Finding the right condensing boiler can prove to be a hassle. How do you know which is the best condensing boiler for your home?
To make things a little easier for you, we've created this handy guide to explain the most energy efficient type of boiler on the market today.
Efficient heating of our homes is something we should all aim for.
Condensing boilers are specifically designed to heat your home and water as efficiently as possible.
Not only is it now a requirement (since 2005) for every new gas fired boiler to condense the oil, it must also have an 'A' efficiency rating.
Λοιπόν, τι είναι ένας λέβητας συμπύκνωσης και πώς συγκρίνεται με άλλες επιλογές; Αυτός ο οδηγός θα σας καθοδηγήσει στη διαδικασία και θα εξηγήσει γιατί είναι εξαιρετικά φιλικοί για το περιβάλλον και το σπίτι σας.
What is a condensing boiler?
A condensing boiler runs on gas or oil and is designed to help improve energy efficiency.
This is done by converting the condensation of water vapor into heat. are able to recover some of the heat lost from the gases.
The only difference between a condensing boiler and a non-condensing boiler is the amount of usable heat it produces. plus the fact that they can achieve over 90% energy efficiency.
How does a condensing boiler work?
The boiler you will be using runs on either gas or oil as the main fuel and will start burning in the combustion chamber when you switch it on.
In this way, it introduces the heat from the burner into a main heat exchanger.
The hot air travels through the heat exchanger and is held in this path for as long as possible to raise the temperature.
It will then circulate this heat to your radiators through the water.
Heat also travels through a secondary condensing zone, which other types of boilers do not have.
In this way, the warm air condenses, causing droplets or water vapor – which is then collected and removed for disposal through a drain.
This is one of the main advantages of a condensing boiler, as no other boiler will have this efficiency rate.
Condensing boilers are designed to recover more heat before it is lost. In common boilers, the flue gas outlet can even be over 200 degrees Celsius.
With a newer condensing boiler, it drops significantly to around 55 degrees Celsius. Condensing boilers are excellent at recycling this heat to raise the temperature of the cold water returning from the circuit.
So, how do I know if my boiler is a condensing boiler?
If you currently have a boiler installed in your home and are not sure if it is a condensing boiler or not, there are a few things you can check in your current system or boiler manual.
When was it installed? If your boiler was installed in your home after April 2005, under the regulations currently in force, it is likely that your boiler will be a condensing boiler.
All boilers manufactured after this date are condensing boilers.
Check the chimney. If your boiler has a metal chimney then it is probably not a condensing boiler.
Steam and drain pipe. If you can see the steam coming from the chimney through an external wall (or ceiling), or if you notice a plastic pipe leading to a drain, this will definitely be from a condensing boiler.
If you don't have a condensing boiler or your current system is over 10 years old, you may want to consider an upgrade.
Replacing your system with a newer, much more efficient model will ensure that you are much safer heating your home. This way you can be sure that your boiler will run smoothly through the cold winter.
Get the fixed price from us by going to our online boiler finder and find the right boilers for your home, it will only take 2 minutes.
Is the drain pipe necessary in the condensing boiler?
In short, yes. In fact it is essential for all modern condensing boilers to have a drain so that your boiler is able to dispose of boiler damaging condensates.
At what temperature should a condensing boiler be set?
If a condensing boiler is set to the wrong temperature, it will not be as efficient as it could be.
The key point of a condensing boiler is to ensure energy and heat savings, so ensuring it is at the perfect temperature is essential.
The temperature for your central heating should be around 70°C and your hot water should be set at around 60°C.
What are the benefits of a condensing boiler?
A condensing boiler comes with a number of advantages compared to older boilers.
As we have already detailed, there is a higher energy efficiency rate of over 90%, so right off the bat, this gives you a huge benefit.
Here are a few more reasons why a condensing boiler is ideal for you:
Saving money – energy bills will be lower due to energy savings and heat that is saved and recycled.
Wireless programming – your thermostat can be controlled wirelessly for ease of use.
Space saving – your boiler can easily be placed ergonomically so that it does not take up much space.
Are condensing boilers safe and reliable?
To ensure people invest in the best condensing boiler for their homes, they have undergone extensive safety checks to ensure they are up to the job.
Condensing boilers are safe for your home as they are covered with thermal insulation.
There is also no risk of you or a family member coming into contact with toxic substances or gases, as everything is safely disposed of through the external chimney and drainage system.
A myth about condensing boilers is that they may not be as reliable as other boiler types – this is certainly not true.
All its components nowadays are just as reliable as standard boilers, maybe even more so.
What is a condensing boiler? A smart, energy efficient way to heat your home and water.
As every newly installed boiler is condensing technology, it is even more worth the investment if you are still living with an older installation.
We've detailed how effective it can be, not only for your household, but also for the environment. The benefits are certainly far reaching!
For more information on finding the right boiler for you and your home, or to compare the prices of a range of different boiler types, visit our online store.
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