New boilers are one of the most important ways to reduce your energy bills. When you think that boiler account for as much as 60% of your annual energy bills, an efficient heating system makes a huge difference.

Your bills have probably peaked over the last year with gas and electricity wholesale costs reaching an all new high. However, replacing your old boiler with a new, A-rated heating system can save you as much as £300.

Why are new boilers more efficient?

Over time, as with anything else, the technology for boilers has advanced to make them more efficient and environmentally friendly. These days, the efficient boilers are condensing boilers.

All well maintained boilers will burn heat efficiently. However, heat will often be lost as hot gases escape through the flue. The condensing boiler reduces this with a bigger heat exchanger. It means more heat can be recovered, and the cool gases sent up the flue. This makes it much more efficient and you’ll end up spending far less on your annual bills.

Installing a new boiler

The boiler you choose to install will be with you for at least 10-15 years. Therefore, it’s very important you look at your options and pick one that’ll be viable for the long-term. The problem with older boiler is they have a separate water storage tank. Water is then separately heated, which can take hours at a time. Then, once all the water has been used, the waiting game starts up again.

Whereas modern boilers heat water straight from the mains supply. This means you can have as much as you want, whenever you want. Combi boilers are the popular example, and have proved excellent for most homes.

When choosing a new boiler, you should take three points into account.

• Hot water: Depending on the size of your household and the number of people using hot water, you’ll need to think carefully on your type of boiler.

• Space: Replacing an old, inefficient boiler can open up a lot of space. Removing the water storage tank will give you more room in your airing cupboard or loft. Combi boilers fit straight onto kitchen walls and don’t need water tanks.

• Solar heating: If you’re thinking solar heating could be a future option, the type of boiler you have could decide if it’s viable. Combi boilers aren’t usually compatible with solar water heating.

Although it’s not a straight forward process, installing a new boiler brings a wealth of benefits that are great for every home. Of course, the most important advantage is the reduction in annual energy bills.

But apart from that you’ll also benefit from a warmer home, cuts in carbon emissions and reduced maintenance costs. Old boilers can cost between £50 and £160 to service and repairs can hit at least £200.

If you’re thinking of installing a new boiler then ensure you choose a Gas Safety registered company to do the work.