Is your boiler older than 15 years old? If it is, it's probably a non-condensing boiler.
But What Is A Non-Condensing Boiler?
Non-condensing boilers are a very inefficient type of boiler commonly installed throughout the UK until around 15 years ago. They're inefficient and expensive to run because they lose a lot of heat through their exhaust gases which exit via a flue. The energy efficiency of a non-condensing boiler is around 70-80%. When compared to condensing boilers, this is very low. The energy efficiency of modern A-rated condensing boilers is above 94%. This difference is so big because condensing boilers use a second heat exchanger which uses the heat from the exhaust gases to start heating the water in the boiler before it is heating by burning the fuel in the way a non-condensing boiler heats it water.
Heat My House only sells and installs A-rated energy efficient boilers. It is estimated that replacing an old non-condensing boiler with an A-rated condensing boiler can save up to £500 a year on your energy bills.
What Are The Differences Between Non-Condensing and Condensing Boilers?
The main differences between non-condensing and condensing boilers are:-
- Condensate Pipes - an easy way to work out if your boiler is non-condensing is to look for a plastic leaving the boiler. This plastic pipe is called the condensate pipe and it drains the condensate fluid from the boiler that is produced in the heat recovery process. An example of not having a condensate pipe can be seen below.
- Energy efficiency - as explained above, due to the second heat exchanger which reuses the heat in the exhaust gases, condensing boilers can be 25% more efficient than non-condensing boilers.
- Running Costs - due to the large difference in energy consumption, condensing boilers can save the customer up to £500 a year on their energy bills!
- Type of Flue - non-condensing boilers generally have metal flues, this is because of the higher exhaust temperatures which exit via the flue. Due to the heat in the flue gases not being reworked and used to heat the water, the gases don't lose as much temperature and exit the boiler hotter than a condensing boiler's flue gases.
- Impact on the Environment - non-condensing boilers are worse for the environment because they require more gas to achieve the same level of heating because they're less energy efficient.
Non-Condensing Boilers and the ECO4 Scheme
The ECO4 Scheme (Energy Company Obligation) is a UK government initiative that focuses on providing funding for low income families and families on benefits who live in poor energy efficient homes.
The ECO4 scheme has now entered its 4th and last stage so don't wait to claim your free home improvements - do it today with Heat My House!
Under the eco4 scheme, a household that has a non-condensing boiler could qualify to receive a boiler upgrade, a complete heat pump central heating system, and even new solar panels!
To find out if your home is eligible to receive a new heating system upgrade follow this link to the Heat My House ECO4 section of the website and learn everything you need to know. There is also a form that you can fill in and a member of the Heat My House ECO4 team will get in touch and discuss it further.
Summary
In short, condensing boilers are far more energy efficient than non-condensing boilers, are better for the environment and can save you up to £500 a year.
If you don't qualify for an upgrade on the eco4 scheme, it's still definitely worth upgrading and replacing your old inefficient boiler with the modern equivalent.