From how to choose a boiler for your home to how different boiler systems affect your heating costs, we’re here to guide you to worry-free warmth. After all, a happy home is a warm home.
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Did you know that heating and cooling can account for half of your annual energy costs? That’s right, keeping comfy isn’t cheap. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average American household spends over $2,000 annually on energy bills, with heating accounting for a significant portion. But fear not. Choosing the right boiler for your home can help you save some serious dough while keeping Jack Frost at bay.
Residential boiler systems work differently from forced-air systems like furnaces. Instead of heating air and blowing it through ducts, boilers heat water and circulate it through pipes to radiators or radiant floor systems. This method of heat distribution often results in more consistent warmth and can be more energy-efficient in many cases.
Boilers come in all shapes and sizes. Let’s break down the most common types as a part of our guide to choosing a new boiler:
Gas-fired boilers are some of the most efficient steam boilers on the market. But not every neighborhood has access to natural gas, so check your options before you fall in love. If natural gas is available in your area, it's often the most cost-effective fuel choice due to its relatively low price and high efficiency.
When natural gas plays hard to get, oil-fired boilers step up to the plate. If you buy an oil-fired boiler, you’ll need to have heating oil regularly delivered to your home. This heating oil must also be stored in tanks until needed. Just keep in mind that your wallet might feel the pinch when oil prices rise and impact your heating costs from year to year.
Electric boilers are super efficient, as they don't lose heat through venting. They're also compact, quiet, and don't produce emissions in your home. However, they might not be the most budget-friendly option. The operating costs of electric boilers can be higher in regions with expensive electricity rates, so it's essential to consider both the upfront cost and long-term operating expenses.
While less common in modern homes, the residential steam boiler still has its place, especially in older residences. These systems heat water until it turns to steam, which then rises through pipes to radiators throughout the home. When considering how to choose a boiler for your home, remember that steam boilers can be efficient and effective, but they often require more maintenance than hot water boilers.
When deciding what boiler is best for your home, consider the following factors: the boiler's size, venting requirements, and energy efficiency. This guide to choosing a new boiler will help you navigate these important considerations.
Want to save on heating costs? Choosing the right boiler for your home involves more than just crunching energy bill numbers. It's about finding the perfect balance between heating capacity and efficiency. Too small, and you’ll be left shivering. Too big, and you’ll be burning money.
Boiler capacity is measured in BTUs, which stands for British Thermal Units. To estimate BTU requirements for your home's interior spaces, use the following baselines for your calculations:
So, how much is a boiler for a 2,000-square-foot house? Let’s take a look:
Remember, these are ballpark figures. For a perfect fit, consult with a Pro who can assess your home's unique needs.
Residential boilers must be vented. If you have chimney access in a closed-in area of your home, you can locate your boiler there. However, if the boiler requires its own forced-air venting system, you will need to locate it in an open area of your home so it can gather air for venting purposes. Understanding venting requirements is crucial when learning how to choose a boiler for your home.
An EnergyStar rating on your boiler means it meets strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and is therefore an energy-efficient boiler, saving you money. Look for an oil boiler with at least an 80 percent rating or a gas boiler that runs at 89 to 98 percent efficiency. Boilers that use electricity normally run at 100 percent efficiency because they lose no energy to venting. Electric boilers are an especially attractive option if you live in a region where electricity costs are low. Energy efficiency is a key factor in determining the best residential boilers for your needs.
In a standard boiler, some of the heat required to boil water and produce steam is lost as the fuel is burned and converted to energy. Modern, high-efficiency boilers have been designed to trap any escaping heat and direct it back into the boiler system itself.
Low-efficiency boilers tend to experience high levels of heat loss, requiring more fuel to do the work of an efficient system. Most boilers that are over 10 years old have efficiency ratings of just 50 to 70 percent. That means between 30 and 50 percent of the fuel used to heat your house is wasted. Besides saving on fuel costs, a high-efficiency boiler is also more environmentally friendly because it uses less fuel and creates less pollution.
The Federal Trade Commission requires that new boilers display their Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating so that consumers can adequately compare units. These boiler ratings are:
Understanding these ratings is crucial when determining how to choose a boiler for your home that meets your efficiency needs.
Even the best residential boilers need a little TLC. That’s where American Home Shield comes in. We’ve got your back with our comprehensive home warranty plans, including coverage for heating systems.
Why stress about unexpected breakdowns when you can be worry-free? Check out our heating system coverage and HVAC upgrade program to keep your home happy and warm.
Ready to boost your boiler know-how even further? Our residential boiler maintenance guide is packed with tips to keep your system running smoothly.
Remember, a well-chosen and well-maintained boiler is your ticket to worry-free warmth. So go ahead, toast that toasty home of yours. With American Home Shield, you can focus on living your best life while we take care of covered breakdowns. Now that's something to feel good about!
If you need to get a new or replacement boiler, you’ll likely compare models from two types of home heating systems: gas boilers and electric boilers. In the UK, these are the most common types of central heating solutions, both being energy-efficient, affordable and user-friendly.
But, when it comes to choosing the right type of boiler for your home, how do you know whether a gas boiler or electric boiler will be best equipped to meet your needs?
Here, we explore the differences between electric and gas boilers and the advantages of each to help you build a clearer picture of which is most suitable for you.
First, let's look at how these two boilers work.
Electric boilers work by turning electricity into heat, as opposed to burning fossil fuels. These are commonly found in smaller homes and apartments with lower heating and hot water demands or that aren’t connected to the main gas supply.
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According to the most recent census data, gas central heating holds an overwhelming majority, with more than 74% of households relying on a gas boiler to provide heating and hot water.
A gas boiler burns natural gas to generate central heating and hot water. The gas is typically delivered to homes through the main gas supply, or if a property isn't connected to the gas network, a boiler can run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Check out ‘What is an LPG boiler’ for information on these appliances.
As well as needing a supply of gas, modern gas boilers also require a supply of electricity to ignite the boiler and keep it running throughout the day. Although, compared to an electric boiler, gas boilers only use a small amount of electricity. Explore how a gas boiler uses electricity in more detail in our blog: Does a gas boiler use electricity?
Electric boilers emit no exhaust fumes because they do not burn fossil fuels. This means that none of the energy used to power the heating system is wasted. As a result, electric boilers often have the highest rating out of all the boilers available, especially when powered by renewable energy sources, like solar panels.
It is now a requirement for all gas boilers to be A-rated for energy efficiency, meaning they must be at least 90% efficient. Gas boilers can also cope with larger heating and hot water demands, meaning that they tend to be more efficient than electric boilers in these homes.
Protecting the safety of yourself and those you live with is, obviously, going to be a top priority. While all modern boilers are made to extremely high standards, safety is something to consider when choosing between a gas or an electric boiler, as the appliances are different.
Because electric boilers don’t directly use fossil fuels, there’s no need to worry about any gas leaks; however, ignoring problems with these boilers can still lead to problems and inefficiencies, so it’s important you ensure your boiler is properly maintained and regularly serviced.
Gas boilers can be more efficient, especially in larger properties; however, they do present more of a risk when it comes to safety. If there is a gas leak in your boiler, there is a significant chance of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is an odourless gas, making it undetectable to most people.
With this in mind, an electric boiler might be considered safer. However, it’s good to know that building regulations require a carbon monoxide alarm to be installed in every room containing an appliance that burns fuel.
Under the current energy price cap, the cost of electricity per kilowatt hour in the UK is 28.62p, compared to just 7.42p for gas.
So, if you have a gas boiler that uses, for example, 24kWh of gas, you’ll spend £1.78 per hour heating your home. Meanwhile, a 12kW electric boiler will cost you £3.43 per hour. That’s nearly double the price for half of the capacity of a gas boiler.
These amounts will vary depending on the size of your home and how long you have your central heating turned on.
A five-bedroom house, for example, will likely be more expensive to run than a two-bed flat. While electric boilers are more efficient than their gas equivalents, they tend to be the most costly appliances in terms of running costs.
With fewer moving parts, you're less likely to spend a lot maintaining an electric boiler. So, while they can be more expensive to run, you could save money in the long term due to reduced maintenance costs.
Gas boilers, however, require a higher level of maintenance and servicing as they are more susceptible to wear and tear. Boiler manufacturers recommend having a boiler service once every 12 months, ideally before the colder weather begins in autumn, so that you can make sure it’s in good working order come wintertime. In fact, you may well find that your boiler’s warranty isn’t valid if you fail to get it serviced annually, which could end up costing you significantly more in repairs should anything go wrong.
Is your appliance due for a check? Book a boiler service with BOXT.
Even compared to gas combi boilers, electric boilers have high-efficiency ratings and waste very little energy.
Despite this, electric boiler running costs can be high because electricity costs more than gas.
Electric boilers can also be used with renewable energy sources, like solar panels. So you could (effectively) be reducing this cost slightly by harnessing the sun’s power. Although they aren't as efficient, all new gas boilers installed in the UK must be at least 90% efficient, meaning they're much more effective than older appliances.
Although an electric boiler may be more efficient, a gas boiler would be advantageous for all homes that have a gas supply as they are able to generate heat more effectively and cost less to run.
Generally speaking, installing an electric boiler is slightly more straightforward than a gas boiler, and the process should only take 1-3 days in most cases. This is because electric boilers do not need to be connected to the main gas supply or need a condensate pipe or flue to be fitted. However, they will still need all the associated pipework for your heating and hot water requirements
Installation costs will depend on factors like the boiler’s location, size, and the installer’s rates. The work must also be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer who can complete the job safely and to a high standard. The same stands with an electrical boiler as this will need connecting and be tested by an engineer with the relevant qualifications.
Typically, a gas boiler will take 1-2 days to install, although more complex installations or relocations can take longer.
Depending on the boiler's quality, electric boilers will typically last between 15 and 25 years. You wouldn't typically need as much maintenance on these boilers as you would gas. However, we would always recommend you get your boiler serviced annually, regardless of whether it’s gas or electric.
Electric boilers typically last longer than gas due to not having as many parts that make up the appliance. As a result, fewer problems are likely to occur, from general wear and tear to specific issues with parts.
By comparison, a natural gas heating system will likely last 10-15 years. This is due to the increased complexity of gas appliances. Some types of gas boilers may have a slightly longer lifespan, but electric boilers will last longer than their counterparts.
When choosing between gas and electric boilers, it's essential to consider the running costs of an electric boiler compared to its environmental impact. You must also factor in the size of your home and the demand on your central heating system. Electric boilers are commonly found in smaller homes for a reason: because they manage the demand without the running costs becoming too high. They are also only installed if the property has no gas supply, or a flue run would be impossible.
By contrast, a new gas boiler will cost less to run and be more economical. Ultimately, whether you choose an electric or gas boiler should come down to personal preference, your home and the costs involved.
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