Buying a new boiler can be expensive – so make sure you buy the right one. Here are 5 things to look out for when buying a new boiler.
Sedbuk Rating (Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers).
How efficient is your new boiler? In the UK, boilers are currently given a Sedbuck grade from grade A, being the most efficient, to grade G, being the least efficient. Sedbuck was developed to give consumers a fair comparison on boiler efficiency before they purchased. Boiler efficiency is one of the top considerations when purchasing a new boiler, as the amount of energy you can save is extraordinary. A ‘Grade A’ boiler can save up to 50% of your yearly gas bill, so always look for the Sedbuk rating. The EU have their own energy efficiency labelling scheme which was introduced in 2010 for most white goods. This is a similar grading scale between Grade G and Grade A+++. This currently isn’t mandatory for boilers but will likely incorporate them in future.
Check how long the guarantee is.
Boilers are expensive goods, ranging from the cheapest at £400 to over £1,500+ for the most expensive. So if your brand new boiler were to potentially have a fault, it could be an unnecessary and expensive. Some boiler manufacturers, such as Worcester, offer a 5 year warranty on selected boilers and a standard, free of charge, 2 year warranty normally.
Check the installer is Gas Safe registered: ask for their Gas Safe registration number and see their reviews.
Your boiler may be efficient, have great reviews and come with a long warrantee, but if it’s not fitted correctly, then problems may occur. Making sure your plumbing and heating engineer is fully qualified and trusted is vital. Luckily, we have the tools to do this. Find a plumber who is qualified by visiting Gas Safe, here you can search for individual plumbers as well as companies. Then, check their reviews to if previous customers are satisfied.
Read our guide on how to find a plumber, not a cowboy.
Research the boiler.
Look for customer reviews and ratings. A bigger brand name is sometimes better as the parts are easier to source if it were to break down. They can also come with longer warranties, such as the Worcester deal mentioned.
Keep your boiler manual.
Always keep your boiler manual and ensure the commissioning book at the back of the manual is correctly filled out by the gas safe installer as this will affect the boilers warrantee.