Back Boilers not a popular choice anymore

Back boilers are no longer as popular as they once were but some homes do still have back boilers behind their chimneys, installing a new model or a new type of boiler could save you a lot of money on your heating bills. Back boilers are generally not installed unless it is too complicated or expensive to install a condensing boiler.

Back boilers are usually a very reliable type of boiler; however, they have a low efficiency rating of about 78% compared to the 90+% of modern condensing boilers. Back boilers have an open flue which means there is an open vent to allow fresh air to flow around. There is a dangerous fault to this which means that if a fault occurs with the ventilation then potentially lethal gases can be released. There are many advantages and disadvantages to having a back boiler.

The advantages to having a back boiler:

• Back boilers are cheaper to replace if a back boiler system is already in place
• Back boilers are very reliable
• A back boiler

The disadvantages to having a back boiler:

• Back boilers are fairly inefficient at only 78% efficiency and are quite expensive to run
• Building regulations make it difficult to install a back boiler due to their bad efficiency
• Back boilers take up a lot of space, as they require two tanks
• Back boilers leave you with a limited choice of fire front
• Back boilers are noisy and draughty