Once summer starts winding down, many people start thinking of ways to keep warm during the winter. Getting central heating is by far the best way to keep your home warm and cosy through the winter. If you need a new boiler or need to replace the one you have, you might have found out there are so many options and things to consider. Below, we will look at a few tips to help you prepare your home for winter by installing a boiler or replacing the one you already have.
Replacing Your Boiler
Your home might already have a boiler, but if it is older than 10 years, its efficiency might not be as high as it used to be. Replacing your boiler could also be necessitated by the fact that your heating bills have been trending upwards the past few years.
By far the best option to go with is a combi boiler, and for good reason. Combi boilers have two functions; heating the home and providing hot water. They use water directly from the mains so there is no need for storage cylinder or cistern. When you open a tap, you get hot water almost instantly. Combi boilers transfer heat to the water using a heat exchanger as soon as you open a tap.
Combi boilers are recommended as they are very energy efficient; they only heat water when you need it. There are lots of different models, all with different energy and space requirements and you can find out which combi boiler would be best for your home through this link. On there, you will find Boiler Central’s list of recommended combi boilers.
Power Requirements and Efficiency
Ideally, you want your new or replacement boiler to be as efficient as possible to keep your energy needs low. You also want the boiler to use as little power as possible. You can find out how energy-efficient the boiler you are looking to install is. You can also do some online research to see what other people are saying about the models you are considering in regards to their energy requirements.
A highly efficient boiler will help you save on heating costs as they heat the home faster using very little electricity or fuel.
Space Available
The space you have available will play a huge role in limiting the size of the boiler you can install. If you do not have a lot of space, opt for a combi boiler. If you have a larger space or need to heat a bigger house, try to go for conventional boilers. Conventional boilers are also a good option for older homes where heat is supplied using a feed and water is stored in a cistern.
Heating Controls
As boilers have improved, so have their controls. Advancements made in this area allow for intelligent zoning controls so you can heat the spaces that are occupied leaving out those that are not. This eliminates the need for the traditional thermostat a lot of people are used to. Boiler controls have become so advanced that it is now possible to control and monitor how much energy your boiler uses using a smartphone application.
The Size of the Boiler
To ensure that you are not incurring unwanted energy costs, it is important to get a boiler that is the right size for your home. The size of the boiler is usually determined by heat loss calculations which are based on:
- The materials used to build the house
- How airtight it is
- The level of insulation
- The size of the house
Once this calculation is done and you know how much heat you need for each room in your home, it will be easier to know how many radiators you need or the size of your underfloor heating.
Placement
You can choose to install the boiler in a utility area, the kitchen or on the ground floor. If you get a boiler that produces a plume of steam, it would be best to place it as close to the wall as possible to let the plume escape outside.
Other Considerations
Your boiler will need servicing regularly, usually annually. Some companies will cover this charge while some of them will reduce the cost if you bought the boiler from them. Also, check to ensure that your new or replacement boiler comes with a warranty in case something goes wrong.
Getting a new or replacement boiler is one way to prepare your home for the winter and ensure it is warm enough as temperatures fall. Remember to get an energy-efficient unit that can handle the number of rooms and heating requirements you have.
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