Boilers are amongst the least energy efficient appliances in your home, they alone account for up to a third of all domestic CO2 emissions. As the current lifespan of a boiler is 10-15 years, making the wrong decision about what boiler to have really could waste considerable amounts of your money and contribute to climate change.

A heating system that uses a high efficiency condensing boiler with the correct heating controls can save you as much as 40% on your heating bills. It really is time to consider whether you have the right boiler.

The Energy Efficiency Trust Recommended explains what you need to look out for when shopping for the most energy efficient products and there Energy Efficiency Recommended Database will give you the best guidance on the most up to date products on the market.

Technical Facts:

A high efficiency condensing boiler is the most efficient boiler available. It converts more than 88% of the fuel it uses into heat, compared to 72% for conventional types.

High efficiency condensing boilers have either a larger or second heat exchanger which saves the heat which would normally escape up the flue in normal boilers. This reduces the temperature of the flue gases to a point where water vapour produced during combustion is 'condensed out'. Hence the name 'high efficiency condensing boiler'.

Did you know that if everyone in the UK installed a high efficiency boiler, we would save enough money to pay the entire annual fuel and power bills of over two million households?

High efficiency condensing boilers are established products and can be fitted to most new and old heating systems. They are easy to install and can be bought for oil and gas-fuelled homes, even LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). These boilers are often no larger than conventional boilers. You can buy condensing boilers as either combination boilers, which heat up hot water on demand, or conventional system boilers, where a separate hot water cylinder is required.

The easiest way of telling whether your boiler is energy efficient or not is by checking how old it is. If it is between 10-15 years old then it is likely to be a less efficient boiler. If your boiler is quite old then replacing it with a new high efficiency condensing boiler with the right heat output for your home will save you around a third on your heating bills straight away. If your existing boiler is 15 years old or more, or needs a major repair, then replace it altogether will avoid waste and expensive call outs. Similarly, if you're refitting your kitchen or bathroom, why not minimise cost and disruption by fitting a new high efficiency condensing boiler at the same time?

As of April 1st 2005, a change in the building regulations legislation means that most boilers fitted after this time must be high efficiency condensing boilers.