oil boiler replacement Archives -

Running a household that is energy efficient while keeping the cost of your fuel bills as well as utilities down as low as possible can be a tricky balancing act. A key area where you can improve upon both of these is in relation to your home’s central heating system. Your oil boiler is considered the lynchpin of your central heating system and should be looked after accordingly. Taking care of the oil boiler is the key to having a home heating system which keeps fuel bills down to an acceptable level while maintaining economically and environmentally responsible levels of energy efficiency.

In a great many cases, all you have to do in order to get the optimum performance out of your oil boiler is make sure that you avail of an annual oil boiler service as well as the odd minor repair service when necessity demands it. While this will be enough maintenance for most oil boilers, in the cases where your oil boiler is quite old or has been ignored to the point of severe deterioration more drastic action may be required. In some cases an oil boiler has simply outlived its usefulness and a full oil boiler upgrade service is the only economically sound option that you can carry out in order to get your home’s central heating system back up working at its best possible levels of energy efficiency.

When is an Oil Boiler Needed?

As carrying out a complete oil boiler upgrade is a comparatively more costly and time-consuming process than standard oil boiler maintenance, it is a good idea to make sure that you are not getting one frivolously. Since no two households’ central heating systems are exactly the same, we cannot simply state outright whether or not you need an oil boiler upgrade as opposed to merely carrying out some simpler, shorter term oil boiler maintenance.

However, there are several specific circumstances where you can be pretty sure that you need one. Read on to see what they are.

How Fuel Efficient Should an Oil Boiler be?

As with pretty much every aspect of a home, every household’s oil boiler is unique; whether it is down to model/design or a question of condition and maintenance, all oil boilers convert fuel into usable heating energy at different levels of efficiency. This difference can range anywhere from being minuscule and unnoticeable to a drastic difference in fuel consumption.

Generally speaking, any oil boiler which has a fuel to energy conversion rate of more than 80% is referred to as being a high efficiency condensing oil boiler. This means that the vast majority of fuel burned by the oil boiler will be converted directly into usable heating energy. Some particularly high-efficiency oil boilers, such as those made by Worcester Bosch, can convert over 90% of the oil they burn, making them some of the best oil boilers on the market.

So long as your oil boiler is converting upward of 80% of its burned fuel into usable heating energy for your home you have little to worry about and will not need to consider upgrading it for quite some time as it is still running at a fairly efficient rate and not wasting much fuel and money (in terms of heating bills). However, it is strongly recommended that oil boilers which are 10-15 years old be considered for replacement as their efficiency rating will have almost certainly dropped significantly through general wear and tear (even if they have been serviced regularly and taken care of properly). In addition, as home central heating technology is constantly improving, the oil boilers of today work far better than those of a decade ago. Even a (relatively) poorly maintained high-efficiency oil condensing boiler will burn fuel more efficiently than a well-kept oil boiler that is more than a decade old.

As a rule of thumb, it is the general consensus that any gas boiler which is graded as being in excess of 80% fuel efficient is referred to as being a high-efficiency boiler. The higher the percentage o fuel which is directly converted into usable heating energy, the higher the gas boiler’s rating. For example, the Worcester Bosch high-efficiency gas condensing boilers which are stocked and installed by DeWAR Plumbers convert over 90% of their fuel into heating energy. To this end, they are considered A-rated boilers.

If you are not what exactly your oil boiler’s fuel efficiency rating is, you can find out this information here so long as you know what its make and model are.

How to tell if your Oil Boiler is Running at Full Efficiency:

Just because your oil boiler is a high-efficiency model from a reputable brand that does not necessarily mean that it will continue to run at this high level of performance forever. Even the very best oil boilers on the market will need to be looked after in order for them to maintain their fuel efficiency rating. Much like any machine or electrical appliance that you will encounter, oil boilers can and almost inevitably will deteriorate in terms of efficiency over time due to natural wear and tear.

However, there are several ways to maintain your oil boiler’s high levels of fuel converting efficiency. The main one is having the oil boiler serviced by a professional engineer on a regular basis (once a year should do the trick) in order to check on the boiler and ensure that everything is running smoothly in relation to the fuel burning process. Such services also identify any potential problems that an oil boiler may be starting to show signs of, allowing them to be quickly and efficiently ‘nipped in the bud’ with as little expense to you as possible.

Even though a gas boiler is a satisfactory make and model which burns fuel at an efficiency rating upward of 80% out of the factory, that does not mean that the prospect of you potentially needing a gas boiler upgrade service is completely out of the question. Like all machines and household appliances, gas boilers can and will deteriorate over time. This will happen very gradually if you take care of your gas boiler with regular servicing and appropriate levels of maintenance. However, if the correct measures are not taken to ensure that your gas boiler is being properly taken care of, its fuel efficiency levels can plummet dramatically in a relatively short space of time.

When having your oil boiler serviced, be sure to keep in mind that it is highly recommended that any engineer that you have carried out the service is a fully accredited OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association) member. While this is not a legal requirement in the Republic of Ireland, it is still preferable as this additional qualification is a sign of a knowledgeable and experienced oil engineer.
DeWAR Plumbers are OFTEC accredited oil engineers.

How often is your Oil Boiler Breaking Down?

In this day and age, having an oil boiler which breaks down sometimes, let alone often is unacceptable. Boiler breakdown is a sign of serious problems located within a central heating system which should be addressed in a swift and efficient manner. In addition to improving upon fuel burning efficiency, having your oil boiler serviced regularly will help you identify the potential for boiler breakdown before it happens and saving you the trouble of your oil boiler failing at an inopportune time.

Frequently repairing an old oil boiler can be a very costly and time-consuming process, especially if replacement parts are becoming rare and tricky/expensive to order in. In such scenarios, you should weigh up how much it is costing to carry out repair works relatively frequently in relation to simply biting the bullet and getting an oil boiler upgrade carried out. In the long run, the oil boiler upgrade service will most likely be the more sustainable and economically viable option.

Are Heating Controls worth getting for Oil Boilers?

To put it mildly, heating controls are a fantastic upgrade for any home central heating system’s oil boiler. They give the homeowner greatly improved management of your central heating, by means of timers and an advanced regulatory thermostat, allowing you to finely tune the system to suit your own specific daily needs. When used properly, heating controls can save anywhere up to one fifth of the total cost of a household’s central heating bills – a substantial saving.

While some people see upgrading their heating controls as an alternative to getting a full oil boiler upgrade service, in truth the two work best when combined. Having both done will give your home the very best in terms of home fuel efficiency, repaying great dividends in terms of your annual home heating bills.

Are there any Grants Available When Upgrading Gas Boiler?

You can contact the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) in order to find out if you are entitled to monetary relief when upgrading either your oil boiler or your central heating system’s controls. Every year they help people save thousands of Euros off the price of such upgrades by means of their BEH (Better Energy Homes) scheme. All money paid out is subject to an individual home’s specific circumstances. Click here to find out more about the SEAI, BEH and their associated monetary relief initiatives.

To make an inquiry about an oil boiler upgrade feel free to call DeWAR Plumbers on our phone number 01 514 3300 or send us an email so we can determine a price for you.

What to do Before a Boiler Upgrade

If you are thinking about a oil boiler upgrade or a gas boiler upgrade, is not the cheapest thing in the world that you can do but on the plus side though, upgrading your boiler is a sound long term investment because it will greatly reduce the cost of your central heating bills which means the upgrade easily pays for itself over time.

Of course, it is worth noting that carrying out a complete gas or oil boiler upgrade is quite a large undertaking. With that in mind, you should make sure that getting your boiler upgraded is the best choice for you.
The following factors should all be taken into consideration when looking to upgrade an oil or gas boiler:

Make Sure that Your Boiler Needs an Upgrade:

Whenever a problem is uncovered that is associated with a home heating system, the default assumption tends to be that something has gone wrong with the boiler itself and that it may need to be replaced. However, jumping to conclusions is rarely helpful and this situation is no different to any other. All other possibilities should be examined before carrying out a full boiler upgrade (see: Alternatives to Boiler Upgrades).

Of course, not everybody has a working knowledge of the ins and outs of a central heating system, so figuring out exactly what needs to be done can be quite difficult. That is why it is important to get advice from someone with experience in such matters. DeWAR Plumbers’ heating engineers are experts when it comes to figuring out what is the source of a central heating system’s ailments. Among the many potential problems that can plague a heating system are blocked pipes, water pressure and insufficient radiators. Your heating engineer will be able to determine if any of these are the source of your heating problems. Only when all of these possible problems have been ruled out should you decide on a gas or oil boiler upgrade.

Getting the Right Brand of Boiler:

Knowing which brand of gas or oil boiler to get installed can be difficult if you have no expertise in the subject. As is the case with pretty much any type of product, not all boiler manufacturers are of equally good quality. Purchasing a cheaply made boiler may save some money in the short term, but is unlikely to be as fuel efficient as a top of the line model from a well established brand as well and may also be more prone to boiler break downs.

When deciding on which brand of the boiler to have installed you should do as much research into the topic as you can before rushing into things. It will soon become which brands have good reputations and which ones should be avoided. There have been many independently conducted tests and experiments which highlight exactly which boilers are worth getting. Two brand names which show up time and time again as being among the very best are Vailant and Worcester Bosch. These two companies are renowned for producing top quality A-rated gas and oil boilers.

Finding the Right Place for Your Boiler:

At first thought, finding a suitable location for a new oil or gas boiler may seem as easy as finding anywhere there is space. However, it is not quite that simple. I most cases, locating your boiler closer to where your heat emits from (ie: your radiators) is recommended because when the boiler is situated near a source of heat it accumulates some of this heat. In practice, this means that the boiler is getting a ‘head start’ in terms of heat so will have to use less fuel and energy warming up when it is switched on.

Should you be limited in relation to boiler location options and have to install it in a colder location (such as in a garden shed), be sure to have all piping that is connected to it properly insulated. This will prevent heat from being lost in the time it takes to get from the boiler to the radiators via the pipes, meaning your central heating system will heat rooms up faster and waste less fuel, thereby keeping heating bills down.

Use Chemicals to Treat Your Central Heating System:

Not everyone is aware that a very important aspect of central heating maintenance is treating the boiler and its associated piping with specific chemicals which help the fuel burning process run more efficiently. This chemical treatment is particularly important in hard water areas such as Dublin. It is extremely important that only the correct chemicals are used and in the right amounts. If chemicals are used inappropriately, you may end up causing more harm than good to your central heating system.

Your central heating system’s chemicals should be topped up whenever the system has been drained or when your boiler’s yearly service is taking place. This ensures that the chemicals are being administered by a professional who knows what they are doing and will adhere to the boiler manufacturer’s specifications carefully, thereby not making any costly mistakes.

Only Hire Registered Boiler Installers:

It is illegal for anyone who is not a fully licensed member of the RGII (Registered Gas Installers of Ireland) to carry out any gas boiler works in Ireland due to there being inherent risks and dangers associated with such works.
There is a similar qualification for engineers working on oil boilers from OFTEC (the Oil Firing Technical Association). While it is not a legal requirement like the one for gas installers, it is strongly recommended that anyone working on an oil based central heating system be OFTEC registered.

All of DeWAR Plumbers’ engineers carry the relevant qualifications related to their specialties.

Ensure that Your Boiler Comes with a Warranty:

One thing that is overlooked by many when planning on a gas or oil boiler upgrade is after sales service. It is always worth reading the fine print in relation to warranties when purchasing a new boiler. Cheaper boilers (which also tend to be of poorer quality) may not have a lengthy manufacturer’s warranty in place. This is part of the reason why they are sold at cheaper prices – when they inevitably break down you are left with no form of redress, leaving you forced to pay for repairs or a replacement in fill – a false economy if ever there was one.

DeWAR Plumbers offer a full conditional seven-year guarantee with every high-efficiency gas or oil boiler that we supply and install, meaning that we will rectify any problems that occur in relation to the boiler within this period.

Contact DeWAR Plumbers to Organise a Boiler Upgrade

If you wish to go ahead with a gas or oil boiler upgrade you should call DeWAR Plumbers on our phone number 01 514 3300 or contact us via email to have one of our engineers come out to you and do a feasibility test.