In this article, we take a look at the many benefits of buying a boiler on finance and compare them to the range of benefits for buying a new boiler with cash. Each, as you can imagine, have their advantages, so let’s take a look.
Buying a boiler can be an expensive, but it’s an essential item for your home.
It’s worth getting the right one. Notably, a boiler that will not only heat your home and your water, but also save you energy and money in the long run.
The average cost of a boiler can be anything between £600 to £2,500 or more depending on the brand and type of model. There are budget options, through to the latest version with additional features.
You can say goodbye to the old boiler with a giant water tank in the loft that takes up lots of space.
Next, replace it with a new, smaller option with Smart technology that can link up to your phone or device.
However, as it can be an expensive outlay to begin with, you can decide if you want to pay for your boiler on finance or with cash.
Index
- Introduction
- How Does Paying On Finance Work?
- How To Get A Boiler On Finance
- Cash v Boiler Finance
- Should I Take Out Boiler Finance?
- Where Can I Get Boiler Finance From?
- Who Can Get Finance With Greener homes
- What Are The Different Types of Boiler
- How to Choose The Right Boiler
- What Size Boiler Do I Need?
- How Much Is A New Boiler?
- How To Research The Best Boiler To Buy
- Who Can Install The Boiler?
- What Are The Top Boiler Brands?
- What Is The Most Energy Efficient Boiler?
- How Can I Make My Boiler More Energy Efficient?
- What Is The Most Efficient Type Of Boiler?
- Does The Size Of The Boiler Make It More Expensive?
- Are Energy Efficient Boilers More Expensive?
- How Much Can I Save With A New Boiler?
- The Cost of A New Boiler With Greener Homes
- Installing Your new Boiler With Greener Homes
- Why Choose Greener Homes?
- How Much Does Installation Cost?
- Conclusion, Cash v Finance
How Does Paying On Finance Work?
So, instead of paying for a boiler all at once, by using finance, you can spread it into manageable monthly payments. 0% APR means you can buy a boiler, interest free, with no additional charges.
Nonetheless, you do need to research each finance scheme and which is the best one for you.
Because of the cost of a boiler, many homeowners use finance schemes to pay for it. In view of this, there are several boiler finance schemes around, from boiler suppliers, manufacturers and energy suppliers.
Each one is a credit agreement which allows the homeowners to spread the cost over a number of months or years.
How To Get A Boiler On Finance
To apply for boiler finance, you need to choose a finance product which is right for your situation.
Most will require a deposit and you will need to pay interest in some form on any amount that you borrow. But this depends on the product you choose.
For example, obviously the lower the monthly repayment for your boiler finance deal, the longer it will take to pay off. £10 per month for your boiler might sound good, but that will take you a long time to pay off a boiler worth £2000.
If you can put down a good deposit first, that will help to reduce the length of your payments. With this in mind, try to set a manageable amount in repayments per month.
Think about how much you can afford in terms of how quickly you can pay off the finance scheme.
Cash v Boiler Finance
If you do have the available cash to pay for a new boiler outright, this will always be the cheapest option.
That’s because lenders charge interest on credit, it’s how they make their money.
Interest on a loan means you will always end up paying more for your boiler if you choose a finance scheme.
Furthermore, it’s important to realise that not all boiler finance products include the cost of installation. Hence, you should double check to see if your loan includes installation costs or not.
However, maybe you need a boiler immediately. It could be an emergency in the middle of winter and your old boiler is completely beyond repair.
Or, you are thinking about saving energy in your home and part of this is installing an A rated boiler.
Whatever your decision, there are options to pay for the boiler immediately, or over a period of time.
After all, a boiler is an essential requirement for your home and it’s worth paying for the right one for your household.
Should I Take Out Boiler Finance?
Using a boiler finance scheme can be a good option if you can’t afford to buy one outright.
For example, you may want to replace your old boiler with a new, more efficient one.
This can save you energy and money on your bills in the longer term.
Moreover, you can have peace of mind that your new boiler is safe and working well to supply heating and hot water to your home.
Also, if you can afford to keep up with repayments and you are happy to pay for it this way, it’s a good idea.
You can enjoy the benefits of a brand new, A rated gas boiler, knowing that you have a warm and safe home.
However, taking out a loan is always a risk. If you find that you cannot keep up with the payments, this will affect your credit rating.
Consider this point when you are choosing a finance scheme.
Where Can I Get Boiler Finance From?
You can get a new boiler on finance directly from your local heating engineer and boiler installer, like Greener Homes.
Many local installers use similar finance providers as the larger boiler installers, therefore they can offer competitive deals too.
For example, Greener Homes Group is a Worcester accredited installer.
Working with Novuna, we deliver options for finance and flexible payments to homeowners all across Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, Taunton and surrounding areas within the UK.
Although buying a boiler can be an expensive outlay, you could find yourself making savings of anywhere between £50-£300 per year.
Therefore, potentially, thanks to your savings, your new boiler installation could even pay for itself within a few years.
Who Can Get Finance With Greener homes
Greener Homes can provide finance to people who;
- Have lived in the UK as a resident for more than 12 months
- Own a personal bank account from which a Direct Debit can be taken
- Owner Occupier
- In permanent employment, working minimum of 16 hours per week
- Self employed
- Retired person
- On disability allowance
- Unemployed and ‘hour person’ (with consent of co-habiting, working partner)
What Are The Different Types Of Boiler
There are three main types of boiler you can choose from. However, there are many factors that will influence your decision on what boiler to get.
Combi Boiler.
The name combi is short for combination. That’s because it is a single unit which serves two purposes.
The combi boiler will heat your home and heat your water on demand. It’s ideal for smaller homes as the unit is compact and can even fit into a kitchen cupboard.
A downside to a combi boiler is that you can’t have multiple people using hot water at the same time.
So it’s not useful for homes with more than two bathrooms or large households if you need to use hot water simultaneously.
Conventional Boiler
Secondly, there is a conventional boiler. Also known as a regular boiler or open vent boiler.
Conventional boilers provide heating and hot water with the use of a cold water tank and hot water cylinder.
Cold water from the tank is heated up in the hot water storage cylinder which then feeds into the taps. The water tank maintains the right water level while a pump circulates the hot water to your radiators.
Conventional boilers are able to store and heat large amounts of water, so they can serve large households easily.
However, you will need enough room for a water tank and a cylinder.
Systems Boiler.
Finally, a systems boiler is a closed system which only needs an additional cylinder.
It contains an expansion vessel and pump allowing the boiler to be installed in a sealed system.
Generally speaking, for larger homes with multiple bathrooms, a system boiler with a large hot water cylinder is a better option than a combi boiler.
How to Choose The Right Boiler
When buying a new boiler, you need to consider a few factors. For example, think about the heating and hot water needs for your household.
Do you have a large family or a growing family? Or do you need to use showers or hot water at the same time? Are you living in a two bedroom flat or in a detached house with a spacious loft?
Most boilers are available to use with gas, LPG fuel and oil. Gas boilers tend to cost less to use than oil fired boilers because they are linked to the main gas supply.
However, the fuel type may depend on what’s available in your area. Additionally, the type of fuel used to power your system can be more effective with certain types of boilers.
If you’re thinking of buying a new boiler, you may also be interested in finding out how much more energy and money you can save.
For example, by replacing your old boiler with a new A rated energy efficient one, you could save up to £300 a year.
Perhaps your current boiler is getting old and breaks down regularly. You may end up spending more money repairing your boiler than you would on a new, more energy efficient boiler.
It’s worth looking for a reliable, energy efficient boiler that can save you money on your bills in the long term. You also need to look for the right size of boiler.
What Size Boiler Do I Need?
Boiler sizes, or outputs are measured in Kilowatts or kW. If you get an underpowered boiler, it will struggle to meet the demands of your household.
hich means you won’t get enough hot water to your taps or heating to your radiators.
However, if you get an overpowered boiler, you could waste money and energy by wasting extra gas you don’t need.
Often, people might get an oversize boiler, just in case. But this results in inefficiency, wasting gas and higher bills.
Here are some general ideas of what size boiler you should get for your home. This will also depend on the age of your home and other factors.
Furthermore, you will need to choose a larger boiler if you have more people living in a smaller home for example.
- A Flat or House with 1-2 bedrooms and up to 10 radiators needs a boiler size of approximately 24-27kW.
- A flat or house with 2-3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and up to 15 radiators needs a boiler size of approximately 28-34 kW.
- A house with 4 or more bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with up to 28 radiators needs a boiler size of approximately 35-42kW.
How Much Is A New Boiler?
As you have seen, there are many different types and models of boiler you can choose. Hence, there’s also a wide variety of price ranges.
You can get budget boilers to premium range versions of the same model. So, here are a few general ideas.
Combi boilers
The cost of a combi boiler is between £1,000 up to £3,000 including installation. This will depend on the type of boiler you’d like, its warranty length and the labour costs of the installation.
So, you could buy a single unit boiler before guarantee or installation for £545. That price is for an Ideal 24kW combi boiler.
An EcoTec combi boiler from Vaillant, with the same 24kW output costs £925. Hence, you can see the difference in prices already.
Installation can add hundreds of pounds to this, so it helps to shop around for the right package.
It may cheaper to ask a local independent company to install the boiler, rather than a big national one.
However, you may get a better warranty and deal on your boiler if it’s fitted by an installer approved by the manufacturer.
System boilers
System boilers may be more expensive than a combi boiler as they require more components and more space.
For example, a Worcester Greenstar 9i System boiler costs £904 before installation and comes with a 5 year warranty. A Viessmann Vitodens 100-W system costs £1,190.
Conventional boilers
Generally speaking, conventional boilers would be installed in homes as standard.
However, there are now more popular and efficient options. There are some homes where a regular boiler is effective though. A Worcester Greenstar 30Ri starts from £1,120.
How To Research The Best Boiler To Buy
Choosing the right boiler for your home depends on a variety of factors. The best boiler for you may not even be the best one for your neighbour. Here are a few ideas that will help you to make a choice.
Use a free online quote tool
Many suppliers offer a free online quote tool on their websites. You can get a free boiler quote using ours right now! 😉
All you have to do is tap in your details and you will receive a free quote on your new boiler and installation date as soon as the next day.
You could shop around using a few different sites if you want. Get at least three different quotes for exactly the same boiler type and model and then choose the one which suits you.
However, if you’re still confused, don’t forget, you can ask an expert.
Ask an expert
With this in mind, if you’re getting an annual check on your boiler or you have recently had repairs on it, you may already know a local gas engineer.
So, you can ask them for advice. Or, you could speak to a national or independent supplier at any time. Also, be aware that some engineers will be affiliated with certain brands.
Hence, they may try to sell you a particular type and brand of boiler. However, if its a good deal, then it’s worth considering among your other options.
Look at reviews
You should always look at reviews online about a particular type of boiler or even about a gas engineer.
Or you could ask your neighbours or friends who they would recommend to fit your boiler.
Who Can Install The Boiler
Notably, make sure you only use a gas safe registered engineer to install your new boiler. Registered Gas engineers will be available to access on the gas safe register.
However, you can check this when you are speaking to an engineer about installation.
Also, when an engineer comes to your home, they will be wearing an ID card with their name, photo and an ID number which matches their number on the gas safety register.
Above all, if anyone who is not on the register carries out work on a gas installation, it’s illegal as well as dangerous.
That’s because they are dealing with gas, which can be a dangerous fuel.
Generally speaking, most companies will only employ trusted engineers on the gas safety register. But it’s up to you to check this.
What Are The Top Boiler Brands?
Worcester Bosch
Worcester Bosch is a well known business in the heating industry in the UK. Founded in 1962 in Worcester by Cecil Duckworth, it now carries the name Worcester Bosch.
That’s because it was acquired by Robert Bosch in 1992. There is a network of over 300 service engineers. Worcester Bosch enjoys an excellent reputation for efficiency and reliability.
Their Greenstar boiler range has been awarded the Which? Best Buy Boiler for nine years in a row.
Prices range between £750-£3,500 before installation.
Viessmann
The Viessmann Group is a German manufacturer of heating. The company is over 100 years old and has been in the same family for four generations. It employs over 12,000 people.
Viessman are world leaders in the commercial heating space. Several large building around the world run on Viessmann commercial boilers.
As a result, their domestic boilers are powerful and highly efficient. The company has won the Which? Best Buy award in the UK.
Vaillant
Vaillant is another family owned German company. It’s one of the biggest companies for heating and hot water and employs over 13,000 people worldwide.
The family business focuses on green products, energy- saving and environmentally friendly products.
It was founded in 1874 and holds the German Sustainability Award as Germany’s most sustainable large company.
Baxi
The Baxi group is another UK company, founded over 150 years ago.
The current Baxi group was formed in 2000 by the merger of the heating interests of Newmond plc and Baxi holdings plc.
Based in Warwick, the company employs over 6,400 people across Europe.
As a company, its investment is on boiler products and renewable technologies. These include solar thermal hot water systems, biomass boilers and micro combined heat and power with baxi-innotech.
Ideal
Ideal boilers is a smaller company based in Hull. Founded in 1905 as the National Radiator Company, Ideal boilers has been a major employer in Hull for over a century.
In 2014, it was acquired by a French firm called Groupe Atlantic.
The current company is the third largest in the UK market for domestic wall mounted boilers. In 2013, it received a Queens Award for Enterprise in Innovation.
What Is The Most Energy Efficient Boiler?
Generally speaking, most new boilers are much more energy efficient nowadays. In fact, it’s a selling point for many brands.
Replacing your old boiler for a new one will improve your efficiency in terms of saving money on bills and energy.
All modern boilers are condensing boilers, which are more efficient than traditional non condensing boilers.
Therefore, you could save as much as £300 a year on your gas bill if you are replacing your old boiler for a new one.
Boilers come with an energy rating and percentage for efficiency. An A rating is the best, a nd most new gas combi boilers come with an energy efficiency rating of up to 98%.
With this in mind, the efficiency will decrease over time with the age of the boiler. Therefore, if your boiler is over 10 years old, even if you have a combi boiler, it will be less efficient than a new one.
How Can I Make My Boiler More Energy Efficient?
There are many ways you can use your boiler more efficiently. For example, one of the best ways to reduce your energy use at home is simply to set your thermostat to a lower temperature.
Even reducing it by one degree could result in saving you £80 per year on bills.
Furthermore, you could consider using smart technology with your new boiler.
By controlling your heating via smart technology on your phone or device, you can ensure that the heating is only on when you need it.
Additionally, you can also maintain your boiler by insulating any outdoor pipes. Or by bleeding your radiators.
What Is The Most Efficient Type of Boiler?
Considering the factors for the right type of boiler for your home is essential so that you don’t waste money or energy.
For example, a combi boiler heats water as you need it and takes up less space as it doesn’t need a storage tank.
A conventional boiler is a heat only system which means you need a hot water tank or cylinder.
These are better for large properties. A system boiler is just like a heat only boiler with more components are built in.
hich means they take up less space and you don’t need a tank in the loft.
With this in mind, think about what type of boiler is suitable for your home.
Making a good decision will save you from wasting money on an inefficient boiler which is wrong for your requirements.
Does The Size of The Boiler Make It More Expensive?
Boiler output is measured in kilowatts or kW. Generally speaking, a smaller home, say a two bedroom property with one bathroom, needs a smaller output.
A larger home with multiple bathrooms and more radiators obviously needs a larger output.
Several people opt for a larger output just in case. However, this is not always the best option and if the boiler is oversized, it will waste energy and give you higher bills than you need.
All modern boilers are fully modulating. As radiators or water reach the right temperature, they’ll reduce the size of the flame and then stay simmering.
Hence, they aren’t wasting gas. A higher output can heat your home faster. Whereas a smaller boiler will stay on high fire longer to get the radiators to temperature.
At this point, it’s worth talking to your heating engineer. They should be able to work out the correct output you need for your home.
Are Energy Efficient Boilers More Expensive?
The initial outlay of an A rated, high efficiency new boiler may be more expensive than a boiler model with a lower energy rating.
However, you need to consider the long term savings. According to the Energy Saving Trust, by replacing your old boiler with an A rated one, you could save around £340 a year.
Also, saving around 1,500kg of carbon monoxide.
Boilers can last for over 15 years, but it’s recommended you replace them at around 10 years.
As they get older, they have to work harder to heat your home and water. Hence, you could be spending more money on heating bills and repairs as you would to get a new boiler.
With this in mind, are you thinking about moving home? Obviously you may not wish to invest in a new boiler if you’re planning on moving soon.
But it’s worth asking about the boiler in your new home as well. How old is it and what’s the efficiency rating on it?
How Much Can I Save With A New Boiler?
Your main consideration in changing your boiler is the cost and how long it takes to pay off.
For example, if you buy an A rated boiler at £1,500, if will take around 4.5 years to pay off. That’s based on the Energy Saving Trust figures of £340 a year savings you could make.
Generally speaking, a good installation deal will offer you a warranty of up to 10 or even 12 years.
You will save on any repairs to your old boiler and there’s no need to pay out for extra insurance.
It’s worth noting that boiler efficiency does decrease with age. Perhaps you have a very old boiler and when it comes to being fixed, it’s getting more difficult for your gas engineer to find the parts for it.
Or maybe it’s letting you down too often in the middle of winter when you rely on it the most. It’s very common for boilers to break down in winter as this is when there are used the most.
Particularly if they haven’t been used at all in the summer months. Suddenly turning your heating back on one day as it gets cold may be too much of a surprise for your old boiler.
Even though an A rated energy efficient boiler may seem like an expensive purchase, it can save you money in the long term if you’re willing to look at it in that way.
The Cost Of A New Boiler With Greener Homes
As you can see, there are many factors to determine the cost of your new boiler. However, it is also important to select one that best suits your budget.
So if you have a particular budget in mind, speak to your gas engineer about the options for your home.
Typically, the price of a new boiler can vary by as much as three thousand pounds.
You could get a cheap option for around £500 or a premium model for anything up to £3,500.
Although, getting the cheapest boiler you can find may not necessarily help you in the long run.
Getting the wrong size boiler or the wrong output could lead to larger bills in the future.
It is imperative to choose the boiler which suites your household needs.
Ultimately, this will be the most efficient option and save you money on your bills.
Installing Your New Boiler With Greener Homes
Greener Homes offer services including boiler installations, repairs and replacements.
Based in Bristol, the company has many years of experience in installing boilers across the South West of England.
All the engineers at Greener Homes are on the gas safety register.
All you have to do to get started is to visit the Greener Homes website.
Fill in a few details and you will get an initial quote on the same day. Alternatively, you can speak to someone over the phone if you prefer.
An engineer will then arrange a suitable time to visit your home, have a look at the boiler and then give you a full quote.
This quote is based on the brand, type of boiler, price point and where your new boiler will go.
The engineer will take into consideration the hot water demands of your home, how many radiators you have and what your current boiler system is.
Then, they will advise you on what type of boiler would be a good option for your home.
A like for like replacement is usually the cheapest and quickest option.
This means simply replacing your old boiler with a similar modern model in the same place. If you are replacing a different type of boiler, like a conventional boiler for a systems boiler, then this will require more time and labour costs.
Many companies will have a preference for a brand of boiler. Greener Homes specialise in installing Worcester Bosch boilers for example.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to choose a Worcester Bosch boiler.
Why Choose Greener Homes?
The top boiler brands have a range of options on price. For example, you can still get budget options within the Worcester Bosch brand.
At the cheaper end of the spectrum, you can expect to spend around £1500. At the upper end, it could be anything up to £4000.
If you choose a Worcester Bosch boiler, then Greener Homes can offer excellent warranties as part of the installation. Some of the warranties can last up to 12 years.
This can give you peace of mind that if there is ever a problem with your boiler, you have it covered by warranty.
There is also a finance program available at Greener Homes.
If you need to pay for a boiler in an emergency, or you are interested in buying a new, more efficient model, there are flexible payment options.
Greener Homes work with Novuna to provide finance and flexible payment schemes to millions of homeowners across the country.
You can spread the costs into monthly payments and afford a modern, efficient heating system in your home.
How Much Does Installation Cost?
When you are looking at the cost of a boiler, you then need to factor in the cost of installation.
This includes labour costs and a warranty. Some manufacturers offer whole package deals, depending on if you use their specified installer.
The first thing that will affect the cost of your installation is the boiler. What brand, type and output you choose has an impact on the overall price.
Then, there are the labour costs. This will depend where you live, the number of engineers required and the complexity of the job.
For example, you may have a very old conventional boiler with a water tank in the loft.
If you want this to be removed and replaced with a Systems boiler, then that is a complex job requiring the removal of infrastructure and piping as well as a boiler.
If you are replacing an old boiler, then your pipes may not meet current regulations.
The overall job will be more expensive to upgrade to a modern boiler, than simply replacing a like for like model.
As well as this, your heating system may require a chemical flush to get rid of all the old sludge which could impact a new system.
Additionally, an excellent warranty usually comes with choosing an accredited installer.
You may get a cheaper overall quote if you choose a shorter warranty or an independent installer. But it’s up to you to weigh the advantages of a longer warranty on a such a big purchase as a boiler.
Conclusion: Cash v Finance
To conclude, getting a new boiler installation can save you money on energy and bills in the long term.
Moreover, you can get peace of mind knowing you have an efficient boiler that won’t cut out on you when it’s needed the most.
By replacing an old boiler that regularly needs repairing, you are also putting the safety of your household first.
The range of options for boilers can get confusing. Ideally, get three quotes together and choose the right one for you.
Talk it through with a gas safety engineer, get advice and look at reviews. If you can’t afford a new boiler immediately, there are finance schemes or flexible payment options that you can choose from.
Greener Homes offer a free no obligation quote service. You can request a quote and decide if you want to choose it or not.
You could get a warranty of up to 12 years with your new boiler if you do choose Greener Homes. Call today on 01179 898 230 or visit the website at greenerhomesgroup.co.uk