If you’re in the midst of shopping for a new boiler, you’ll appreciate it can be an expensive purchase. With many aspects to consider, including the price, energy efficiency, safety features and more, it’s important to get it right.
Here, we look at how the UK government’s strategy to tackle climate change impacts boiler and heating regulations, plus some top tips to help homeowners look after their boiler and keep it working at peak efficiency.
Clean Growth Strategy: how does this impact boilers?
The Clean Growth Strategy is set out by the government and explains strategies to help Britain achieve a low carbon future in the fight against climate change. The executive summary states objectives to improve the energy efficiency of our homes, such as rolling out low carbon heating.
This includes measures to “phase out the installation of high carbon fossil fuel heating in new and existing homes currently off the gas grid during the 2020s, starting with new homes” and “improve standards on the 1.2 million new boilers installed every year in England and require installations of control devices to help people save energy”.
This should lead to lower energy bills and lower energy consumption for households across the country.
Let’s take a look at some helpful tips for homeowners researching new boilers.
Always use a certified boiler installer
If you need a new boiler, you will require an expert, registered installer to do this work for you. For instance, if you are purchasing a gas-fuelled boiler, the engineer must be Gas Safe Registered. You can check this on the Gas Safe Register which lists businesses/engineers that are legally qualified to carry out the work.
A registered engineer will have a Gas Safe ID card which you should check before they start any installation work. For other boiler types, such as oil or solid fuel fired systems, check if an installer is registered on a competent person scheme.
Ensure the boiler installation is registered with your local authority
When a new boiler or heating appliance is installed in a home, the registered installer must notify the local authority within 30 days. This is to adhere to Building Regulations.
You are responsible as a homeowner to ensure that all Building Regulations are followed, so it’s important to make sure the installer has notified the authorities of your new appliance. You should also be given a Building Regulations Certificate and a Benchmark Certificate to show your boiler has been installed safely – if you haven’t had these, make sure you chase for copies.
Make sure your boiler complies with regulations
In 2018, a range of new regulations were introduced that require boilers to be more energy efficient than ever. For instance, the Energy Savings Trust’s guidance document states that “it is now a requirement of the Building Regulations that newly installed gas fired boilers should be condensing (excludes range cooker boilers), with a SEDBUK (Seasonal Efficiency of a Domestic Boiler in the UK) efficiency of 86% or more, unless exceptional circumstances apply”.
It also explains that all “new homes must have a SAP assessment” which looks at a home’s energy efficiency, calculating “the environmental impact (CO2) rating, the dwelling emission rate (DER) and the target emission rate (TER)”.
There are many regulations that must be adhered to, some of which can be explored in further detail in the Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide and Approved Document J.
Get cover or warranty for your heating system
It’s always worth having protection for your boiler should an unexpected fault occur. Boiler breakdowns can leave your family with no hot water or heating, and essential repairs can be costly.
For this reason, it’s wise to set up an aftercare package once your new boiler has been installed that will cover the costs of repairs, labour and replacement parts. There are many different options to choose from, including repair plans and extended boiler warranties from companies like Warrantywise. While this will be an extra outgoing to factor into your finances each month, it will give you peace of mind knowing that you’re covered should the worst happen.
These tips are just some of the ways you can ensure your new boiler is installed safely and will perform at its best for years to come.