Sizing your boiler right for your home is very important in ensuring optimum-level heating efficiency, comfort, and energy conservation at a cost-effective rate. Getting the appropriate size remains a big concern to most UK homeowners and tends to result in inefficient boilers that result in rising energy costs. This thorough blog will help guide you through all the facts you need to consider when choosing the ideal boiler size for your home, and how the ECO4 scheme can be used to fund your changeover to a new, more efficient heating system.
Reading Boiler Sizes: What Does kW Output Mean?
When shopping for a new boiler, you’ll notice that sizes are typically measured in kilowatts (kW). This measurement represents the boiler’s power output and directly impacts its performance in your home.
A kilowatt is 1,000 watts and is a measurement of power generated per second. The kW rating for boilers is the highest power the appliance can generate per second to warm the water. For example, a 35kW boiler consumes 35,000 watts (35 kW) of power per second to warm the water necessary to make your home warm and cozy.
The kW rating has a direct correlation to how efficiently your boiler can warm your house. Too small, and it will struggle, while too big will cost you energy and money. Figures indicate that nine out of ten UK homes are fitted with oversized boilers, which result in lower efficiency, poor performance, and shorter lifespan.
How Boiler Size Affects Running Costs
Your boiler’s kW rating has a big effect on your bills. Boilers with higher kW ratings cost more to run. For instance, a 35kW boiler will consume 35 kWh of electricity when it is in operation for one hour. This is what the energy companies use to work out your bill.
But an efficiently sized boiler performs better than a boiler that is too large. Oversized boilers will cycle off and on, lowering efficiency which results in increased wear and tear on boiler parts. Properly sized boilers provide maximum performance, resulting in lower operating costs, increased efficiency, and lower carbon emissions.
Are you a homeowner on benefits looking to replace your boiler for free? Fill in our 1-minute form and check your eligibility for the government funded boiler upgrade scheme now!
How to Determine the Right Boiler Size for Your Home
A number of significant factors determine what boiler size will be most appropriate for your home. Knowing these factors will enable you to make a well-informed choice about your heating system.
The square meterage of your house is one of the most significant factors to consider when selecting the size of a boiler. Larger houses obviously need more powerful boilers to warm effectively. A small flat may be well served by a 24kW boiler, whereas a huge detached house may need 35kW or more.
Your home’s design also comes into play. Open-plan living spaces can be more demanding in terms of heating equipment than homes with lots of small rooms. Homes with high ceilings or big windows will also need extra heat capacity to maintain good levels of comfort and warmth.
Another important factor to keep in mind is that the amount of radiators in your home will proportionally relate to the boiler size that you require. As a general rule, 24-27kW combi boilers will support up to 10 radiators. A 30kW heat only or system model boiler can support 15-20 radiators.
A guideline employed by heating engineers is to provide approximately 1.5 kW per radiator in your house. For instance, if you have 12 radiators, you may require a boiler of 18kW, which can be simply calculated in the following way: 12 × 1.5 = 18.
Your demand for hot water is another factor that plays a major role in determining boiler size, especially for combi boilers, which heat water as and when required. If you have a family with high hot water requirements, you’ll need a more high-powered boiler.
The quality and age of the insulation of your home will affect heating requirements. New homes that are well-insulated keep heat a lot better than less-insulated older homes. You may require a lower powered boiler than a similar-sized older home if your home was constructed in the past 20 years or has been recently insulated.
Loose insulation is a big heat loser, and you will need more energy to warm the rooms. Insulate your home more before you spend money on a new boiler, as this might minimize your boiler’s size and save on bills. Fill in our form and check if you are eligible for free insulation under the ECO4 or GBIS government funded schemes.
Types of Boilers and Their Suitability for Different Homes
The boiler you choose to install will determine the efficiency of your whole heating system. Let’s go through the main options for homes in the UK.
Combi Boilers: Space-Saving Solutions for Homes
Combi boilers supply heat and hot water at demand without drawing on separate tanks of water. They’re popular and are the number one choice for UK homeowners. They allow you to save space and help maintain the aesthetics of your home.
Combi boilers benefit from several added advantages including high energy efficiency because they only heat water when in use and their small size, allowing them to be installed in a kitchen cupboard
They also allow for fast and simple installation. Contact us and secure your free A-rated combi boiler.Â
System Boilers: Suitable for Large Families
System boilers utilise a cylinder to store hot water and will usually draw water straight from the mains. They function best with households that need a greater hot water requirement or additional bathrooms.
Some benefits of system boilers are water pressure and instant response to demand. They are also compatible with solar thermal systems.
Their disadvantages can include taking up space for a hot water cylinder while needing good insulation on the cylinder.
The ECO4 Boiler Grant Scheme:
Replacing your boiler is a costly initiative, which is why the UK government’s ECO4 scheme is an important chance as it can contribute towards this expense, helping improve your homes’ energy efficiency at no cost to you! Contact us to learn more!
The ECO4, Energy Company Obligation Scheme, Phase 4, is a government-backed scheme that is designed to improve home energy efficiency across the UK. Under this scheme, energy companies must meet some energy-saving goals as mandated by the government. ECO Boiler Grants adheres closely to the rules and regulations set down by OFGEM, helping bring quality and reliable installations to your home.
The ECO4 scheme provides several benefits to homeowners who want to replace their boiler:
The scheme can fully cover the initial cost of having a new, efficient boiler system installed.
With a more efficient boiler that is correctly sized for your property, you’ll use less energy for heating, and that will mean lower bills every month, helping cut off up to £500 a year on bills.
New, efficient boilers emit less carbon, reducing the green footprint of your home, helping bring the UK closer to its carbon target.
An efficiency boiler, sized correctly, heats more evenly and supplies hot water, resulting in improved overall comfort.
Energy-efficient upgrades can enhance your home’s value and appeal to potential buyers if you must sell.
Applying for the ECO4 scheme is an easy process, but one must be aware of the eligibility criteria and application process.
Eligibility Criteria for the ECO4 Boiler Grant
The ECO4 scheme gives priority to help those most in need of energy efficiency improvements. Eligibility generally considers:
- You must be the homeowner.
- Low energy efficiency-rated homes are prioritized. Homes with EPC ratings between D, E, F, and G are generally accepted. If you do not know your rating, fill in our form and we will help inform you.
- A household member needs to be on benefits.
ECO Boiler Grants: The Application Process Simplified
At ECO Boiler Grants, we have made the application process as straightforward as it can be to help you gain easier access to the ECO4 scheme!
- Complete our online application to determine whether you qualify for the scheme. This quick check reviews your property and circumstances against the ECO4 criteria.
- Where you are likely to qualify, we’ll arrange for one of our experienced surveyors to visit your home to look at your existing heating system and select the best replacement to suit your needs.
- We’ll verify the amount of funding to which you qualify under the ECO4 scheme in your situation and outline any contribution likely to be made by yourself. Boilers and insulations are completely covered while biomass boilers and air source heat pumps are covered under £7,500 worth of funding.
- Upon approval, we’ll arrange the installation of your new, efficient boiler at your convenience.
- Our qualified engineers will professionally install your new boiler system, sized and configured for maximum performance.
- We offer full aftercare, including warranty registration and advice on optimum running of your new system.
When opting for a boiler replacement via the ECO4 scheme, selecting the right partner is just as vital as selecting the right boiler. ECO Boiler Grants enjoys a number of benefits that make us the best partner for homeowners across the UK. With years of experience working in the energy efficiency sector, we bring unmatched expertise with each installation.
- We are an expert within the ECO4 scheme and ensure you gain the highest funding level possible.
- Our boiler fitters, who are Gas Safe registered, are fully qualified and experienced at installing various boiler systems to guarantee quality installations.
- We make thorough checks to ensure your new boiler is precisely the correct size for your home’s specific needs so it operates at optimal efficiency and performance.
- Our streamlined installation process causes minimal disruption to your routine.
- Complete Service: From removal of your existing system to installation and commissioning of your new boiler, we take care of everything.
- We update you at every stage, with full details of each process and answers to any queries you might have.
Summary
Selecting the ideal size boiler for your house is an important decision that affects your comfort, bills, and carbon footprint. By taking into account your house size, number of radiators, hot water requirement, and level of insulation, you can select the ideal size boiler that will meet your needs without wasteful over-capacity.
The ECO4 scheme offers a vital chance for UK homeowners to install more efficient heating systems with the aid of financial support. As energy costs rise, it is increasingly important to invest in a suitably sized, efficient boiler.
Here at ECO Boiler Grants, we are dedicated to supporting you through this process with professional guidance and experienced installation. Our experts have complete knowledge of the complexity of both boiler size and the ECO4 scheme, presenting you with the most suitable solution for your property.
Ready to find out what alternatives there are to a better boiler? Find out if you qualify for the ECO4 boiler grant by filling out our 1 minute form. Our experts will take you through each step, from the first visit to the installation of your perfectly matched new boiler.
