Traditional back boilers were used in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Back boiler fireplaces and stoves use fire heat to heat central heating and domestic hot water, hence their name. Their small size and compatibility made them popular.
A back boiler installed to an open fire is rare in older houses since it is antiquated and inefficient. If you have an open-fire back boiler, they are seldom made anymore. Back boilers have been banned in the UK since the 2005 Building Regulations.
For efficiency and safety, you must switch on the condensing boilers or renewable energy heating systems. If the high cost of replacement boilers is a hurdle for you. Then, acknowledge that government-free boiler replacement grants are available in the UK for low-income households. You can replace your old back boiler without paying anything. Keep reading to get the idea to grab the best alternatives in 2024.
Why You Should Replace Your Back Boiler?
Nowadays, back boilers have only one upside: their compact size. However, their cheaper price is overshadowed by their more expensive running costs and difficulty to repair. In other words, a replacement back boiler is not recommended, especially considering the wide range of condensing boilers and low-carbon heating systems available on the market.
That said, there are also more reasons to replace your back boiler. Below are the top five reasons.
- Back boilers are significantly less energy efficient than modern condensing boilers and can waste up to £630 annually on energy bills.
- Since 2005, back boilers that don’t work well have been illegal to install because they release too much carbon into the air and don’t follow government safety rules.
- Because only a few companies make back boilers and new parts, fixing them is hard and costly.
- Some fires have been caused by old back boilers, which are less safe than new condensing boilers.
- Back boilers waste 30p for every £1 you spend on energy, which is a lot of money.
What Should You Do With Your UK Old Back Boiler?
Call a Gas Safe registered expert if your boiler is broken or old and you want to get a new one. They can also help you pick the best new boiler for your house. If you improve your boiler, you’ll save a lot of money on energy costs and get hot water faster.
You have four choices when it’s time to get a new boiler for your back. You can put in a regular boiler, a combi boiler, a low-carbon system, or a system boiler. What kind of system you choose to change to will depend on your income and how much heat you need.
All four of these choices use less than 90% of your back boiler’s energy, making them top choices for replacing it.
Replace Back Boiler With A Combi Boiler
If you have a small to medium-sized home, removing your back boiler and installing a combi boiler is best. People like combi boilers because they don’t need an extra tank and can heat hot water on demand and central heating from the same unit. Because of this, they usually aren’t powerful enough to heat big homes that need a lot of hot water and heat.
Replace the Back Boiler with a System Boiler
If you have a larger home with two or more bathrooms, consider replacing your back boiler with a system boiler. System boilers can meet higher water demands as they source water from the main supply to heat the central heating and hot water to store in a hot water storage tank. This makes more hot water available whenever it’s needed.
Replace the Back Boiler with a Regular Boiler
Regular boilers can also be used instead of a back boiler fire in homes with many bathrooms and heating and hot water needs. To give cold water, they need a tank in the loft and a big tank to store hot water for your faucets.
Replace the Back Boiler with a Low-Carbon System
If you want a more environmentally friendly back boiler replacement, consider low-carbon heating systems such as heat pumps, solar panels, or biomass boilers.
These gas boiler alternatives help you reduce your home’s carbon emissions and save on annual energy bills because of their increased efficiency. For instance, a ground source heat pump could achieve energy efficiencies between 300% and 500%. That means it produces 3 to 5 times more energy than it uses!
A biomass boiler would be an additional practical option to a wood fire or log burner with a back boiler. As a result, biomass boilers qualify for government grants and are regarded as carbon-neutral heating alternatives.
Low-carbon heating systems have obvious advantages for the environment and the economy but also require an upfront financial investment that may not pay off for some time. The good news is that you can continue to decarbonise your house in the interim. For instance, combi boilers are an excellent place to start if you want to save costs on a renewable energy system and be more ecologically conscious.
Comparing the costs of new boilers and low-carbon heating systems from several contractors can help you save money and ensure you receive the best deal.
Back Boiler Replacement Costs
Two key elements determine back boiler replacement costs: removing the boiler and upgrading to a new system. Back boiler removal and combi boiler replacement often cost £3,000 or more.
Your installer might decommission your old back boiler instead of removing it while replacing it. Gas and electricity will be cut off when a boiler is decommissioned. Because it saves money on removal and fireplace opening, decommissioning your back boiler might save you up to £1,000.
There are other factors to consider while installing a new system:
- Re-piping system to a new location
- Additional parts (e.g., hot water cylinder, cold water tank)
- Restoration costs if you remove or decommission the boiler
- Cost of new heating system
Are There Free Back Boiler Replacement Grants?
While there are no direct back boiler removal grants, you could be eligible for a free boiler replacement grant to update your entire heating system. Generally, these grants are free for low-income homes looking to upgrade their heating system from a carbon-intensive heating system to a more eco-friendly one. With an older back boiler, you could be eligible for these free boiler grants under the government ECO4 scheme. Don’t miss the chance to replace your old and ancient boiler, which has no future.
