Author: EDGEcreative

If you’re a homeowner or landlord in the UK, you may be thinking about the EPC rating of your property. But what exactly are they and why are they so important?

EPC ratings can be essential in helping to minimise living costs and in attracting potential tenants. Want to know more? Keep reading!

The Link Between Your Boiler and EPC Rating

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating is a measure of a property’s energy efficiency. It ranges from A, the most efficient, to G, the least efficient.

Essentially, it tells you how environmentally friendly your home is and how much it’ll cost to keep it warm and running. It is an especially important consideration in winter when energy usage is generally higher.

What Factors are Used to Calculate an EPC?

There are a lot of factors that go into calculating your EPC rating, but your boiler plays a crucial role for two main reasons. The first is that the boiler is one of the main sources of energy consumption in a household. If you have an outdated or inefficient boiler, it can drag down your property’s overall energy efficiency rating.

The second is that a home with a poor EPC rating, perhaps due to a lack of insulation or airtightness, will be harder to keep warm due to the escape of heat through walls, windows, and doors. This means the boiler may need to be turned up higher to achieve a comfortable temperature.  

What This Means for Residents

If you live in a property with a low EPC rating, you will likely have higher energy bills and a less comfortable living environment. If you own your home, you can start taking steps to change this, but if you cannot make changes due to your tenancy agreement, then you may have to put your boiler on higher (and more expensive) settings.

If you later look to sell your home, a poor EPC rating is likely to put off potential buyers, especially first-time buyers, and could significantly reduce the overall property value. This is due to the expenses involved in living there or the work it will take to increase the EPC rating.

For landlords, a poor EPC rating could make your property less attractive to potential tenants and may even impact your ability to rent it out at all, given that it will be more expensive for a tenant to live there.

Legal Requirements: What Landlords Need to Know

If you’re a landlord in the Midlands, it’s essential to understand your legal obligations when it comes to EPC ratings. In England and Wales, you’re required to provide an EPC to prospective tenants when you market your property for rent or sale. This must include details of the property’s energy performance and recommendations for improvement.

It’s also worth noting that landlords are prohibited from renting out properties with an EPC rating below an E. If your property falls below this threshold, you’ll need to make improvements before you can legally rent it out again. Being honest and transparent about your property’s EPC rating is not only a legal requirement but also helps build trust with your tenants.

Improving Your Home’s EPC Rating

So, what can you do to improve your home’s EPC rating and make sure your boiler isn’t dragging it down?

Firstly, consider upgrading to a more energy-efficient boiler. Modern condensing boilers are far more efficient than older models, meaning you’ll use less energy and save money in the long run. Plus, boilers have a typical lifespan of about 15 years and tend to slowly deteriorate over time, meaning an older boiler will be naturally less efficient than a newer one.

Regular boiler maintenance is also key. Ensuring your boiler is serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer can help keep it running efficiently and extend its lifespan. Don’t forget to insulate your pipes, invest in smart heating controls, or install a BoostaBoiler unit too – these small changes can make a big difference to your home’s energy efficiency.

How to Check your EPC Rating

You can check your property’s EPC rating quickly and easily using the government’s EPC register online. Simply enter your property’s postcode and you’ll be able to view your current rating! This should also include a detailed breakdown of the rating, giving you an idea of where you could make improvements.

Future-proof Your Property with a High EPC Rating

Investing in your property’s energy efficiency not only saves you money but also makes it more attractive to tenants and potential buyers. Whether you’re a homeowner looking to reduce your energy bills or a landlord wanting to maximise your property’s rental potential, improving your EPC rating is a smart move.

Get in touch with Butco today to find out how to increase your EPC rating. Our team of experts can advise you on the best boiler options for your home and our comprehensive Boiler Care Plans can help ensure long-term efficiency for your home.

Call our team on 0333 366 1121 or send an email to info@butco.com and a member of our team will be in touch!

There are few worse feelings than realising your boiler is not working as it’s supposed to. Whether you have no hot water for that relaxing shower, or your home is starting to freeze in the winter weather, boiler emergencies are always a serious matter.

If you’ve got that sinking feeling that something isn’t right but you’re not sure what the problem is, continue reading for some support!

How Can You Identify if Your Boiler Isn’t Working?

Your boiler is essential for keeping your home warm and comfortable, but like any household appliance, they can encounter issues. Understanding the signs when it isn’t working properly is crucial for a quick resolution.

Loud Noises

If your boiler is making unusual noises such as banging, whistling, or gurgling, it could be a sign of underlying issues like air in the system, a malfunctioning pump, or limescale build-up.

Leakages

Another indicator is leakage around the boiler, which can be the cause of low boiler pressure. Any visible leaks should be addressed immediately, as they can lead to water damage and further complications within the boiler unit itself.

Low Boiler Pressure

One of the most common issues is low boiler pressure, which can lead to reduced heating efficiency or even a complete shutdown. You can check the pressure gauge to see if it’s below the recommended range, which will be clearly marked (usually between 1 and 1.5 bar).

Boilers can lose pressure naturally, so low pressure isn’t an immediate cause for concern. In fact, you can repressurise your boiler from home without the need of an expert, but if it is continually losing pressure, then you may need a gas engineer to visit.

Read our full blog on low boiler pressure to find out how to top up your boiler pressure and when calling an engineer might be the best option!

What Can I do to Prepare for a Boiler Repair?

In the case that you need to call out a qualified engineer to take a look at your boiler, whether for an emergency appointment or routine check, there are a few things you can do to help the process go smoothly.

Firstly, try to make the area around the boiler is clear and accessible, as clutter could hinder the repair process and an engineer needing to tidy beforehand will make the job take longer. It’s also a good idea to keep pets or young children out of the room during the repair process for their safety and the safety of the engineer.

If you can, explain the issues you’ve been having to the technician as best you can when they arrive, as they will then be able to investigate and diagnose the issue faster than if they’re left on their own.

What Can be Considered as a Boiler Emergency?

While some boiler issues can wait for regular business hours, others require immediate attention. A full or partial breakdown, in which the boiler stops functioning altogether or only one of your hot water or central heating is operating correctly, is a clear emergency. Inefficient or unreliable heating, especially during winter months, can also pose health risks and warrant urgent attention.

Another critical emergency is a carbon monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that can be lethal in high concentrations, with symptoms of poisoning including headaches, dizziness, nausea, and confusion. Please check the NHS website for more information about carbon monoxide poisoning and what to do if you suspect you may have it.

Consider installing a Butco carbon monoxide alarm next to your boiler so that you can be alerted if the gas is present, or if you suspect a carbon monoxide leak has already occurred, evacuate the premises immediately.

When Should I Ask for Professional Help?

An emergency boiler repair isn’t the only reason to call out an engineer from Butco. If you’re having problems that affect your hot water or central heating and none of the solutions in our FAQs seem to be helping, a boiler callout should be your next step.

A registered gas-safe and experienced engineer will turn up as soon as possible and will be able to diagnose your problem quickly and efficiently. Our engineers are trained to identify the cause of low pressure, leakages, and strange noises, and get you back up and running in no time.

We even offer low-cost boiler maintenance plans starting from as little as £10.15 a month. All our plans come with a free annual service and a 24-hour phoneline where you can report any issues, giving you full peace of mind that we’re always just a phone call away.

Get in touch with Butco today to find out how our boiler services and emergency boiler repair could help you. Call us on 0333 366 1121 or email info@butco.com to speak with a member of our team today!

Landlords in the UK have several responsibilities when it comes to maintaining their rental properties, especially concerning the boiler and central heating system.

From the legal requirements you must follow to your maintenance responsibilities and the preventative measures you can take, such as specialist boiler cover for landlords, there’s a lot to think about for your portfolio.

Read on to find out more in our comprehensive guide to landlord boiler responsibilities!

What the Law Says about Landlord Boiler Services

Under UK law, landlords are obligated to ensure the safety of gas appliances, including boilers, in their rental properties. Any damage or malfunctions within gas-powered appliances can be dangerous, or even lethal, to your tenants, their families, and their neighbours.

Landlords must ensure that their properties receive annual gas safety checks, in which a Gas Safe registered engineer will check all gas-fed appliances, including the boiler, for dangerous faults or damage. These must be completed every 12 months, and a copy of the most recent certificate must be provided to any new and existing tenants.

Additionally, a carbon monoxide alarm must be fitted in the same room as the boiler to alert your tenants in the event of a leak, since carbon monoxide is poisonous and can kill after prolonged exposure.

Failure to comply with these regulations can result in severe penalties, including fines or even imprisonment.

Is the Landlord or Tenant Responsible for Boiler Maintenance?

Ultimately, it is the landlord’s responsibility to arrange regular servicing and maintenance of the boiler, as well as addressing any repairs or replacements that come about from regular wear and tear on the appliance.

It is also the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that all pipework around the property is well maintained to prevent any issues with the central heating system that is not directly boiler related.

However, while the safety and proper function of the boiler is the landlord’s responsibility, tenants also have a duty to use them responsibly and report any issues promptly. This includes carrying out regular, simple maintenance tasks like bleeding radiators or repressurising the boiler, along with ensuring that they are not carrying out any activities that could be damaging to the boiler or its parts.

How Long Does a Landlord Have to Fix a Boiler?

Should a full boiler breakdown occur that prevents hot water and central heating operations, especially during the winter months, then a landlord should organise an engineer to visit within 24 hours. This is because having no heating or hot water in cold temperatures could be a health risk to your tenants.

Even when not considered an emergency, landlords must address all boiler issues promptly, especially if they could later pose a safety risk to your tenants or the property. While there is no specific timeframe stipulated by law, landlords should prioritise boiler repairs and replacements to minimise inconvenience for tenants and ensure their well-being.

The Responsibilities of Tenants

Tenants play an important role in maintaining the boiler and central heating system in the form of using them responsibly. Your tenants should also know that it is better to report any issues promptly to you or a property management company since small issues can lead to bigger problems down the line.

Encourage your tenants to familiarise themselves with the instructions for operating the boiler in their home. You should keep a copy of every instruction booklet for your appliances in the property which should be easily accessible to the tenant. This will help them adhere to recommended usage practices to prevent avoidable damage or malfunctions.

How Can Landlords Prevent Boiler Breakdowns?

To minimise the risk of boiler breakdowns, ensure the longevity of the central heating system, and save money in the event of an emergency, landlords can take proactive measures, such as:

• Scheduling regular boiler checks and servicing by qualified engineers to identify and address potential issues before they escalate.
• Educating tenants on proper boiler usage and maintenance practices, including setting system to optimal temperatures, bleeding radiators when necessary, and reporting any abnormalities quickly.
• Investing in landlord boiler cover to protect against unexpected repair costs and ensure timely assistance in the event of breakdowns.

Get Your Landlord Boiler Care Plan with Butco

Boiler care and servicing plans are key in helping maintain the efficiency and longevity of the boilers in all your properties, while also covering you in the event of unexpected breakdowns.

All our boiler care plans come with a free annual boiler service to ensure longevity and help you fulfil your responsibilities as a landlord. Additionally, we provide you and your tenants with a 24-hour phone line to help report emergencies as soon as they occur, allowing us to organise a specialist engineer to be on-site as fast as possible.

You can even include a gas safety certificate for as little as £2.20 per property on any of our care plans!

Looking to benefit from our expert boiler care plans with free annual boiler checks for landlords, or have some more questions you’d like answering? Get in touch with our team today! Call our office on 0333 0366 1121 or send an email to info@butco.com and a member of our team will be in touch in no time!

There are several reasons why a boiler may need to be replaced, whether it’s coming to the end of its lifespan or if it is becoming too expensive to run with constant boiler repair work or inefficiencies.

Boilers can have surprisingly long and efficient lifetimes when maintained regularly and effectively, but they always become more liable to a breakdown the older they are.

Read on to find out five key reasons why you might need to replace your boiler!

1. Your Boiler is Getting Old

Boilers of all kinds have an operational lifespan of about 15 years, and we recommend that you change your boiler just before you reach that mark. There are a few reasons for this, including efficiency and safety concerns, but one of the most important is because the chance of a boiler emergency or breakdown increases as time goes on.

To ensure you always have the hot water and heating that you need to live comfortably, you need to keep your boiler functioning correctly. A boiler breakdown is not only inconvenient, but it can also be expensive and financially disruptive if you aren’t prepared for it.

Consider organising a boiler replacement at a time that suits you before you have no choice – this can help ensure better financial planning and the continual operation of your hot water system without the costs associated with needing a call out.

2. It Doesn’t Meet Boiler Safety Standards

While your boiler’s age can increase chances of a breakdown, it can also reduce its safety. Your boilers should be formally checked once a year by a registered gas safety engineer who will confirm that your boiler is operating safely and isn’t endangering you or your family.

If a gas engineer discovers that your boiler is not operating safely, your boiler will be condemned and may even be turned off immediately, depending on the severity of the issue.

For example, if your boiler is found to be producing carbon monoxide, it will be considered as an immediate danger to life and switched off. You may even be asked to evacuate your property even after it has been deactivated.

The boiler will need to be repaired, or more likely replaced, as quickly as possible and you will not be allowed to use it under current conditions.

3. Your Boiler is No Longer Covered or Insured

In some cases, you may want to replace your current boiler if your guarantee has expired, none of your insurance plans cover it, and you are struggling to find a provider who can cover it for you. The peace of mind this can bring may be worth the costs of installation, but thankfully there is another way.

Butco offer comprehensive boiler care plans across the midlands from as little as £10.15 a month, meaning you can rest easy knowing that you are always covered in the event of a boiler emergency.

All boiler care cover options even include a free annual boiler service, ensuring that your boiler is well maintained and operating to the highest of standards throughout its lifetime.

We even have landlord boiler cover and electrical options available to ensure the longevity of all devices in your home and any of your rental properties, too!

4. Regular Repairs are Needed to Maintain Your Boiler

If you find that you are calling engineers out for boiler repairs or checks several times a year, you may be spending more money on keeping your current boiler running than a new one could cost to install!

We recommend an effective and healthy boiler be serviced once a year, just so that it is operating at the highest level of efficiency possible. A professional servicing is recommended due to the complex nature of a boiler’s internal workings and a knowledge of how to best maximise efficiency within the system.

An engineer will be able to determine whether a boiler should be replaced or whether it simply needs other repair or optimisation work, such as a powerflush of your central heating system.

Beyond that, if you are finding constant issues and struggling to heat your home effectively, you may need to look into a replacement.

5. You Want to Lower Your Heating Bills

The more efficient your boiler, the lower your energy bills. This is because less fuel needs to be burned to achieve the same level of heat in your system, speeding up the heating process.

The age of your boiler is the main factor in its efficiency levels. This is down to two key factors; boilers naturally deteriorate over time and modern boilers are built using modern technology which is naturally more efficient than older models.

With gas prices so high and at risk of rising further, more efficient modern boilers could be a huge saver on your monthly bills despite the costs associated with new boiler installation.

Find out more about boiler efficiency in our blog on the topic!

How Butco Can Easily Replace Your Boiler

We are the go-to gas and central heating experts of the west midlands, handling new boiler installation, servicing, and more from Wolverhampton to Bromsgrove and everywhere in between.

Our excellent customer service team can help you identify the perfect boiler for your property depending on size, expected usage, and cost. We are partnered with a number of reliable and trustworthy boiler companies, and offer conventional, combi, and system boilers depending on your needs.

Once you’ve picked the right boiler for your property, one of our qualified engineers will pop by to install it at a time that suits you! We ensure the new boiler installation process is as painless as possible and even have an online quotation tool that can help give you an estimate of what your new boiler installation will cost!

Get In Touch Today

Get yourself on the path to a new boiler today. Speak to our team on 0333 366 1121 or email info@butco.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

There are a few reasons why your boiler might be losing pressure, but it’s important to also know why this is happening, too. This is because some reasons for a loss in boiler pressure may need the expert help of a boiler engineer to fix, especially if you have a leak.

Read on to see some of your most frequently asked questions regarding low pressure in your boiler and how to fix it!

What Causes Low Pressure in a Boiler?

The main cause for a boiler to lose pressure is a system leak. A leak gradually but continually reduces boiler pressure over time and causes inefficiency. Your boiler pressure may also appear low if you recently bled your radiators, but this should recover over time.

Ideal boiler pressures vary from model to model, though your boiler should normally sit between 1 and 2 bars.

For your specific boiler, the ideal pressure you are looking for should be marked clearly on the pressure gauge in green. This gauge can usually be found on the front of your boiler, or among the pipework underneath for older models.

Your boiler operates most efficiently when your needle is pointing to the ideal boiler pressure on the gauge as that is when there is the least amount of waste.

Why Does my Boiler Keep Losing Pressure?

If your boiler is continually losing pressure, you may have a leak. Leaks are not always obvious and can be difficult to find – you may not even notice any water escaping the system!

Keep an eye out for green deposits on the pipework as this would indicate there is some corrosion on the metal, which is usually the result of a leak.

If you do happen to find this build up, or indeed dripping water, and the pressure of your boiler continues to drop, book a boiler repair with a qualified engineer as soon as possible.

Is Low Boiler Pressure Dangerous?

No, a low-pressure boiler is not dangerous. However, if your boiler has low pressure, then it will not be running at maximum efficiency and will be costing you more money to run as a result.

This is because you are burning more gas to reach the same level of heating efficiency, and the hot water is not being transported around the system as effectively.

You may also notice that your running hot water isn’t as hot as it should be or that it takes far longer to heat up than usual. These issues can cause problems around the home, especially when bathing or showering!

What Happens if the Boiler Pressure Gets Too Low?

The lower the pressure in your boiler, the less efficient it will run. This means you will be paying more and more for your heating costs, especially over the winter when you are relying on hot water to heat your home.

If you notice that your boiler pressure is below the recommended level, you can manually top it up yourself without much trouble. The process is slightly different for combi boilers than traditional boilers.

The first step is to ensure that your boiler is switched off, and then ensure give it enough time to cool down before you dig around to avoid any risk of burns.

If you have a conventional boiler with a pressure gauge on the hot water cylinder, find the boiler pressure valve somewhere in the pipework near the gauge itself. Simply open this valve and you should see the pressure start to rise, just remember to cut it off when it is somewhere within the ideal pressure range.

Other types of boilers may have different methods of topping up the pressure in the system – please refer to our tips and FAQs to find out how you can top up your boiler pressure.

How Butco can Support with Boiler Pressure

Butco are there to help West Midlands families with boiler problems. Whether your pressure is always dropping, your central heating needs powerflushing, or you need a brand new boiler for your home, we can help.

We pride ourselves on the knowledge and responsiveness of our engineers – if you suffer an unexpected boiler emergency or simply need someone to look at your boiler pressure, get in touch with our team today.

We even offer comprehensive boiler service and cover plans from as little as £10.15 a month, which include a free annual boiler service. Regular maintenance is vital in keeping your boiler operating at maximum efficiency year-round!

Call our office on 0333 0366 1121 or send an email to info@butco.com to find out more.

One of the best modern trends in central heating and plumbing is the ability to control the heating and temperature of your home through your smartphone.

This helps remove the necessity of interacting with complicated boiler controls and interfaces and gives you more freedom on how and when to heat your home.

But how can you control your heating from your phone, how easy is it to set up, and what are the benefits of doing so? Read on to find out!

How Can I Control my Boiler With my Phone?

While you may have heard about it, you may still be wondering exactly how to control your boiler from your phone, and you may also be happy to hear just how simple it really is.

There are several companies and apps that offer heating control from your phone, but they all tackle it in similar ways. Most of the time, smartphone heating controls require a compatible ‘smart thermostat’ that links with your boiler and connects it to the internet.

Then, using the corresponding app or website on your smartphone or tablet, you can remotely access your heating controls and adjust them accordingly. This means that you can start to warm your home before you arrive in winter or turn your heating off from work if you forgot to in the morning!

Many of these smart controls will even allow you to remotely determine the temperature of individual rooms by installing smart thermostatic radiator valves around your home, allowing you to carefully control the temperature in each room from anywhere.

Do I Need a Modern Boiler to Control my Heating with my Phone?

We often get questions regarding the compatibility of certain boilers with smartphone controls. Most modern boilers of all makes, including Worcester, Ideal, Viessmann, Glow-worm, and more, should be compatible with at least one type of smart thermostat.

Some boiler companies have their own technology that is specifically designed to work with their boilers while others can integrate with several different types of hardware.

We can help you identify the right smart thermostat for your home layout, personal needs, and boiler specifications, while also being on hand to install and set it up on your behalf.

It’s worth remembering that many significantly older boilers may not have any kind of smart thermostat compatibility, though if your boiler system can be controlled using a thermostat or interactive programmer, you will most likely have some options!

If you do not have a boiler that is eligible for smart thermostat usage, consider upgrading to a more modern boiler! Boilers have a lifespan of about 15 years, and upgrading could help save you money on your monthly bills and new boilers are better for the environment.

What are the Benefits of Controlling Your Heating From Your Phone?

There are several significant benefits of controlling your central heating from your mobile phone, both when you’re already at home or when you’re out and about.

For one, smart thermostatic radiator valves allow you to directly control the temperature in each room of your home independently from one another. They do this by installing individual smart radiator thermostats in each room that will read the room temperature and open/close when required.

This gives you the ability to lower the heating in rooms that aren’t being used and boost it in those that are, helping to increase fuel efficiency and directly saving you money.

Additionally, you can turn your heating on and off at home while you are at work or out and about, which is especially useful if you forgot when you left in the morning or want to heat up your home in anticipation of your return.

Any changes you make to your heating settings will be processed immediately, and the temperature of your rooms will change over time at a normal rate, depending on the efficiency of your central heating system.

If you notice that the changes you are making on your phone are not corresponding to changes in temperature in your home, you may need to thoroughly powerflush your system.

How Butco can Install Your Remote Heating Control

Not sure where to start with mobile phone heating controls? Butco are here to help. We can work with you to choose the right system for your boiler and home, install it, and get it working in no time, giving you full control over home heating.

Get in touch with our team today to discuss the possibilities for your home! Call the office on 0333 0366 1121 or email info@butco.com to find out more.

With colder months on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about your boiler and its efficiency. Since you’ll most likely be using your heating significantly more in the winter to come, you’ll be charged a lot more for your energy usage as a result!

As such, you’ll want to guarantee that your boiler efficiency is as high as possible to help you save money on your heating bills. Read on to find out more about the different types of boilers available and what you can do to prepare.

Why Do Boiler Energy Efficiency Ratings Matter?

A boiler’s energy efficiency rating dictates how much energy is lost during the heating process, be it for hot water or for central heating.

A highly energy efficient boiler will have a rating of at least 90%, meaning that between 0% and 10% of energy used to fuel the boiler is lost in the heating process. This will mean that you are benefitting from almost all the energy you are paying for.

A boiler that is quite old and inefficient could be wasting as much as 30% of the energy you are paying for, meaning that you need to turn your boiler higher, and therefore using more energy, to feel the same results.

Older boilers that are properly looked after with regular boiler care plans are more likely to retain their energy efficiency rating for longer, but it is still advised that you change your boiler every 15 or so years.

How To Make Your Boiler More Efficient

There are several steps you can take to make your boiler more efficient, whether yours is gas powered or fully electric.

Before we begin, note that electric boilers are more efficient in terms of wasting energy, but gas boilers are cheaper to run due to the actual prices of the two resources. Even though a gas boiler could be up to 10% less efficient than an electric boiler brand new, the price of gas is cheaper than that of electricity.

To start improving the efficiency of your boiler, begin by ensuring that your boiler is checked by a qualified engineer at least once a year. Not only will this prevent your boiler from breaking down and requiring an emergency boiler repair, but they will also carry out work to ensure it is operating at peak efficiency.

Additionally, you could consider insulating your pipes to prevent heat loss while the water is travelling, regularly switch on your boiler on low heat during the summer to keep it functioning and ensure that your central heating is powerflushed regularly to avoid any sediment build up.

Lastly, you could give your boiler a much-needed boost with BoostaBoiler, an innovative system designed to drastically improve the performance of traditional gas boilers.

Give Your Boiler a Boost With a BoostaBoiler

Boostaboiler is a revolutionary, easy-to-use fuel efficiency system designed to hugely increase the efficiency of your gas boiler at home.

Developed by Magnatech, Boostaboiler took more than a decade of research and testing to perfect. This innovative system uses magnets placed in a particular sequence that cause the fuel going into the boiler to burn at higher temperatures, optimising the boiler’s performance.

Plus, a reduction in your energy consumption directly results in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, meaning you are doing your bit for your wallet and the environment!

These systems are currently growing in popularity, and Butco will be able to source and install a Boostaboiler unit for you at home! Get in touch with us today to find out more about this system!

Speak With a Member of Our Team

Butco are the experts of anything boiler related, helping you run at full efficiency with our 24-hour emergency boiler repair, landlord boiler cover, and emergency boiler service around Sutton Coldfield and the greater Birmingham area.

Looking to optimise your boiler efficiency or eve install a Boostaboiler unit for yourself? Get in touch with our team today! Send an email to info@butco.com or call us on 0333 0366 1121 and start saving now.

Reducing your energy usage, and as a result your carbon footprint, should be a thought on everyone’s mind in the current climate. Not only does it help to save the environment, but it also helps save you money.

You might be wondering how you can most effectively reduce your carbon footprint at home, especially if you’re already quite energy conscious, so here are some tips to help get you started!

1. Turn off Electronics in Standby Mode

Televisions, computer monitors, kitchen appliances, and more often enter a standby mode when they aren’t currently being used. While this drastically reduces energy consumption, it doesn’t cut if off entirely, which can total a significant amount of energy usage come the end of the year.

Consider unplugging or switching off any devices that have a standby mode at the wall to help reduce your total energy usage over the course of the year!

2. Ensure Your Bulbs are Energy Saving or LED

You might not have thought twice about the lighting fixtures within your home, but you may be burning far more electricity than you need to just to light it. Older, halogen bulbs are far less energy efficient than modern LEDs and other energy saving alternatives.

By replacing these bulbs now, you could save a significantly amount of energy and money come the winter when evening comes much earlier.

3. Compost Your Food Waste in the Garden

While not directly saving you energy, a compost heap in your garden could greatly reduce your carbon footprint by preventing food waste from ending up in landfill and by removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere directly.

If you’re a keen gardener already, the compost you create will also provide several benefits for plant growth, including additional nutrients, discouraging disease, and balancing soil.

4. Look to More Efficiently Insulate Your Home

One of the more expensive but most effective ways reduce energy usage is to ensure the efficient insulation of your home. Installing double, or even triple glazed windows along with insulation material in your loft or extensions will help prevent the amount of heat you lose during the cold winter months.

Checking for broken seals in your doorways and opening windows can also help prevent airflow and cool breezes entering your property in the winter too. By stopping cold air from entering, and warm air leaving, you will be able to keep your boiler and central heating system on a lower temperature throughout the colder months.

This will help save gas or electricity, depending on the type of boiler you have, and reduce overall costs and your carbon footprint.

5. Ensure Your Boiler is Regularly Serviced

To keep your boiler operating at peak efficiency, which is the best way to guarantee you aren’t wasting energy unnecessarily, you should ensure that it is regularly serviced.

You should also consider regularly checking whether your central heating needs to be powerflushed, which will remove impurities and solid materials in your radiators to improve heating efficiency.

Ensuring that you have boiler and heating cover that includes regular engineer visits is key to keeping your boiler operating at maximum efficiency.

6. Upgrade to a New Boiler if You Notice Issues

Newer boilers are far more efficient than older models because the technology within them has improved drastically over the years. The average lifespan of a boiler is between 10 – 15 years, meaning that if your boiler is coming to the end of its lifespan, it would be cost efficient (and safer) to get a new one.

Older boilers are far more likely to suffer from an issue that could result in a boiler emergency and breakdown than newer ones, which could end up being more expensive over a few years of engineer callouts.

Plus, older boilers are more susceptible to carbon monoxide leaks, which could be a danger to you and your family.

7. Get in Touch With Butco

Butco are the go-to specialists in the West Midlands for new boiler installations, 24 hour boiler repair, powerflushing services, and more to ensure that your heating is operating as efficiently as possible.

We provide emergency callouts, new boiler installation, consultation, and more to ensure that our clients are as carbon- and cost-efficient as possible.

Send an email to info@butco.com or call the office on 0333 0366 1121 to get started.

Boiler efficiency is a crucial consideration for most households, especially when the temperature is barely above freezing in the cold winter months.

That’s why it is vital to ensure your boiler is running efficiently and effectively long before this time, and why summer is the best time to organise a replacement.

Read on to discover various aspects of boiler care and new boiler installation, and to find out why summer may be the best time to prepare for the winter with a new boiler.

When Should I Consider Replacing My Boiler?

At Butco, we recommend that you replace your boiler every 10 to 15 years even if it’s still working.

That’s because the efficiency of your boiler will reduce over time, increasing your heating bills as a result. Plus, as boilers age, finding replacement parts becomes increasingly challenging, making it more expensive to repair should something go wrong.

High boiler efficiency levels are essential for maintaining low energy bills and reducing the environmental impact of your household. Modern condensing boilers can achieve an efficiency level of at least 92%, meaning that for (roughly) every £1 spent on heating your home, only 8p is wasted.

In comparison, older boilers may be operating at around 70% efficiency, which will cost you much more in the long run.

Also, if your boiler has suffered multiple recent issues or your gas engineer has suggested it as part of a routine visit, it is worth considering getting a replacement.

If you have the choice, it is usually best to consider getting a replacement boiler in summer!

Why is Summer the Best Time to Replace Your Boiler?

There are two main reasons why you should replace your boiler in summer rather than in winter. The first is that it will cause reduced disruption to you and your schedule, and the second is that gas engineers tend to have quieter schedules.

Replacing your boiler means going without heating for a short period of time, which is far from ideal in the harsh conditions of the West Midlands winter. By organising your new boiler installation in the summer months, you can minimize disruption to your daily life and rely on natural heat to stay warm.

Our gas engineers also tend to have busy schedules during the winter, as we will be dealing with boiler breakdowns, frozen pipes, and regular boiler care plan appointments. In summer, however, our schedules are less hectic, making it easier to book an appointment at a convenient time for you.

Benefits of Replacing Your Boiler in the Summer

Planning your new boiler installation during the summer means you don’t have to worry about heating your home immediately, giving you time to research different boiler types and brands.

It can be hard to pick the right boiler for you and your property, but don’t worry – you can find out all you need to know about different types of boilers and even receive a free estimate on our website!

Plus, a summer boiler replacement significantly reduces the risk of a boiler breakdown when it is freezing cold. This means you won’t have to call for emergency repairs during winter, keeping you warm and saving you money.

Lastly, a new boiler will be more efficient year-round, keeping your heating bills to a minimum during the winter. This is especially useful now given the cost-of-living crisis and rising gas prices, meaning that a new boiler could help you save significantly in the long run.

Read: Discover more ways to keep your heating bills to a minimum this winter!

Boiler Installation Costs

While the cost of a new boiler and its installation may seem expensive, it will pay itself back in energy savings in only a few years. Plus, it’s better to replace one ahead of time than potentially pay for an emergency callout and attempted repair fees on top of a new boiler.

Also, a more efficient boiler also means a reduced impact on the environment, significantly reducing household carbon emissions, something that is worth paying a little bit more for.

The total cost of a new boiler will probably fall somewhere around £2,550, though it can vary massively depending on where you want your boiler to go, the type of boiler you already have, the existing pipework at your property, and more.

To maintain boiler efficiency and reduce the risk of needing a new boiler, we recommend securing a boiler care and maintenance plan. We offer three different tiers of care plans to help all aspects of your heating, from a regular annual service right up to internal plumbing and drain care.

Contact Butco for Expert Help With Your Boiler Replacement

Summer is the ideal time to replace your boiler to ensure optimal boiler efficiency for the winter, and our gas engineers will gladly help you through the process, with emergency boiler service support and boiler maintenance plans available to support you.

No matter which type of boiler you are looking to install, or if you’d like to discuss your options with our qualified staff, get in touch. Drop an email to info@butco.com or call the office on 0333 366 1121 for our recommendations!

A recent phenomenon in the home heating industry is the development of ‘smart’ controls, which allow you to control the temperature of your home, and set specific parameters for your heating, all from your mobile devices.

This means that, even when nobody is home, you have full control over your central heating system.

But how is this technology useful and can it help reduce energy prices in the cost-of-living crisis? Read on to find out!

Smart Products are Designed to Help You

The idea of smart technology has always been to push the boundaries of modern technology to help improve the standards of day-to-day life.

Smart heating controls are no different, allowing you to monitor and adapt the temperature of your home from your mobile devices, no matter where you are. They also let you more easily control the individual temperatures of your radiators for each room at different times.

What this means is that you can set an adaptable schedule for your heating system to operate by according to your needs, minimising energy usage when you’re not at home. It also means that you can manually and remotely change these times when plans change, providing you have a compatible mobile device to hand.

Imagine that, in the middle of winter, you are expecting to arrive home much earlier than usual. Older, traditional heating control systems would have to be adjusted manually once you arrive home, meaning that you will have to wait in a cold house for the heating to kick in.

With smart heating controls, you can adjust your heating as soon as you realise you will be home early, meaning you can prepare your house to be warm upon arrival.

Smart Controls Can Help You Save Money

Perhaps more importantly, given the current cost-of-living crisis, smart heating controls can help save money on rising household bills. With careful management, you can ensure that your heating is only on in the rooms it’s needed, and only when you’re at home.

This way, you can maintain a comfortable temperature in the rooms you use most, only at the times you use them, which will help lessen your overall energy usage. You can also choose specific times to heat your water if you tend to bathe or shower at the same time most days.

Depending on your usage and the size of your home, smart heating controls can reduce your household energy bills by up to 25%. 

In some cases, smart heating controls will even adjust the temperature of your heating system automatically based on the weather in the local area.

Butco Can Install and Maintain Smart Heating Systems

As part of our home electrical cover and inspection services, Butco will install and manage your smart heating systems. We’ll even show you how to operate your new smart controls to ensure you are getting the most out of them.

Plus, with our heating and boiler cover plans, we’ll be there to help you that one step further. Our 24/7 boiler care plans mean that our dedicated customer service team are always on hand to help if something goes wrong, be it with your heating or controls themselves.

We will be there to organise a central heating service as soon as possible, ensuring you are never without your boiler for long.

Get In Touch

Based in Birmingham but servicing the whole of the West Midlands, Butco are the go-to experts for all your heating and electrical needs. Our engineers are experts in their field, and we are proud to offer one of the fastest response times on the market.

To find out more about our smart heating controls and installation, boiler and heating cover, or electrical services, get in touch with us today! Email info@butco.com or call the office on 0333 366 1121 to speak with an expert.