When it comes time to replace or buying a new boiler, there’s plenty of factors you’ll need to consider before making your decision. With the average cost of a boiler repair coming in at £210, it’s vital that you choose the right boiler for you and your home.
With that in mind, here are five things you need to bear in mind before pulling the trigger on buying a new boiler installation.
#1: Gas Boiler Ban Considerations
If you’ve recently heard about the upcoming gas boiler ban, you might be wondering if it makes sense to buy a new gas boiler. The short answer is yes. The 2025 gas boiler ban only applies to new homes, so it’s perfectly fine to replace your current gas boiler with another, more efficient model.
Until other viable domestic heating methods such as heat pumps become more affordable, gas, and other types of boilers, will continue to be the primary method for heating residential homes. If you want to learn more about how the upcoming ban may affect you, why not read our post about the 2025 gas boiler ban.
#2: Understand The Different Types of Boilers
Before replacing or buying a new boiler, you need to understand which type of boiler you currently have. In most cases, you will order a like-for-like replacement. However, if your system is particularly old, you may benefit from upgrading to a different way of heating your water.
The different types of boilers are as follows:
Combi Boilers
Combination boilers (more commonly known as combi boilers) are the most popular choice for boilers in the UK. They heat water directly from the mains supply, so they are usually the most efficient. Plus, they don’t require a water storage tank, so they don’t take up much space.
Heat-Only Boiler
Going by many names (such as conventional, traditional, or vent boilers). These are the most involved replacements because they use both a hot and cold water storage tank. For that reason, many homeowners make the switch from heat-only to combi boilers.
System Boilers
If you have a larger home, you may have a system boiler. They have a separate hot water storage tank, allowing them to provide hot water to two bathrooms simultaneously, for example. The issue with system boilers is that a lot of heat is lost through storage in the hot water tank, no matter how well insulated.
Which is Best for Me?
If you live in a small to medium-sized home with less than one or two other people, then a combi boiler is usually the best choice for you. If you live in a larger home with multiple bathrooms and family members, then heat-only or system boilers might be your best bet as they can cope better with the increased hot water demands.
#3: Get Advice from a Heating Engineer Regarding Brands – But Understand These Are Opinions
There are many reputable brands out there, so there isn’t a right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing which one to go with. At this point, it is helpful to get the input of an experienced heating engineer from GHS.
They will be able to talk you through the pros and cons of each brand. But remember that these recommendations will be based on the experiences and opinions of the engineer. They will become used to working on specific brands more than others. That’s why two different heating engineers from different companies often recommend two completely different brands. It’s important to understand that there’s likely nothing wrong with either suggestion.
Here at GHS, we are approved installers for all major boiler brands, so we are able to give you a more unbiased opinion than other outfits that only work with specific boiler companies.
#4: Choose the Correct Size of Boiler
Note that when talking about the size of a boiler, we aren’t referring to its physical dimensions. We are talking about its heat energy output (measured in kW). You need to ensure you have enough heating power, so take that into account if you are thinking about converting your loft or extending your home in the future. You may want to oversize your boiler now to compensate.
Again, this is where you can lean on your GHS heating engineer for further advice and support. By talking through your hot water requirements with them, they will be able to help you choose the correct size for your home.
#5: Look to Install Money-Saving Extras
Heating technology has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, and you may want to add a few extras to your boiler installation to reap further savings on your energy bills. For instance, smart thermostats are an excellent addition to a new boiler system.
They learn the heating habits of your home and continuously optimise heating output to ensure you aren’t wasting energy and money. You can also control the temperature of your home from your smartphone, so you never have the heating on when you’re out.
These smart choices will help you save money previously wasted on energy bills and can reduce your average spend by over 30%.
Install the Correct Boiler for Your Home with GHS
Choosing the correct boiler for your home is crucial. If you get it wrong, you could be left with sky-high energy bills or regularly face not having enough hot water for you and your family.
That’s why it makes sense to speak to an experienced team of installers, who can talk you through your options and ensure you get it right. Not only do we offer new boiler installations, but our Gas Safe Registered professionals will also be on hand to provide you with regular boiler servicing and boiler repairs where necessary.
So if you need any advice or assistance when replacing or buying your new boiler, please call us on 01329 285993 or send an email to info@ghs.me.uk.
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