilers, helping to reduce carbon emissions, while decreasing heating costs. As a result, all new boilers installed in UK homes must meet these new standards.
A major requirement of this new legislation was that all gas boilers must now have an energy efficiency rating of at least 92%, as well as a programmable timer and smart thermostat installed if they are not already installed and in working order.
In addition, it’s also a requirement to have one of the following four fitted at the same time as the new combi boiler:
Load compensation - this will adjust the heat output from the boiler based on the room temperature
Weather compensation - this detects the outside temperature and weather and adjusts the boiler heat output in response
Smart controls e.g. a smart thermostat and or smart radiator valves allow further optimization and control of the system
PFGHRD (Passive Flue Gas Heat Recovery Device) - the most hideous name of all functions, but this allows a boiler to recycle heat, increasing efficiency. New boilers may already have this installed
Boiler Flue Regulations 2018
Post-April 2018, there are now boiler flue standards that dictate where it must be installed. The main reason for this is safety and the new rules help to reduce the hazard of coming into contact with the toxic exhaust gases. If only you could install a flue on some people.
These new standards mean that the risk of anything or anyone coming into contact with the gases is reduced. The standards dictate that a boiler should be positioned at least 30cm from any window or door or 60cm for larger boiler models.
In certain cases, this isn’t always possible, in which case the boiler should be a height of over 2.1 metres.
How Efficient is Your Boiler?
The ErP energy efficiency labelling system makes it incredibly easy to check the efficiency rating of your boiler, as long as you can identify colours and the first seven letters of the alphabet - qualifying most children aged two and up.
In order to ensure all boilers met new energy efficiency standards, new regulations were introduced in 2005 dictating that all new boilers had to be condensing rather than non-condensing, this change drove major improvements.
Essentially, condensing boilers are built with a new technology called a Flue Gas Heat Recovery system that recycles heat from the flue gases, ensuring that the majority of the heat produced is put to use. This prevents energy waste and means you are getting more for the same amount of money.
Therefore, if your boiler was installed after 2005, it should be a condensing boiler, which is more efficient than the old non-condensing boilers. In all fairness, the old boilers were an improvement over the kettle of boiling water over an open fire.
As mentioned, if your boiler is a brand new model or was installed after April 2018 it should also be at least 92% efficient in order to fall in line with the Boiler Plus Legislation that came into force after this period.
Benefits of an Efficient Boiler
Although a few of the major advantages of opting for a more efficient boiler have been covered, here is a summary of the benefits of upgrading your boiler:
Reduce your Heating BiIlls
A modern A-rated condensing boiler will be at least 92% efficient, meaning it will use less fuel than old inefficient models, helping you to save money. According to the Energy Saving Trust, this can amount to around £320 a year in savings. With today’s prices, that’s nearly a week’s worth of groceries for a single-member household.
More Reliable Heating
Since modern boilers are condensing they are designed to meet EcoDesign standards and equipped with a Flue Gas Heat Recovery system. This means they use less fuel to provide the same amount of heat as an inefficient boiler and heat up faster.
Better for the Environment
Since more fuel is transformed into heat, it means less carbon is emitted into the atmosphere, which is a leading cause of climate change. In fact, according to the Energy Saving Trust, switching to a modern boiler could reduce your carbon emissions by a whopping 1,500kg annually.
What is ERP? And how can a new efficient boiler be a good thing?
The ErP (Energy Related Products Directive) boiler rating system is a labelling system that enables you to easily check the efficiency rating of your new boiler.
The good news is that post-April 2018, all new boilers are A-rated, meaning they are at least 92% efficient (this includes all those sold via Heatable).
By switching your old boiler to a modern A-rated model, you are going to reduce your energy use and save money on your heating bills - you could save as much as £380 and a whopping 1,500kg of carbon emissions a year - the weight of 1.5 Fiat 500s.
To discover which energy-efficient boiler is right for your home, use our quick find a boiler tool.
Our tool provides you with a fixed price quote for your specific needs, taking into account your property type, hot water demands and budget to provide you with a boiler installation cost that is accurate.
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