Pros and Cons of a Back Boiler
Lets get one thing straight right away – back boilers are slightly frowned upon these days by the people who draw up the Building Regulations.
And if your boiler can be repositioned elsewhere, then you are actively encouraged to replace your back boiler with a highly efficient boiler, commonly known as a condensing boiler. As opposed to more traditionally boilers which might only be 50% to 70% efficient, a condensing boiler can reach 90% efficiency, which is good for your wallet and the planet.
But first, what exactly is a back boiler? Typically, it’s a gas, oil, or solid fuel fire fitted in a fireplace which directly heats a boiler situated at its rear. Many houses were fitted with them and they have given years of sterling service and will continue to do so for many years yet.
In simple terms, the pros and cons of a back boiler are quite straightforward.
The biggest pro is that they create a traditional, warm atmosphere, especially when incorporating a solid fuel burning fire, and are integral to the soul of many period properties.
Another pro is that they are, when compared to conventional boilers, comparatively efficient. They also often make good use of the property’s size and are unobtrusive – consider how many homes are blighted with poorly positioned boilers.
One of the biggest cons is that the boiler only works when the fire is lit, so hot water on demand can be limited, especially during the summer months. An electric immersion heater gets around this problem, but that can be an expensive alternative.
They also need a natural-draught open flue, which is often served by the property’s open chimney.
Of course, the biggest con is that when it comes to the time of replacement, they should ideally join the scrap heap. Building regulations recommend that they should be replaced with a modern, high efficiency boiler which is sited in an appropriate place in the house; usually the kitchen, or utility room, and needs to be mounted, because of the flue, on an outside wall.
If this is not possible, and a number of other criteria (including a drainage system for a modern condensing boiler) cannot be met, then a back boiler can be replaced with another back boiler.
So, this means that many period properties, especially mid-terraces, are perfectly entitled to continue to use a back boiler.
And the choice of models and fuel types is still quite wide.
Generally, integral back boilers (those fitted to the fire, or stove by the manufacturer) are the most efficient. They have a high heat output and are quite capable of handling hot water and central heating needs of a small to medium sized property.
Clip-in back boilers are also available, although they generally have a lower output than those fitted by the manufacturers.
And there is also a choice of materials from which they are made, included steel (most popular material), through to stainless steel, which cost more, but will last longer. And glass lined back boilers will tend to last the longest.
So, they might be a little old fashioned and they might be not as popular as they once were, but the good old back boiler has got some mileage left yet.
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