A Greener Future for Home Heating: The Case for Replacing Gas Boilers
Gas boilers are widely known to emit carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. This is because gas boilers operate by burning natural gas, such as butane and propane, which release high volumes of CO2 during combustion, subsequently contributing to global warming.
Due to the ongoing climate crisis, there is a significant push for homeowners to switch to more environmentally friendly home heating methods. In fact, there has been circulating news concerning gas boiler bans.
For instance, in 2021 the New York City Council approved a bill banning gas-powered appliances, such as gas heaters, stoves, boilers, in response to climate change. This bill is planned to take effect in December, 2023.
Given the current climate crisis and the push from government officials to ban gas boilers, homeowners should begin planning for the road ahead, and consider switching to sustainable boiler alternatives. In this article, we detail the major reasons for sustainable home heating, explore industry-leading sustainable boilers, and outline the basics of installing a new boiler.
Reasons For Sustainable Home Heating
Below, we highlight the most compelling reasons homeowners should consider switching to more sustainable boiler alternatives:
- More Environmentally Friendly: Gas boilers emit a high volume of CO2 because they burn natural gasses. Sustainable alternatives, such as combi boilers will significantly reduce your carbon footprint and lower your household’s environmental impact.
- Improved Energy Efficiency: Modern technology has paved the way for more energy efficient boilers with integrated smart controls, such as in-app thermostats, enabling homeowners to accurately control and monitor their home’s heating remotely. This allows for greater savings on energy bills in the long run.
- Integrated Renewable Energy: Thanks to modern technology homeowners can integrate renewable energy sources into their home heating systems, such as solar and wind power. This can offset your carbon footprint and significantly lower your energy bills.
- Government Incentives & Regulations: In response to the climate crisis, more governments are launching incentives, enabling homeowners to further benefit from their green energy. For instance, in the UK, the government is offering upfront capital grants ranging from £5000 to £6000 to encourage homeowners to replace their old, polluting boilers for newer, eco-friendly models. Remember to check out incentives that apply to your area of residence.
4 Sustainable Industry-Leading Boilers
With so many new boilers emerging, it can be difficult to keep tabs on which is best. Below, we detail some ‘A’ rated sustainable boiler models worth considering:
1. Greenstar 8000 Life Combi
Brand: Worcester Bosch
Energy Efficiency Rating: ‘A’
This contemporary and highly efficient combination (combi) boiler utilizes a heat exchanger, which can heat water in seconds. This boiler doesn’t have a water tank, making it compact and ideal for homeowners with limited space.
Because of its highly effective water heating system, this boiler is great for homes with more than one bathroom. For added convenience, you can also connect a wireless thermostat to this model, using smart controls to remotely set your home’s temperature.
2. ecoTEc Green iQ Combi Boiler
Brand: Vaillant
Energy Efficiency Rating: ‘A’
This premium combi boiler boasts an innovative solution to ensuring superior energy efficiency, so homeowners can enjoy low running costs and minimal fuel consumption.
This model uses vSMART™ technology to provide homeowners with precise heating control at their fingertips. It’s also the most eco-friendly boiler in Vaillants range, with 85% of its components being recyclable.
3. 600 Combi 2
Brand: Baxi
Energy Efficiency Rating: ‘A’
The compact 600 Combi 2 is a beginner-friendly boiler which comes with an EasyFill feature, enabling homeowners to top up their central heating system pressure without needing an engineer, saving time and money.
Individuals also have the convenience of controlling their homes’ heating on a smartphone app, due to Baxi’s signature uSense smart thermostat technology. This boiler is also exceptionally durable due to its pre-heated condensate tap, which prevents pipes from freezing in the winter.
Additionally, this combi boiler can work with natural gas or liquified petroleum gas (LPG) without the need for a conversion kit.
4. Vitodens 200-W
Brand: Viessmann
Energy Efficiency Rating: ‘A’
This gas condensing boiler integrates a modern heating system which ensures high efficiency while minimizing emissions. Due to its high performance, this wall-mounted boiler is best suited to larger homes with four or more bedrooms.
Homeowners can reap several benefits from this boiler, including touchscreen operating, and in-app thermostat control. This boiler also features an innovative combustion controller for consistent efficiency and clean combustion.
Installing a New Boiler: What You Need to Know
If you wish to swap your old gas boiler for a modern eco-friendly alternative, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with some important facts about boiler replacement and installation. This will help you prepare for your new boiler and understand exactly what needs to happen during the installation process. Here’s a fundamental outline of how heating engineers commonly replace boilers:
- Your home’s gas supply is turned off, and the pipework is disconnected.
- Any old piping is removed and necessary alterations to the site are made (such as installing a new flue).
- The new boiler is installed to your home’s heating system.
- After installation, your heating engineer will run some safety tests to ensure everything is working correctly and in compliance with your area’s regulations and standards — this stage is known as commissioning.
Depending on the type of boiler being installed, this process generally lasts around a day. However, be wary that more complex models may require longer, with installations potentially taking up to three days.
FAQs:
How Often Should a Boiler Be Replaced?
There are several factors which affect the lifespan of your boiler, such as the make, model and how well you maintain and clean it. Typically, homeowners can expect their boiler to last for around 15 years, so long as it’s regularly serviced.
Will a New Boiler Reduce Bills?
When compared to modern boilers, older boiler models tend to be less efficient, meaning they waste more heat and therefore energy. This is primarily due to recent innovations and technological breakthroughs. Opting for a new boiler can present higher efficiency, saving you money on your heating bills. When shopping around, look for boilers with an efficiency rating of at least a 90%, or an ‘A-rating’.
Is It Worth Buying a New Gas Boiler?
In addition to their negative environmental impacts, gas boilers are also less efficient than newer types of boilers, such as electric boilers, meaning they can present higher heating bills. Gas boilers are also susceptible to corrosion build-up and rusting pipes, which can cause them to stop working.
Purchasing a new gas boiler will inevitably present the same issues in the future, which is why it may be feasible to consider investing in an alternative solution.