Replacing gas boilers for more efficiency

Installing new high efficiency gas boilers can save lots of money in the long run as well as saving energy. As long as you maintain your gas boiler it should last at least 25-30 years, however poorly maintained gas boilers can be very inefficient and you could be losing lots of energy without realising it. A suitably qualified person can test your boiler to see if it is running at an optimum level.

Major advancements in gas boilers have meant lots of changes to them over the previous decade. Some of these advancements include a hot surface igniter, which basically eliminates the pilot altogether. The igniter is energized electronically and ignites the gas instantly as soon as it comes into contact with it. Also many of them now have vent dampers. These prevent an excessive loss of heat in the flue when the main burner is switched off. This also prevents the unit from having to start cold every time as the heat is kept inside.

Natural gas boilers generally come in three different types; firetube, watertube and tubeless. As with all systems they require regular maintenance and monitoring including controlling the level of solids in the boiler which are left behind as a byproduct of the whole operation. This process is commonly known as ‘blowdown’. Also it is essential to prevent corrosion in the system and regular maintenance will make sure of this.

Another type of gas boilers is the condensing boiler. This incorporates an extra heat exchanger and ensures the system works at peak efficiency. These types of boilers are becoming more popular in this country, as they become affordable. They are already very popular in the Netherlands where over half of the new boilers installed are condensing and this country looks likely to follow.

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