When to Replace Your Gas Boiler

Replacing your boiler is one of the biggest improvements you can make to your home in order to improve energy efficiency and reduce money on your gas bills at the same time. The most energy efficient gas boilers are rarely cheap though, making the replacement of your current boiler one of the more expensive options for reducing your energy consumption.

Whilst the initial outlay might be quite expensive, the long-term savings to be made from using a newer, more efficient boiler will save you money on your gas bills over time. Depending upon the age of your current boiler, you can start receiving payback for switching to an energy efficient boiler in as little as three years. Changing a 15-year-old boiler for a modern equivalent could also cut 20 per cent from your energy bills.

Along with most white goods, boiler efficiency is now governed by a banding system, in this case monitored by Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK (SEDBUK). The SEDBUK scale ranges from below 70 per cent efficiency to above 90 per cent efficiency. Older boilers tend to have efficiencies between 50 and 60 per cent, meaning you could make your boiler up to 40 per cent more efficient by replacing it, saving a lot of gas wastage.

The summer season is an ideal time to replace your current boiler. Gas boilers are used less in the summer because of the hotter weather and with less frequent use, fewer boilers have problems that require replacements. As summer is the quiet period in the year, manufacturers cut prices to encourage sales. Summer deals on boilers could save you over £800 if you shop around between June and August.

Before you do replace your boiler, make sure that the fitter is an engineer approved by Gas Safe (formerly CORGI). Ensure you get the boiler suitable to your home's needs. There's no point going for a massive boiler, even if it is energy efficient, if you only live in a small flat. It's also important to ensure your boiler is installed with a corrosion inhibitor which will keep your new boiling running smoothly for longer.