We discuss the advantages of a combi boiler heating and hotwater system

Combination (known simply as combi boilers) are the most popular type in the UK today. Incredibly, they account for 70% of new installations in domestic properties.

A Combi boiler earns its name because it performs a combination of tasks; namely, to provide hot water and central heating, from one compact unit, without the need for a separate water tank. They are highly-efficient and contain condensing technology, which allows for advanced heat recovery.

So what are the advantages of a combi boiler system, you ask? Read on to find out.

The Benefits

Efficiency – As mentioned above, combi boilers are far more efficient than older models. The Energy Saving Trust suggests savings of £340 per year if you replace an old machine with a modern combi that has an efficiency rating of ‘A’ (or 88%) or above.

Speed – Combi boilers provide hot water on the spot and without restriction. No hot water tank is necessary and there is no waiting around for the water to heat.

Cost – The machine are simpler and more compact. As a result combi boiler installation are far more affordable than other types of hot water and heating systems. Maintenance, repair, and parts also work out cheaper, as components are more readily available.

Size – Due to their compact stature, combi boilers are perfect for homes with limited space. A separate water tank is not needed, so all that’s required is a small place for a single unit.

Servicing – Finding a qualified engineer to carry out an annual service on your boiler system is generally easier if you have a combi boiler. Most engineers will have the training to work on this type of appliance due to their popularity.

Safer – Cold water comes directly from the mains when you have a combi boiler system, making it safe to drink. Some traditional boiler systems require cold water to sit in a tank, increasing the health risks posed by stagnation.

Reliability – Due to the technology involved in a combi boiler, they are less likely to form a build-up of dirt and grime. They are also less prone to air pressure faults as water is collected directly from the mains.

For free advice about boilers or central heating systems, call us on 0800 311 8990 or complete our no-obligation quote form for a quick reply.

If your current appliance is old and inefficient you may be considering a boiler replacement. Modern boilers are far more efficient than their predecessors. They can help to significantly cut the costs of household energy bills.

Choose a condensing boiler

Since 2005, any new machine installed in a UK home must feature condensing technology. The built-in heat recovery capabilities increase efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

Despite the obvious benefits of a boiler upgrade, there are a number of considerations to make before committing yourself:

• Efficiency – if your current machine was fitted before 2005, it may not contain condensing technology. This results in a far less efficiency. We recommend finding out the efficiency rating of your boiler before replacing it. If it has a rating of 80% (‘C’) or more, you may want to wait a while longer.
• Repairs and Maintenance – a regularly serviced boiler that is relatively modern and efficient, should keep you warm for a couple of years longer. However, if your current appliance is frequently on the blink you should act. Keep in mind that repair and maintenance work will quickly add up. If this is happening, it’s probably a good time to invest in a new model. This will save you money in the long run.
• Update and Servicing – if your boiler is not particularly old but its efficiency seems to be dwindling, a service is needed. You could hire the services of a qualified engineer to perform a control update and a servicing.
• Home Life – altered circumstances in your household (such as children moving out) could mean it’s the time for a boiler change. Replacing a larger model with a more compact one will result in less energy usage and cheaper bills.
• Boiler Grants – have you checked to see if you’re eligible for a boiler replacement grant from the Government? Those earning below a certain income or those claiming benefits can apply for financial help towards the cost of a new appliance under the Energy Company Obligation scheme.

If you would like professional advice from a local, qualified engineer, contact us free on 0800 311 8990 or complete our no-obligation quote form.

The cost of a one-off boiler service will vary from home to home and from business to business. Such factors as the season, your location, and local competition will affect how much you can expect to pay.

We recommend budgeting between £50 to £100 for a one-off boiler service; this is simply an average estimation though. The best way to find out the true cost is to complete our no-obligation quote form. We will get you a quote from a local, accredited engineer.

The costs of a service can of course increase. That could happen if your engineer finds a fault with your boiler that needs to be repaired. Paying for repair costs is generally cheaper than an emergency breakdown service in the future.

We have compiled a list of factors which can affect the cost of a boiler service:

• Boiler Type – the cost will be affected by the type of boiler to be serviced. An engineer will typically charge more for an oil boiler service than a gas combi.
• Season – a one-off boiler service can be cheaper in spring and summer. Engineers are in higher demand around autumn and winter so prices can rise.
• Time – a weekend or evening booking will generally cost more than a service carried out on a weekday within the typical 9-5 working hours.
• Location – where you are situated in the country can have an impact on how much you can expect to pay for a one-off boiler service . Prices will vary from city to city and from town to town.
• Local competition – fees may be cheaper in areas where there are plenty of engineers competing for custom than in areas where engineers are in short supply.
• National or local – boiler engineers working in one locality may offer more competitive prices than larger companies. They tend to have reduced operating costs.

If you would like a no-obligation quote for a one-off boiler service from one of our qualified boiler engineers, complete our short and simple form.

The ins and outs of boiler repairs and servicing plans

We rely on our boiler much more than we realise. After-all they help to keep us warm and provide us with hot water. As a result, they deserve to be looked after. Regular or one-off boiler repair can really help.

Landlords, housing associations, letting agents and homeowners must endeavour to keep their boilers in full working order, especially during the winter months.

An inefficient boiler, or one that isn’t working as it should be, could leave you struggling to keep warm and/or without hot water and thoroughly frustrated.

Boilers often decide to break down during the cold winter months. After having a restful summer not working as hard they may not respond well to the constant use. This could leave you and your loved ones freezing cold and/or without hot water at the worst time of the year.

A one-off boiler repair is normally offered at a fixed price, with no hidden costs and 12 months parts guarantee. However, it’s still an extra bill that could be avoided if you have your boiler serviced on a regular basis.

One smart option that could help take the worry out of a potential boiler breakdown, is a boiler service plan. A monthly or annual boiler maintenance service, carried out by a Gas Safe Registered engineer, ensures your boiler stays in tip top condition all year round. They don’t cost the earth, therefore making them a good investment.

Types of boiler repairs we cover:

Leaks or drips
Loss of pressure
Issues with the thermostat
Condensate pipe frozen up
Boiler switching itself on and off
Kettling
Pressure loss
Pilot light has gone out
Noises coming from the boiler – gurgling, banging or whistling
No hot water or heating

Gas Safe Registered engineers should carry out all boiler servicing, installation or repairs. Contact us on 0800 311 8990 to find an engineer you can rely on.

A quick guide about the Landlord Gas Safety Certificate

If you are a Landlord, Letting Agent or Housing Association, you have important responsibilities. Annual inspections of gas appliances in the property/ies are necessary. This includes the boiler, over or hob, and also any fires or heaters. You must have a valid gas safety certificate at all times.

Gas safety should be your number one priority before you even consider letting out a property to anybody. Under the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998, all landlords are legally obliged to carry out a full service of the gas appliances and flues in each property once a year.

Only a Gas Safe Registered engineer can carry out the inspection of all the gas appliances within the rental property. A Landlord Gas Safety Certificate will be provided after a positive inspection result. A copy must remain in the property for tenants to look at.

The landlord gas safety check is extremely important because it is not only a legal requirement; it protects tenants from the possible dangers of faulty gas appliances too. This includes potential carbon monoxide leaks and fires. Landlords should never take safety for granted. They may even want to ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are in the property.

Penalties for not being Gas Safe

Landlords not taking gas safety seriously put people’s lives at risk. As a result, they will face serious prosecution if found negligent and may even result in a prison sentence.

A fine of up to £6,000 per appliance or six months imprisonment are the standard penalties. If there is an accident at the property that results in serious injury or death, a charge of manslaughter may be forthcoming.

In addition to the penalties, landlord insurance may be invalidated if a Gas Safe Certificate is out of date. Therefore if they did need to make a claim they may not be able to.

With the introduction of such a strict law, it’s hopeful that gas appliance work carried out by illegal engineers decreases dramatically. Therefore homes will be much safer for tenants.

The Landlord Gas Safety Certificate is very important. It shows you that an inspection has been carried out and that all pipework and gas appliances are working safely. The certificate will also inform you when your next gas safety inspection is due. It is crucial to have a professional engineer do a follow up check before the current certificate is invalid. It is best for the landlord, agent or property manager to schedule the inspection in advance.

Warm only work with Gas Safe Registered engineers, so we can provide you with a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate if required. Call 0800 311 8990 for more information. Prices start from as little as £45.

New regulations on boiler efficiency were introduced by the UK Government in 2010. They state that every new boiler installed in a property must have an energy efficiency rating of at least 88%.

Boilers with a higher efficiency rating produce less CO2 emissions and reduce your energy usage. This is good for the environment and great for your bills.

Despite the 2010 regulations, estimates suggest the average boiler efficiency rating in the country stands at 60%. The Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) believes there are up to 9 million inefficient appliances still installed in properties. Some are more than 20-years-old: so-called ‘zombie-boilers’.

How is boiler efficiency measured?

Boiler efficiency is calculated using the Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK (SEDBUK) system. The SEDBUK system considers several factors, including a boiler’s energy usage when its converting fuel to heat, and other features specific to the weather and buildings of a UK region.

SEDBUK is a part of the Standard Assessment Procedure for Energy Rating of Dwellings (SAP). It was first created in 2005 by the UK government, which consulted with manufacturers. During the initial years of the ‘Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme’, boilers were given a rating of between A – G.

However, this changed in 2009 to prevent confusion with the EU’s energy rating system. Now boilers gave a percentage efficiency SEDBUK rating:

• 90% and above – A
• 86 – 90% – B
• 82 – 86% – C
• 78 – 82% – D
• 74 – 78% – E
• 70 – 74 – F
• Below 70% – G

If you would like to find out the boiler efficiency rating of your appliance, you can check the manufacturer’s manual. Alternatively, you can consult a boiler professional.

How to maintain the efficiency of your boiler

Boiler efficiency ratings decline over time. However, booking an annual service with a Gas Safe or OFTEC accredited engineer can go a long way to maintaining efficiency and increasing its lifespan.

Additionally, there are several measures you can take which will help keep your appliance in good shape. One way is a SEDBUK boiler efficiency check.

For free advice about boilers or central heating systems, call us on 0800 311 8990 or complete our no-obligation quote form for a quick reply.

Despite your best efforts, boilers can experience major faults and suffer a boiler breakdown. An annual boiler service carried out by a Gas Safe or OFTEC qualified expert can go a long way to preventing this. Unfortunately, sometimes a breakdown is simply written in the stars.

We recommend booking a boiler service just before the winter months. This is when most homeowners typically experience a boiler breaking down. The reason why is that they use it more.

A broken boiler is inconvenient at any time of the year.  In winter however, it can become a real nightmare.

What to do?

We advise you not to panic in the event of a system shutdown. Simply follow our short and simple steps to make the experience slightly less painful. Your home will be back up and running in no time:

• Contact an Engineer – Finding a reliable Gas Safe or OFTEC registered boiler engineer who can come out to your property to perform emergency work is the first thing you should do.
• Make a Brew – A cosy, warm beverage will warm up your insides and your hands too. A hot chocolate will work just as well as a tea.
• Bake & Make – Using your oven to bake or make something to eat is a great way to spread heat throughout your kitchen area. The delicious food will also warm and cheer you up.
• Blankets & Bottles – A boiler breakdown is a good time to dig out your hot water bottles and electric blankets.
• Don’t Let the Heat Out – Retain the heat inside your home. Do so by keeping curtains and blinds shut and by blocking draughts from windows and doors using towels and bedclothes.
• One Room – Stick to one or two rooms during a breakdown. This will help these rooms to remain warmer and it will result in less energy usage as you can use portable electric heating methods to heat just one room rather than the whole household.

To find an engineer quickly, complete our simple quote form or contact us free on 0800 311 8990 and we will sort you out with a local, accredited engineer. We won’t leave you waiting in the cold.

Shopping for a replacement boiler for your home or business is not an easy job. While our experienced team of boiler engineers are here to help you choose the best boiler model for you and your needs, we think it’s always a good idea for our customers to know what factors they should take into consideration.

Boiler Replacement Tips

1. Don’t rely on the opinion of just one boiler engineer. You should seek the advice of a number of experts in order to gain a range of opinions and quotes. We offer free and friendly advice on 0800 080 7875.
2. Read up about the Government’s boiler replacement schemes. Only certain individuals qualify, but you might be one of those who can benefit from a boiler replacement grant.
3. Make sure your chosen boiler engineer visits your property and assesses the situation properly before the installation goes ahead.
4. Ask your boiler engineer about the different types of boilers available and which one would be most suited to your property type and family requirements. Which boiler system is best for you depends on a number of factors, including your household water pressure.
5. Do your homework on boiler types and boiler models. Ensure your boiler engineer is installing a model with a high energy efficiency rating. Your engineer should always know these details.
6. Ensure you hire the services of a qualified Gas Safe Register or OFTEC registered engineer. Qualified and trusty experts should always carry their ID card when they are on the job, so you should ask to see this.
7. Ensure your replacement boiler comes with a good manufacturer warranty. Ask your engineer to explain the finer details of the warranty, including installation guarantees and if the warranty includes servicing and parts.

If you would like a free, no-obligation quote from an experienced, qualified and reliable boiler and central heating engineer, use our easy online form to receive a quick reply.