A HOMEOWNER’S GUIDE TO
HIGH EFFICIENCY BOILERS
DO YOU NEED TO IMPROVE YOUR
BOILER?
If you answer YES to all or the majority
of these questions, it would be
beneficial for you to further investigate
installing a new high efficiency boiler:
1. Am I spending increasing amounts
of money replacing parts on my
current boiler?
2. Does my boiler service technician
recommend that I change my boiler
soon?
3. Have my heating bills been
increasing in recent years?
4. Am I carrying out any alterations to
my heating system?
The Benefits of High Efficiency Boilers:
 Reduce heating bills
 Reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions
 Increase comfort levels
You can typically reduce your energy usage by up to 20%
by installing a high efficiency boiler as a replacement for
older lower efficiency models.
Older conventional boilers can be wasteful of energy and
costly to run because a significant portion of the heat is
lost up the flue/chimney and the efficiency of the boiler
is lower than modern high efficiency boilers. The latest
models of high efficiency boilers capture more of this
heat. There is now grant aid available through the SEAI
Better Energy Homes scheme to help you improve your
home using this measure.
Heating Controls Upgrade must be carried out in
conjunction with the High Efficiency Boiler in order to
avail of the Better Energy Homes Scheme Grant.
5. Is my boiler 15 years or older i.e.
significantly less efficient than
modern boilers?
CASE STUDY:
John has a four bedroom detached house with a footprint of
150 m2 and previously had an annual heating bill of €1,700.
John's last boiler was installed in his home in 1995 and when
it was purchased had an operating efficiency of 78%. The
boiler was not serviced very often over the years and through
general 'wear and tear' lost some of its operating efficiency.
When John decided to replace the boiler, it is likely that it was
operating well below 70% efficiency. A high efficiency
condensing boiler rated at 91% efficiency was installed and
over the past year this has reduced John’s heating bill by
approx. 25% - an annual saving of over €400. John was also
able to secure grant aid from the Better Energy Homes
scheme to help him with the cost of this. Typical costs for this
type of upgrade are approx. €2,000 - €3,000 (excluding grant).
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A HOMEOWNER’S GUIDE TO
HIGH EFFICIENCY BOILERS
I NEED A HIGH EFFICIENCY BOILER….WHAT DO I DO NEXT?
Get more information on the Better Energy Homes scheme in one of three ways:
1. Request more information by ringing 1850 927 000, contact the scheme directly at
[email protected] or consult the SEAI Better Energy Homes scheme Buyers Guide
below and the SEAI Guide “Detailed Guide to Home Heating Systems” available at
http://www.seai.ie/Publications/Your_Home_Publications_/Energy_Efficiency/Efficient_Home_Heating_g
uide.pdf
2. Contact a registered contractor for high efficiency boiler installation from the SEAI Registered
Contractor list at www.hes.seai.ie/grantprocess/contractorsearch.aspx
It is recommended you contact a number of registered contractors to ensure you receive the best
quality available, at a competitive price
3. Once you have selected a suitable contractor, complete the Better Energy Homes Scheme
application form.
4. The next step is to have the works carried out. It is in your best interest to make sure you are
satisfied that all your questions are answered. If an answer seems too complicated then ask for a
simpler explanation. If someone is selling you a new boiler they will be happy to provide an
explanation to your satisfaction.
Questions to ask your Contractor:
SIZING AND DESIGN
1. Is the boiler over 90% efficient? This means that in excess of 90% of the fuel burned by the boiler will be converted to
useful heat. You can check SEAI’s Home-heating Appliance Register of Performance (HARP) database for details:
http://www.seai.ie/Your_Building/BER/BER_Assessors/Technical/HARP_Database/
2.
Has the boiler been sized specifically to meet my requirements? (over sizing the boiler can result in a loss in
efficiency; under sizing will result in a shortage of heat)
EQUIPMENT
1. Will the boiler satisfy all rules and requirements for receipt of a grant under SEAI’s Better Energy Homes scheme?
INSTALLATION AND COMMISSIONING
1. REGISTERED? Is the Contractor on SEAI's list of Registered Contractors? (Remember, if the Contractor is not listed
you will not receive a grant under the Better Energy Homes scheme)
2. INCLUDED? Has the contractor priced for all items relating to the Better Energy Homes grant for the installation of a
high efficient boiler and controls
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A HOMEOWNER’S GUIDE TO
HIGH EFFICIENCY BOILERS
3. REFERENCES? How many similar systems has the contractor installed? Are local references available?
4. TIME? When will the installation commence? How long will the installation take?
5. AIR SUPPLY? In some cases the boiler requires a constant air supply for safe and efficient combustion. It is
recommended that all boilers fitted indoors are room sealed boilers, therefore they will have their own air supply
ducted from the outside. Please consult your contractor to check this.
6. FUEL SUPPLY? When replacing a standard efficiency gas boiler with a high efficiency gas boiler, it may be necessary
to upsize the gas pipework to achieve efficient combustion.
When replacing an oil boiler some fittings on the oil supply pipe may need to be upgraded e.g. fire valves. Please
consult your contractor for guidance.
7. EXISTING PIPEWORK AND RADIATORS? Is the existing radiators and pipework system okay? Do parts of the
existing pipework or radiators need to be replaced? If older parts of your heating system are leaking, corroded, uninsulated etc. this could shorten the lifespan of your new boiler and affect the efficiency.
8. ACCESS? Is there enough room around the boiler and its flue/chimney for maintenance access?
9. FROST STAT? Does the boiler require a frost stat? If the boiler is located externally or in an unheated space such as
garage / attic etc. this may be worth considering.
10. FLUE/CHIMNEY? Talk to the contractor about where your boiler is going to be located. Your boiler must be located a
certain distance from openings, your contractor must consider this when locating the boiler. High efficiency boilers
produce plumes of water vapour. This may cause an annoyance for some people so it is worth discussing with your
contractor when considering where to site your boiler.
11. RESPONSIBILITY? Who is responsible for repairing any disruption to walls/ceilings etc. caused during the installation
of the boiler?
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
1. DOCUMENTATION? Will full documentation, including any operation manuals, RGI or OFTEC certificates and be
warranty provided? Will you received a boiler logbook? This is a record similar to a service history book for a car. This
should be kept safe and filled-in every time the boiler is serviced.
2.
HOW DO I USE THE NEW BOILER?
a. Will the supplier/contractor provide instruction and demonstration on how to operate the boiler and heating
controls?
b. How will the boiler interact with my new heating controls?
c.
3.
Are there any particular methods or combination of settings that I should either use or avoid?
MAINTENANCE? How often should the boiler be serviced? Will I need to carry out any housekeeping or maintenance
tasks once the boiler is installed? If so, what are these tasks and how often will I need to carry them out?
4.
PARTS AVAILABLE? Does the supplier/contractor have spare parts available if required?
COSTS & PAYMENT
AFTER SALES SERVICE
1. Does the quotation cover all costs associated with the
1. What is covered under the guarantee?
Better Energy Homes grant works?
2. For how long does the contractor provide emergency
2. Are there any additional costs that I should be aware
service work if required?
of?
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