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The Facts About Condensing Boilers
Why Condensing Boilers have to be the number one choice
for new or replacement gas boilers
Condensing boilers have now been available for two decades, yet the uptake of these super efficient boilers has been very slow in the UK. Their market share is now growing much faster and exceeds 5% but this is still very poor when compared to Countries like Holland where the market share is nearer 70%.
If faced with making a purchasing choice for a new central heating boiler based upon all the facts and possible options, the sensible choice must always be for the most energy efficient option. This will save more money than it costs and will help the environment by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, which is something we all have a responsibility to do and it is rather absurd to waste energy.
So why is the uptake of these "too good to be true" condensing boilers so slow in the UK? I believe it is due to a certain amount of apathy and reluctance in parts of the heating industry, which is renowned for being slow to change and also ignorance by some within the trade and the consumer. One not asking for any choice and the other not offering any. This is then supported by a great deal of myth and speculation sometimes fuelled by irresponsible reports in the media with the conclusion that condensing boilers can't be any good and are too expensive. I can recall video recorders, computers and mobile phones receiving similar treatment!
Very simply, condensing boilers are designed to extract the maximum amount of heat generated from the fuel which is paid for to produce heating and hot water. On older boilers, over £45 can be wasted for every £100 of fuel purchased. This wasted energy is reduced to less than £15 with a condensing boiler. The design incorporates a secondary heat exchanger that usefully uses the heat normally lost through the flue. The flue temperature at the terminal of a condensing boiler is as low as 50 C, compared to as much as 300 C on a regular boiler. We can make another comparison, with cars, where engines have been developed to be much more fuel-efficient and produce fewer emissions. This is now accepted and indeed expected, as is turning a key to start an engine rather than turning a crank at the front of the car. This is progress and we need to get away from the old type of "crank up boiler".
The following are ten of the myths we hear about condensing boilers together with the facts, which will hopefully dispel the myths and help people make the sensible choice when purchasing a new boiler:
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1
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Unreliable new technology?
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Now 20 years of proven reliability,
indeed most of the components are
also used in regular boilers.
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2
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Only efficient when condensing?
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They will ALWAYS be more efficient
than a new regular boiler whether in
condensing mode or not by up to 15%
and 30% more than older boilers.
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3
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Radiators must be oversized?
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There is only a marginal benefit from
over-sizing radiators. Larger radiators
will allow slightly cooler water to
return to the boiler and can increase
the efficiency by a further 3%.
However this is not considered to be
cost effective and is often impractical.
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4
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Cannot be fitted to existing systems?
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They can be fitted to most new and old
systems. Normal good practice must
be followed which will include flushing
of system and adding an inhibitor. As
with any replacement boiler, an
assessment of the effectiveness of the
control system and type of hot water
cylinder, should also be made.
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5
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Difficult to install?
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Only real difference from a regular
boiler is a condense drain which is
familiar plastic overflow pipe!
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6
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Condensate a problem?
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Up to 1 litre of condensed water per
hour is produced. This has a pH of
about 5 which is between rain water
and cola. The condense is disposed of
through a condense pipe connected to
the drainage system.
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7
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Pluming from flue?
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Care should be taken locating any flue terminal. Pluming can be a nuisance
to neighbours but numerous flue
options are available. The flue gases
produced on older boilers cannot be
seen due to their high temperature.
The cooler flue gases from a condensing boiler produce a plume which can be seen and is like watching money on it's way to the bank.
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8
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Condensing flue products kill plants?
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Plants thrive on carbon dioxide!
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9
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Limited availability?
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Over 20 different manufacturers now
supply a full range of models including
condensing combination boilers.
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10
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Too expensive?
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The price difference has continued to reduce. |
Producing heating and hot water accounts for over 70% of the energy used in the home. It therefore makes sense to produce this heat as efficiently as possible. Older boilers are less efficient and can become less reliable with age. The pay-back time for the cost of replacing an existing boiler with a condensing boiler is often quoted as being over 8 years, however the pay-back for the additional cost of about £200 is in fact less than 3 years.
The other choices are to do nothing and have no heating if the existing boiler has failed or to purchase a less efficient regular boiler and pay up to 15% more for the fuel to provide heating and hot water. There is only one sensible choice, and that is the energy efficient one.
Green Heat has over 10 years experience of designing systems and installing super efficient condensing boilers.
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