Why Your Next Boiler Needs to be Condensing

Why You Need a Condensing Boiler

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By: Becky Mckay

If you’re hanging on to an old non-condensing boiler, it could be causing more harm than good. In 2005, it became illegal to install anything other than a condensing boiler in the UK unless special permission has been granted under certain exemptions. Despite this, there are still homes in the UK heated by non-condensing boilers.

Being proactive and upgrading your boiler now can save you money and hassle, making your home significantly more efficient.

What is a Condensing Boiler?

A condensing boiler is a reliable, efficient, and safe way to heat your home. They burn fuel (commonly gas or oil) more efficiently than non-condensing boilers.

Before condensing boilers, around 30% of the heat generated by a boiler went straight out the flue pipe, wasting fuel. The Flue Gas Heat Recovery system in condensing boilers now allows that heat to be used to warm your home.

Condensing boilers have larger heat exchangers, which enable them to extract more heat from the fuel. Unlike non-condensing boilers, there’s no need for a pilot light to burn all the time.

A condensing boiler can be either a combi, regular, or system boiler, with leading brands offering ranges to suit homes of all sizes.

Do I Have a Non-Condensing Boiler?

If your boiler was installed in 2005 or later, it’s likely a condensing boiler due to regulations introduced in April 2005 for gas boilers and April 2007 for oil boilers.

If your boiler was installed before these dates, you may need to check more closely. Look for a pilot light, which is a small blue flame that stays lit at all times. If you see this flame, it's a non-condensing boiler.

Condensing boilers use electric ignition instead of a pilot light, saving you money right away. You can also check the efficiency rating in the manual or use a comparison tool to see if your boiler is condensing.

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Why Condensing Boilers Are Better

The key advantage of a condensing boiler is their improved energy efficiency. A high-efficiency condensing boiler is, on average, 25% more energy-efficient than a non-condensing boiler.

Savings

A 60% efficient boiler means wasting 40p for every £1 spent on energy. Condensing boilers waste only about 8p as they reach efficiencies of over 90%. This could translate to as much as £300 in savings annually, and even more with smart heating controls.

A Greener Home

Condensing boilers use less fuel and emit fewer carbon emissions, reducing your carbon footprint and environmental impact.

A Safer Home

Modern condensing boilers are completely sealed systems, taking air in from outside and releasing waste fumes outdoors. They are equipped with safety devices like pressure relief valves and thermostats that switch the system off if a fault is detected.

More Space at Home

Modern condensing boilers are compact. Replacing a traditional system with a condensing combi boiler eliminates the need for a water tank in the attic and a storage cylinder in the airing cupboard.

Are Condensing Boilers Future-Proof?

The UK government aims to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. Home heating, responsible for over 20% of the UK’s carbon emissions, needs more efficient solutions. While replacing non-condensing with condensing boilers reduces emissions, they still emit some carbon.

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What Size Condensing Boiler Do I Need?

The size of a boiler is known as the output rating, measured in kilowatts (kW). The right boiler should meet your home’s heating and hot water demands without causing excessive energy costs.

Bedrooms     Bathrooms     Radiators     Boiler Type     Central Heating Output Rating
1-2          1             Up to 10     Combi           24-27 kW
2-3          1             10-15        Combi           28-34 kW
4+           2+            Up to 20     System          28-34 kW

Larger homes can also use regular boilers but upgrading to a system boiler allows the removal of loft tanks.

How Much Will a New Boiler Cost?

A condensing boiler can cost anywhere from £450 to over £2,000, depending on the manufacturer, model, and output rating. Installation costs vary, so it’s essential to compare quotes from at least three companies.

Type of Condo/Get Category    Avg. Cost (excl. install.)    Avg. Install Costs    Total Costs
Combi                        £500 - £2,000                 £500 - £1,000          £1,000 - £3,000
System                       £500 - £2,500                 £500 - £1,000          £1,000 - £3,500
Regular                      £500 - £2,750                 £500 - £1,000          £1,000 - £3,750

Get Quotes for a New Condensing Boiler

If it’s time to replace your old boiler, get quotes from at least two suppliers. Send us an enquiry today, and we’ll connect you with up to three installers in your area. Choose the best quote that suits your needs.

About the Author

Becky Mckay

Becky has been a writer at Boiler Guide since 2021. Her vast boiler knowledge means she’s ready to help with any home heating query, big or small!

10 Years of the Condensing Boiler

A change that has transformed the heating industry has resulted in the use of energy-efficient condensing boilers in 44% of households in 2012, as reported by the English Housing Survey. This figure could now be over 50%.

In 2013, only 26% of boiler sales in Europe were gas condensing boilers, compared to an incredible 99% in the UK. The UK accounted for 42% of the total annual European gas condensing boiler sales.

To celebrate, the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council hosted a reception on the 5th of November 2014 to mark the 10-year anniversary of the 2005 regulation requiring all new and replacement domestic boilers to be condensing products. The event highlighted the positive impact on energy efficiency and its social, economic, and environmental benefits.

Lord Whitty, the host, discussed how these changes have been the most important household energy efficiency policy measure introduced by the government. Following the 2003 Energy White Paper, the government's first step to improve home energy efficiency was through building regulations for minimum standards.

Climate change was and still is a serious issue, requiring hard-hitting action. Regulations mandated that all gas boilers installed in England and Wales be condensing, at a time when their market share was only about 10%.

The industry and the HHIC produced a 214-page response to the government, outlining concerns. However, the regulatory changes came, and in hindsight, it was the right move. The industry pressed for a program of alliance across the industry.

In my view, partnerships and initiatives across the heating industry were key to our success. In 2013, UK condensing boiler sales were greater than those of 29 other European countries combined, with 42% of total condensing boiler sales.

A report from the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs in November 2013 entitled "UK's Carbon Footprint 2004-2011" indicates that the UK’s total carbon footprint, including other greenhouse gases, fell by 14% between 1997 and 2011.

Our united approach to condensing boilers has been crucial in reducing carbon emissions and should be a model for future initiatives. The condensing boiler challenge was not only overcome but has also been the biggest success in our industry, showing how common sense and collaboration can achieve great things.

There are thought to be over 12 million inefficient boilers currently fitted in UK homes. To tackle this and reduce our carbon emissions, there needs to be more partnership working. We need to future-proof the system, mobilize the supply chain, and continue to devise incentives like the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to encourage homeowners to install efficient boilers.

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