The Benefits of Condensing Boilers

Ever since they were introduced, condensing boilers have become popular for their fuel efficiency and heating capacity. In fact, since 2005, Britain has banned all other types of boilers and there are about 8 million boilers in use in the country. A condensing boiler is known to convert about 88 per cent of the fuel into heat, with manufacturers claiming boilers can convert about 98 per cent of fuel. So what are the benefits of installing a condensing boiler?

Needless to say, monthly fuel bills are greatly reduced. Unlike conventional boilers that are known to convert less than 60 per cent of fuel, condensing boilers convert a larger amount of fuel, thereby saving energy. Indeed, the price of these is a major put off, if you are on a budget. But the initial price is offset by the fuel costs that are saved. Besides, an average condensing boiler lasts anywhere from 10 to 15 years. Imagine the fuel cost that you could save! And if you were to choose from the latest models is far more comparable to conventional boilers than they were a few years ago.

Condensing boilers also help the cause the environment. In countries like Britain, boilers are a major cause for the high CO2 emissions. An independent estimate states that if people were to use energy efficient boilers, they can prevent about 13million tones of CO2 from polluting the earth. Condensing boilers, work on the principle that the gases and water vapor produced by the heat is reutilized. Ideally, this would be lost through a flue in a conventional boiler. Rather than let it go waste, condensing boilers have a large heat exchanger that ensures that maximum heat is transferred from the burner, besides recovering the heat that would ideally be lost through the flue gas. Thus, when the temperature of the gas that exits the flue, is 50-60 degree C, as opposed to the 120 -180 degree C obtained from conventional boilers.

Installation too, is easy, with the only difference between the normal boiler and the condensing boiler, being the fact that these need a condensate drain. But a qualified installer can help you solve this problem by choosing a suitable location for the boiler.

If installation is easier, maintenance is easier. All that you’ve got to do is to ensure that the condensate drain in the boiler is clear. And if you’ve chosen from an advanced boiler, about one litre /hour of condensate is produced, which is very less.