Though it's the middle of summer, now is the probably the least risky and cheapest time to replace that heating system.

Unlike in the winter your tenants won't have to worry too much if there is no hot water from the boiler for the day or two it takes to replace the heating system.

Keeping an old boiler going can be tempting, but as the cost of constantly replacing parts starts to add up, so does the idea of replacing the old boiler with a modern efficient boiler make more and more sense.

Any boiler more than 15 years old is probably ripe for replacement and the new boiler will be more energy efficient too, which, with fuel prices rising will make your property more attractive to tenants and buyers.

There are a number of different types of boiler - conventional, condensing and combination (or "combi") boiler.

The conventional type of boiler heats water in a hot water cylinder and is the best option for houses with lots of radiators and especially those with more than one bathroom.
The condensing boiler is just a more efficient version of the conventional boiler, which works by re-using the heat in the water cycle when it returns to the boiler for re-use.

How to save £200 a year

Condensing type boilers convert up to 90% of the fuel they use into heat compared to around 65% for an old standard boiler, thus condensing boilers will save up to about £200 a year in heating costs on the standard family home.

This means that once you add in the lower maintenance costs compared to an old boiler, a condensing boiler should pay for itself over about 5 years.

Combis, (including condensing combis) are best for smaller properties, especially those with just one bathroom.

They provide instant hot water and central heating and for smaller properties are better because they only heat water as it is used, and there is no waiting for the water to heat up a cylinder.

Another important factor is that combis also don't require a separate hot water tank, thus saving on space too.

However, combis are not great where lots of people could be using the water at the same time - because running the water in one room will reduce the flow to others. Also, if you want a power shower, it's better to go for a condensing boiler with a separate pump.

Boilers can be stood on the floor or hung on the wall. The good thing about the wall mounted ones is of course the saving of space and the fact that they can be placed in a cupboard.

Technical Considerations

There are some technical considerations.

Different sorts of boiler will need different levels of ventilation and water pressure. And the flue must be positioned correctly.

If you have an old boiler it can be worth buying a carbon monoxide detector. These are available from all hardware stores. New boilers will turn off on their own if carbon monoxide is detected.

Obviously, it should go without saying that any work on a boiler and the annual gas safety check (CP12) should be done by a competent corgi registered engineer. They will also be able to comment on what positioning is feasible.

From last year all new boilers installed now have to be of the condensing type and be energy efficiency rated. Already, most boiler vendors provide the energy efficiency rating as a standard feature on their sales blurb.

Grants and Subsides

The good news for people replacing their boiler is that there are quite a lot of grants and subsidies available.

The most efficient way to find out what is available is to go to the Energy Saving Trust's website at www.est.org.uk to see what funding is available and a list of providers in any area.

It's also a great site for any information you are ever likely to need on reducing carbon emissions from a property.

Also, don't forget the energy savings available through the Landlords Energy Saving Allowance scheme - which now includes the insulation of hot water systems.

Costs

As a rough guide the cost of a condensing boiler is about £1,300 and a combi about £800 with another £900 for installation, though prices do vary a great deal across the country.

Also, don't forget about the storage heater option. These save energy costs by drawing off electricity at off-peak times when costs are lower. They then store the heat in thermal bricks and output it during the day.

You can get manual or automatic types, though because the difference in price is not huge its better to go for an automatic allowing you to set a programme.

The only draw back is that on cold nights you might need another heat source to kick in, so some will then override to be convector heaters, if required.

These days they are cheap and small. Typical costs for a 3.4KW stand alone are about £350 with another £100 labour for installation.

Convector heater and fan heaters are also good for small rooms like bathrooms and cost as little as £20 and are relatively economical.

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