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Back boilers are generally no longer installed unless it is too complicated or too expensive to install a condensing boiler. Back boilers are “open flued” which means that there must be an open vent to allow fresh air in to replace the fumes that go up the flue.Back boilers are generally no longer installed unless it is too complicated or too expensive to install a
Condensing boiler – Wikipedia
. Back boilers are “open flued” which means that there must be an open vent to allow fresh air in to replace the fumes that go up the flue.
Does a back boiler need a flue?
If you have a back boiler (a gas boiler behind your fireplace) then you will not have an additional flue – the waste gases will simply exit via your chimney. Back boilers are no longer replaced due to their inefficiency – consider a conversion to a new combi boiler to huge potential savings on your energy bills.
Can a back boiler explode?
When a fire is lit in front of a redundant back boiler, left in a sealed condition, it can heat up and the internal pressure can cause the boiler casing to explode. Thus, at the decommissioning stage the system should have been drained and redundant pipework removed along with, ideally, the back boiler itself.
Can a boiler go in a cupboard?
Most modern boilers are manufactured to be compact in size and are capable of being fitted into a cupboard. Combi boilers in particular tend to fit quite well into kitchen cupboards as they are compact and require no additional tanks or cylinders. They can therefore be easily tucked away.
Why are back boilers illegal?
Old Back boilers are no longer safe, which is why they are illegal. The conventional or old boilers have less efficiency, more energy consumption and expensive maintenance. You need to replace your back boiler or remove it. You can replace it with a new back boiler or convert to a combi, system or heat only boiler.
Are back boilers still available?
Back boilers are no longer being manufactured and are being replaced by modern units that are more efficient, compact and safer. If your property has a back boiler that’s either given up or you simply want a more modern heating system, most professionals will advise you to move on to a combi boiler.
How long does a back boiler last?
A combi boiler will last you around 10 years. If you service you old back boiler regularly, it will last you a lot longer.
How do I make my back boiler safe?
“The only positively safe and reliable way to proceed, when a solid fuel back boiler is no longer needed and the customer wants to continue using the fireplace, is to totally remove the back boiler installation by breaking up the chamber that used to carry the hot water system and removing any pipework.
Why is my back boiler making noise?
Sounds like either Kettling which is caused by limescale or poss overheating. If its limescale, a simple noise silencer chemical added to the system will stop the noise in 2-4 weeks. If it is overheaing there are a number of possible causes. If you have a gravity hot water system, there could be air in the system.
Does a back boiler use electricity?
After proper installation, back boilers are ready to use to heat hot water and provide heating around the home. Back boilers use the heat of a fireplace run by electricity or gas fire.
What will replace gas boilers in 2025?
renewable heating systems Very little difference between a gas boiler and a hydrogen one. Existing boilers could stay in use, cutting the price of installation costs.
How much space does a boiler need around it?
Make Some Room for the Engineer to Fit Your Boiler We highly advise leaving at least 60cm of space around the boiler and 20cm above and below it. If you know your chosen boiler’s dimensions, measure the area, and then add some extra centimetres as discussed above to make sure there is enough room for the installation.
How can I hide my boiler in the kitchen?
All you need to do is build a box to cover the boiler with some plywood and paint it with Blackboard paint and you’ve got your own customised chalk cabinet! The same safety procedures apply as a standard kitchen cabinet so make sure to leave a 50mm gap around the boiler and ensure the box is not airtight.
Can you sell a house with a back boiler?
If we were to take the question at face-value, then yes, you can sell your house with a broken boiler.
Are back boilers expensive to run?
Back boilers are quite an archaic form of heating. They can be costly to run and maintain, they also tend to be a lot more inefficient than modern boiler models.
How fire works with back boiler?
OPEN FIRES WITH BACK BOILERS When lighting, the boiler damper should be closed so that the flue gases pass up the chimney in front of the boiler. When the damper is open, more heat is directed around the boiler, which will make the fire harder to light.
When were back boilers discontinued?
Back boilers were popular until the Building Regulations changed in 2005, when it became a requirement to install high efficiency condensing boilers. Although many have been replaced with wall-hung condensing boilers, there are still a large number of back boilers still installed in UK homes.
Are back boilers bad?
Fitted behind electric or gas fireplaces, back boilers provide both central heating and hot water to a property. Deemed unsafe and having very poor efficiency, older back boilers are in fact now illegal. It is recommended to install more efficient boilers such as a combi.
How much does it cost to remove back boiler and replace combi?
The price will vary from property to property. A typical 3-4 bedroom property with 8-10 radiators, all pipework, and an A-Rated combination boiler, is likely to cost around 5,000 for removal of the back boiler and replacement with a combi system.
How much does it cost to service a back boiler?
A service of a boiler, gas fire and hob is likely to be in the £100-£125 range. A boiler service should cost £70-90 (depending on where in the country you are), and that includes cleaning out a magnetic system filter (if you have one).
Can back boilers be repaired?
If a back boiler can no longer be repaired (highly likely if it’s broken!), you’ll need to have your system upgraded and replaced with either a conventional boiler or a modern combi boiler.
How efficient is a back boiler?
Typically a back boiler is just under 80% efficient whereas a modern condensing boiler could be 98% efficient. This is particularly important when your heating accounts for over 50% of what the average household will spend a year on bills. Therefore an inefficient boiler can really affect your fuel bills.
What temperature should a back boiler be set at?
If you have a conventional boiler system, your water cylinder will have its own thermostat. This is usually fitted on the side of the tank. You should set the temperature between 60 and 65 °C but for maximum efficiency, it should be set to around 60 °C.
Can you use a back boiler stove without water?
Operating a boiler stove without water would certainly invalidate any manufacturer’s warranty but also provide you with limited heat, as the air in an empty tank also acts like insulation limiting the heat output of the stove. This would be most apparent in boiler stoves where the boiler is of the ‘wrap- around’ type.
Does a back boiler need a flue?
If you have a back boiler (a gas boiler behind your fireplace) then you will not have an additional flue – the waste gases will simply exit via your chimney. Back boilers are no longer replaced due to their inefficiency – consider a conversion to a new combi boiler to huge potential savings on your energy bills.
Can a back boiler explode?
When a fire is lit in front of a redundant back boiler, left in a sealed condition, it can heat up and the internal pressure can cause the boiler casing to explode. Thus, at the decommissioning stage the system should have been drained and redundant pipework removed along with, ideally, the back boiler itself.
Can a boiler go in a cupboard?
Most modern boilers are manufactured to be compact in size and are capable of being fitted into a cupboard. Combi boilers in particular tend to fit quite well into kitchen cupboards as they are compact and require no additional tanks or cylinders. They can therefore be easily tucked away.
Why are back boilers illegal?
Old Back boilers are no longer safe, which is why they are illegal. The conventional or old boilers have less efficiency, more energy consumption and expensive maintenance. You need to replace your back boiler or remove it. You can replace it with a new back boiler or convert to a combi, system or heat only boiler.
Are back boilers still available?
Back boilers are no longer being manufactured and are being replaced by modern units that are more efficient, compact and safer. If your property has a back boiler that’s either given up or you simply want a more modern heating system, most professionals will advise you to move on to a combi boiler.
How long does a back boiler last?
A combi boiler will last you around 10 years. If you service you old back boiler regularly, it will last you a lot longer.
How do I make my back boiler safe?
“The only positively safe and reliable way to proceed, when a solid fuel back boiler is no longer needed and the customer wants to continue using the fireplace, is to totally remove the back boiler installation by breaking up the chamber that used to carry the hot water system and removing any pipework.
Why is my back boiler making noise?
Sounds like either Kettling which is caused by limescale or poss overheating. If its limescale, a simple noise silencer chemical added to the system will stop the noise in 2-4 weeks. If it is overheaing there are a number of possible causes. If you have a gravity hot water system, there could be air in the system.
Does a back boiler use electricity?
After proper installation, back boilers are ready to use to heat hot water and provide heating around the home. Back boilers use the heat of a fireplace run by electricity or gas fire.
What will replace gas boilers in 2025?
renewable heating systems Very little difference between a gas boiler and a hydrogen one. Existing boilers could stay in use, cutting the price of installation costs.
How much space does a boiler need around it?
Make Some Room for the Engineer to Fit Your Boiler We highly advise leaving at least 60cm of space around the boiler and 20cm above and below it. If you know your chosen boiler’s dimensions, measure the area, and then add some extra centimetres as discussed above to make sure there is enough room for the installation.
How can I hide my boiler in the kitchen?
All you need to do is build a box to cover the boiler with some plywood and paint it with Blackboard paint and you’ve got your own customised chalk cabinet! The same safety procedures apply as a standard kitchen cabinet so make sure to leave a 50mm gap around the boiler and ensure the box is not airtight.
Can you sell a house with a back boiler?
If we were to take the question at face-value, then yes, you can sell your house with a broken boiler.
Are back boilers expensive to run?
Back boilers are quite an archaic form of heating. They can be costly to run and maintain, they also tend to be a lot more inefficient than modern boiler models.
How fire works with back boiler?
OPEN FIRES WITH BACK BOILERS When lighting, the boiler damper should be closed so that the flue gases pass up the chimney in front of the boiler. When the damper is open, more heat is directed around the boiler, which will make the fire harder to light.
When were back boilers discontinued?
Back boilers were popular until the Building Regulations changed in 2005, when it became a requirement to install high efficiency condensing boilers. Although many have been replaced with wall-hung condensing boilers, there are still a large number of back boilers still installed in UK homes.
Are back boilers bad?
Fitted behind electric or gas fireplaces, back boilers provide both central heating and hot water to a property. Deemed unsafe and having very poor efficiency, older back boilers are in fact now illegal. It is recommended to install more efficient boilers such as a combi.
How much does it cost to remove back boiler and replace combi?
The price will vary from property to property. A typical 3-4 bedroom property with 8-10 radiators, all pipework, and an A-Rated combination boiler, is likely to cost around 5,000 for removal of the back boiler and replacement with a combi system.
How much does it cost to service a back boiler?
A service of a boiler, gas fire and hob is likely to be in the £100-£125 range. A boiler service should cost £70-90 (depending on where in the country you are), and that includes cleaning out a magnetic system filter (if you have one).
Can back boilers be repaired?
If a back boiler can no longer be repaired (highly likely if it’s broken!), you’ll need to have your system upgraded and replaced with either a conventional boiler or a modern combi boiler.
