Saturday, December 6, 2008

Repair or Replace - the Boiler Question

By Tal Potishman

UK homeowners frequently strive to run an energy efficient household. Energy efficiency is proven to save time, money and lend a helping hand to the environment. Even the government is showing concern. Building Regulations now contain set standards to which all heating and hot water systems must comply. The current state of the economy and rising prices provide additional incentive toward efficiency. Homeowners are finding it harder than ever to pay for all their bills.

Climate change is making energy efficiency even more important. With the number of natural disasters attributed to climate change increasing, the public is beginning to take notice. Homeowners often wonder what they can do to improve the current situation. There are a number of simple adjustments that can be made to make your home as energy efficient as possible. Ensuring that the home has high-efficiency heating and hot water systems is a good first step. The consumer should be aware of the many options available to them.

High efficiency condensing technology can prove extremely worthwhile. When faced with the decision to replace or repair their boiler, consumers are often unsure of what to do. They should be supplied all the facts so that they can make the choice that is best for their home. It is common for the homeowner to depend on the installer to provide guidance. Therefore, the installer plays quite a large part in this whole process.

Boilers are often expensive. When consumers consider this and the additional installation fees, they usually choose to just repair their current boiler instead of investing in a new high efficiency boiler. This can prove to be a costly mistake. Older boilers can be repaired but their level of efficiency can never be improved. A faulty boiler just creates problems and produces unnecessary expenses. The cost of repair and running of older boilers is usually higher that the price of total system replacement.

If costs don't persuade you then, maybe the impact your choice has on the environment will. Homes in the United Kingdom are responsible for 21% of all carbon dioxide produced. Heating and hot water systems make up 80% of that number. Energy efficiency lowers bills in addition to helping the UK attain its goal of decreasing carbon emissions by 2010. Heating and hot water makes up well over half the cost of a typical fuel bill. High efficiency boilers can cut bills by up to 30% and save the typical home 200 a year.

There are several UK manufacturers that sell heating and hot water systems in a variety of makes and models. Common features include cast aluminium-silicon heat exchanger, brass waterset, energy efficient pump, and a concealed system connection that greatly improve system performance. A centrally located telescopic flue kit with preformed connections and pre-fitted mains electrical lead results in fast and cheap installation. Drop-down controls and a spacious interior allows the appliance to be serviced with ease. RF, radio frequency, controller versions are also available. They provide the user with complete touch of a button control. Warranty agreements vary company by company but usually provide 10-year parts warranty on the heat exchanger and two-year parts and labour coverage on the entire system. - 16003

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