Whether you’re a property owner or a facility manager, you try to save money wherever possible to maximize your income. Did you know that one way to enjoy greater energy savings is to simply upgrade your boiler? Not only do good boilers provide comfort to the occupants of the building, but new boilers will use less fuel. Condensing boilers are excellent, as they are 90 per cent efficient—much more than the minimum efficiency levels imposed by the Department of Energy.
There’s no doubt that an energy-efficient boiler can be a fantastic investment. Before you get excited and run out to buy a new boiler, however, don’t forget to think. There are three questions you’ll have to ask to make sure you are getting the right piece of equipment. Let’s take a look.
1 – Is the boiler replacing an old boiler, or is it a new installation?
To answer this question, you may have to consult with an engineer. Will you be replacing a steam boiler with a water boiler, or will you be installing something completely new? For any retrofits that deal with heating alone, water boilers are perfect because they use less energy. If you’re dealing with process installations, however, more heat is required. Places like hospitals need extra heat to make sure that their equipment is sterile.
If you’re looking to dehumidify a building, a steam boiler would make more sense than a water boiler. Moreover, steam systems are much cheaper and easier to install.
Most customers will end up choosing to retrofit water systems to steam systems. However, many engineers do not have enough experience in maintaining steam systems. Because of this, many steam systems are now underperforming and prone to breaking down. If you were to replace a steam system for a water system, you will be paying quite a sum. Another critical item to consider is how difficult it would be to access the mechanical room. Some boilers are narrow and smaller. They can even be split into separate sections. Transportation of these types of boilers will, therefore, be cheaper and more convenient.
2 – What fuel will the boilers use?
Natural gas, though much cheaper than propane and oil, can be rather hard to come by. Fortunately, oil prices have come down, and thus have become a more attractive alternative over propane gas. If you want back-up fuel ready, propane and oil are readily available, while natural gas isn’t. Some boilers even allow being converted from natural gas boilers to propane ones.
3 – Is the installation cost and longevity more critical than operating expenses?
Cast iron boilers are usually cheaper to install, last much longer and require less maintenance compared to condensing boilers. That said, even though condensing boilers are much more expensive, you’ll have more control over them. In some cases, you may end up with a greater return on investment! Whichever you choose will depend entirely on how you use it. The amount of savings you receive will rely on the boiler’s application, running hours, utility rates, efficiency, and other factors.
Now, there you have it—three questions to help you decide the best path to take. Sometimes, it doesn’t hurt to spend a little extra for a brand new boiler. Remember—despite its cost, it is going to pay off in savings in no time at all!
We’re a commercial boiler company based in London, get in touch with us today to see how we can help!