Condensing boilers, some selective information
Condensing boilers, some selective information
A condensing boiler is a efficient modern boiler that integrates an additional heat exchanger in order that the red-hot waste gases transfer a large proportion of their contained energy to pre-heat the cold water in the boiler. When functioning at a good efficiency, the water vapour created in the burning process turns revert back into a liquid discharging the latent heat of vaporisation.
A side effect will be this water, called condensate, which is usually acidic, has to be piped outside to a drain or water drain. The boiler is recommended to be mounted to a wall and the output fumes will rise through the flue. Hot water is supplied by a small-scale storage tank to help convenient and rapid hot water .
Can you advise on the right boiler size?
It was a past times practice to install outsize boilers. Whilst this meant that there was little chance of the boiler falling short on its requirements, without any concern for icy weather, it also meant that they were principally running at a reduced capacity, and so functioning under their projected optimal efficiency. If you have bettered the energy efficiency of your property since the previous boiler was installed, you will likely find that you will be able to fit a lower-ranking capacity boiler than the current one.
You should ensure you get advice from a CORGI installer before purchasing your next boiler
If I fit a condensing boiler should I fit large radiators?
The main driver for smaller fuel use from a condensing boiler is that it has an oversize heat exchanger. Larger radiators would allow lower return temperatures, and so push efficiency higher still, but the additional benefit has not been viewed as cost effective, keeping in mind that the system is working at very low capacity for the main heating months. That probably remains true, though the reduced heating requirement for new build may well mean that homeowners would now tolerate over-sized radiators more willingly.
The SEDBUK initiative looked at this, during which it was debated whether condensing boilers demanded to be treated differently from others. The determination was that they need not, and the test results for both types use the same SEDBUK calculation.