Boiler controls

The main difference between newer boilers and older types lies in their energy efficiency. The majority of modern boilers are of the highly efficient ‘condensing' variety, which use an extra heat exchanging element to conserve heat by capturing the condensation produced by the act of burning gas in a boiler. This type of design reduces energy consumption by over 10%, while still providing the same levels of heat that older designs can produce.

Replacing a boiler that is over 15 years old with even the most basic of new models can result in a saving of over a third of your household energy bill. That can add up to a lot of money! New regulations, introduced in UK in 2005, require all new boilers to meet certain standards of energy efficiency. This has meant that the vast majority of new boilers fitted in the UK are of the high efficiency condensing type. A change of boiler could also save you money on boiler repair costs in the future.

By installing more modern controls to your boiler and central heating system, you can greatly increase your energy efficiency. New boilers are required by law to meet a certain standard of heating control, which depending on the type of boiler may require one or more of the following devices: provision of a boiler interlock; a replacement programmer; new motorised valves; thermostats. Ask your installer for advice as to what you will need.

Better controls mean better efficiency, and much more in the way of functional flexibility. With them, you can provide different levels of heat to different rooms, maintain a constant temperature by reacting to atmospheric changes, and set the water heater to a user-defined on/off schedule. Used correctly and with energy efficiency in mind, modern heating controls will pay for themselves in less than five years.

The more control that you have over your heating, the less energy you are likely to waste by heating unoccupied areas. Over four fifths of all the energy consumed by the average household goes on heating the home and providing hot water. Even if you install the bare minimum of modern controls, it could still reduce your fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 20% For example, by reducing the average temperature of the home by just one degree Celsius, you can save up to a tenth off your annual energy bill. You can also save a further 6% by having your heating on for two hours less each day.

British Gas is the nation's favourite cheap gas and electric supplier, boiler service provider, and energy efficiency advisor.