Assess your boiler

• Central heating - the essential guide
• How to choose the right radiator
• Where to position the radiator
• Assess your boiler
• How to save energy

Assess your boiler

If your boiler is more than 15 years old, it's probably only about 60% efficient, which puts its energy rating at about G. In real terms, that means for every £1 you spend on heating your home, 40p is wasted.

By replacing your old boiler with a new energy-efficient condensing one (A-rated and 90% or more efficient), you could dramatically reduce heating bills.

There are 3 standard types to choose from:

• Combi boilers heat your home and provide instant hot water without a tank. They're ideal for smaller homes, even those with more than one bathroom, provided showers and baths are not used at the same time.

• Regular boilers store water and require a separate hot-water tank, the size of which determines how many bathrooms can be supplied; often, an expansion tank in the loft is required.

• System boilers also use stored water and have larger storage tanks, which allows them to feed several hot water taps at a time. Usually, system boilers are more efficient than regular boilers and also take up less space.

• There are other options, including solid fuel, biomass and electric boilers, but these are much more expensive than the standard ones. It is worth ensuring that any new boiler is compatible with solar panels; even if you don't intend to fit these now, it gives you the option to do so later.

Chosen by House to home