Many people do not think about buying a new boiler until the one they already have breaks down. One of the worse things is to realise your boiler is not working in the middle of winter when you need them most. Buying a new water boiler and getting the right professional to install it the right way requires that you make a lot of decisions, some of which might be confusing if you have never done this before. However, choosing the wrong boiler or professional installer can be a costly mistake, and one that you might have to live with for a long time.
If you want to get the best hydrogen boiler installation tips and also other types of boilers, keep reading to find out what to ask your engineer, how to choose an engineer you can trust, and what you should expect from a boiler installation.
A Conversation with the Engineer
Before getting a new boiler installed, it is important to have an open conversation with the heating engineer or contractor you are considering. They should then do a full survey of your home and an assessment of your heating and hot water needs before recommending any boilers.
Before having the conversation, however, you should plan some talking points that will give your conversation structure. One of these talking points is your hot water requirements. Here, you need to think about whether you need hot water for multiple showers and taps at once. Also, if you have a shower with a powerful electric pump, you need to keep that in mind. Combi boilers are not compatible with showers that have a pump, so you might have to remove the pump or go with a different type of boiler.
You also need to think about seasonal changes to your hot water requirements. If you usually have people staying over for different holidays, you need to factor that in. Next, you will need to let the installer know about any home improvements you are planning. These might affect the positioning of the boiler, radiators or plumbing system and should therefore be taken into consideration.
Lastly, you need to note down any issues you have and anything you do not like about your current heating system. Ideally, you want the new system to address these issues and be an improvement on what you currently have.
Consider the Engineer’s Answers Carefully
Your engineer will have a lot of valuable information for you so that you end up with the right boiler size, type and model. However, some engineers are incentivised to install particular boiler brands. It is therefore important to do a bit of research to find out if the engineer is going to install the best boiler for you and if you find a better option, consider asking them to install that boiler for you.
Types of Boilers
Your engineer will likely recommend one of three types of boilers; combination boiler, conventional boiler or a system boiler. A combination boiler is the most common type of boiler around. It provides hot water when you need it, which means you won’t need a storage tank. A conventional boiler is less common. Also called a heat-only boiler, it has a storage tank or cylinder where the hot water is stored.
A system boiler, on the other hand, is very similar to the heat-only boiler but with internal components instead of external ones. The expansion tank is replaced by an expansion vessel that is found inside the boiler.
For small homes that have only one bathroom, a combination boiler which does not have a storage tank will be the better option. If you live in a larger home with more than two people, a heat-only or system boiler will be the best option.
The engineer will walk you through the different options and make a recommendation for your home and requirement. Before deciding to go with your engineer’s recommendation, you will need to consider the cost of the new boiler.
The cost of the new boiler will vary depending on the manufacturer, type model and other factors such as installation costs. To get a better understanding of new boiler cost, Boiler Central has a handy guide for you. Once you understand what it will cost to have the new boiler installed, Boiler Central will help you buy new boiler online and you will only pay after the installation is complete. Once they give you a price for a new boiler and its installation, their prices are final and do not change. Boiler Central also has some financing options so you can get the boiler you want right now and pay for it later. If you are on certain benefits and need help with the costs and installation of a new boiler or heating system, you may be entitled to a free boiler, if you meet the necessary eligibility criteria
Energy-Efficient Boilers for Lower Heating Bills
If you are replacing an older boiler, you will likely save a lot of money on your power bill. All the new boiler models have high power-efficiency ratings with the energy savings estimated to be £652 annually when you switch to a new, more power-efficient model. If you need a home cover provider, Hometree started small 5 years ago, but is well on its way to becoming the UK’s leading challenger brand in boiler and home emergency insurance.
You may want to check the Corgi HomePlan. You can get boiler and home emergency cover from the UK’s top rated provider. Their boiler plans and 24/7 emergency helpline will give you peace of mind when it comes to the safety of your home.
Boiler Size
The size of the boiler you get is the biggest determinant of how satisfied you will be with your new boiler. Its size will determine its heating and hot water capabilities as well as where you can install it due to its physical size.
The size of the boiler will be unique to you and will depend on such things as the number of bathrooms and taps you have in the home, as well as the number of people living in the house. To find out a boiler’s heating and hot water capabilities, look for in-depth reviews online. Many of these reviews also have the correct measurements of the different boilers which makes them an important resource in your search.
Getting a new boiler or replacing the one you already have can be confusing for a lot of people. There are so many things to think about, like the correct size you need, the placement, or the energy efficiency of your new boiler. A combination of your engineer’s advice and a bit of online research remains the best way to find the best boiler for your home.
Luciana joined our team as a mum blogger in 2020. A dedicated mum to a lively daughter and a dog, Luna, Luciana brings authenticity and passion to every post. Her expertise in parenting and lifestyle topics offers practical, relatable advice for real-life situations.