Helpful information for gas boiler replacement costs in Barnsley
broken gas boiler – replacement boiler needed. So your 15 year old gas boiler has broken down once again and is on its final legs and you can’t face finding cash for repairs yet again. It’s finally time to start thinking of replacing it but you have no idea of what it’s going to cost as the last time you bought a new boiler is a fuzzy distant memory.
This guide to gas boiler replacement costs in Barnsley will provide you with more knowledge to make the challenge of replacing your central heating system a little less intimidating.
1: Determine what heating system you have now
There are three main heating systems you may have:
- Combination boiler
- Gravity fed system with separate hot water cylinder
- High pressure (unvented) system with separate hot water cylinder.
How will you distinguish which system you’ve got? Well if your hot water is heated by the gas boiler for immediate use and you don’t have a hot water cylinder then you’re likely to have a combination boiler or “combi”. If you do have a hot water cylinder then the gravity fed system is usually identified if you have a cold water tank and an expansion overflow tank (commonly in the loft of a house). High pressure unvented systems in Barnsley are less frequent but do not have tanks in the loft and provide water at mains pressure.
2: Determine what heating system you would like to replace it with
You’ll find three main considerations which may sway your view:
- The system you have now and its hot water distribution
- The difficulty of upgrading to a condensing central heating boiler
- Solar options for water heating
Combination boilers Barnsley
If you already have a combination boiler and you’re satisfied with its capabilities then a like-for-like replacement is an efficient option. Depending on the output of your old boiler you might wish to give some thought to increasing the boiler size if you’d like to enhance the hot water supply for a more powerful shower. Combination boilers of 30kW and upwards are now available.
Gravity fed boilers Barnsley
For gravity fed central heating systems in Barnsley the options becomes more problematic. Few heating engineers these days would propose a gravity fed system for a new installation as they have a number of limitations – not least a cold water tank in the loft which has the potential to burst open and cause water damage. However should you be on a budget and content with the heating system then a like-for like replacement is certainly a practical option. For flats and 1-2 bedroom houses in which the hot water consumption is fairly low then a combination gas boiler can also be a great option. Exchanging a gravity system with a combi is typically quite straightforward and can free up the space where the hot water cylinder is placed.
There are 2 sorts of boiler you can use when replacing: system boilers and heat only boilers. Many old boiler systems have external pumps to move the heated water around and for these a heat only boiler may be used. A system boiler has the pump built into the boiler itself, which reduces the plumbing an installer must do but it does increase the cost of the boiler. So if the rest of your system is fine then a heat only boiler can be quite a good option whereas if you need to replace other elements it could be worth considering a system boiler as an alternative.
High pressure (unvented) systems
These are generally set up in larger homes where the hot water needs of a large family may outstrip a combination boiler’s capacity. Commonly they would be replaced like-for-like although the same consideration ought to be given to whether a system boiler or a heat only boiler is the better option. Your heating engineer can direct you on this.
Condensing Boilers Barnsley
The majority of new boilers supplied since 2003 have been of the more fuel efficient condensing type. These have efficiencies of 90% upwards and are ‘A’ rated. Older boilers in Barnsley can often be G rated or 50-70% efficient so by switching to a condensing boiler you should save money on your fuel bills.
The downside of a condensing boiler in Barnsley is that it produces a small but steady stream of water which needs to be drained away. A condensing boiler needs access to a drain either internally (preferably) or externally. Depending on the position of your boiler this could be effortless to do or practically impossible. Where it is difficult to do it may be worth considering moving the boiler position in lieu of incurring unneeded extra cost. As the system will need to be adjusted by re-siting the boiler it may also lead you to decide to switch boiler types. More likely, you will have to add a condensate pump to pump the waste water to the nearest drain outlet. It is important that the condensate pipe is not allowed to freeze so if it drains to the outside it has to be insulated.
We can help with your new installation.