Boiler trends: the latest facts and figures
06 Dec 2023
It’s interesting to read in figures produced by the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) that, in 2021, gas boiler sales in the UK increased by 40% on the previous year. Furthermore, forecasts suggest that sales are set to increase again by a compound annual growth rate of 4.5% between 2021 and 2026.
Government figures show that home heating in the UK accounts for around 14% of our carbon emissions.
Where does this leave us, when we’re told that we should be switching our heating systems away from fossil fuels and turn to renewable heating sources such as heat pumps? And what about your role as a training centre – what should you be encouraging your learners to do?
It makes sense to look at the economic picture in Britain today as many consumers are struggling to make their earnings fit with a sustained rise in the cost of living and take a practical approach.
It’s true, gas boilers are being slowly phased out, but at the moment they’re seen by many to be a cost-effective way to heat homes in the UK when many consumers are having to tighten their belts.
The average cost of a boiler replacement is hard to pinpoint as there are so many variables to consider, but the Energy Saving Trust estimates that most households would need to spend around £4,000 to have a new combi boiler and thermostatic radiator valves fitted. If you look online to find the costs of having a new air-source heat pump system installed, these seem to fall anywhere between £7,000 and £15,000, though government grants are available to soften the blow!
Another factor is energy costs. The cost of gas as opposed to electricity is likely to be another factor people consider when it comes to making decisions about their central heating. Government figures for last month showed that the average cost of electricity was 27.35p per kWh and for gas it was 6.89p per kWh.
At the moment 80% of homes in the UK have a combi boiler so whatever you think about renewables and low-carbon heating alternatives, we’re still going to need experienced gas engineers to look after our central heating systems and make sure they are running as efficiently as possible, to reduce our emission levels.
And, if a gas boiler has been installed with low temperatures in mind (as it should be), when it comes to swap to a heat pump, the existing pipework and heat emitters (radiators or underfloor) will usually not need replacing, making it a simpler and cheaper switch for the homeowner.
As gas boilers and heat pumps will be living alongside each other for many years to come, successful heating engineers will be able to deliver both technologies, and advise homeowners on the best solution for their particular application and budget.
The LCL Awards Gas Managed Learning Programme (MLP) is the ideal new entrants programme for the heating sector, culminating in Gas ACS and providing the right pre-requisites to move onto heat pump training. Find out more, here.
It’s interesting to read in figures produced by the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) that, in 2021, gas boiler sales in the UK increased by 40% on the previous year. Furthermore, forecasts suggest that sales are set to increase again by a compound annual growth rate of 4.5% between 2021 and 2026.
Government figures show that home heating in the UK accounts for around 14% of our carbon emissions.
Where does this leave us, when we’re told that we should be switching our heating systems away from fossil fuels and turn to renewable heating sources such as heat pumps? And what about your role as a training centre – what should you be encouraging your learners to do?
It makes sense to look at the economic picture in Britain today as many consumers are struggling to make their earnings fit with a sustained rise in the cost of living and take a practical approach.
It’s true, gas boilers are being slowly phased out, but at the moment they’re seen by many to be a cost-effective way to heat homes in the UK when many consumers are having to tighten their belts.
The average cost of a boiler replacement is hard to pinpoint as there are so many variables to consider, but the Energy Saving Trust estimates that most households would need to spend around £4,000 to have a new combi boiler and thermostatic radiator valves fitted. If you look online to find the costs of having a new air-source heat pump system installed, these seem to fall anywhere between £7,000 and £15,000, though government grants are available to soften the blow!
Another factor is energy costs. The cost of gas as opposed to electricity is likely to be another factor people consider when it comes to making decisions about their central heating. Government figures for last month showed that the average cost of electricity was 27.35p per kWh and for gas it was 6.89p per kWh.
At the moment 80% of homes in the UK have a combi boiler so whatever you think about renewables and low-carbon heating alternatives, we’re still going to need experienced gas engineers to look after our central heating systems and make sure they are running as efficiently as possible, to reduce our emission levels.
And, if a gas boiler has been installed with low temperatures in mind (as it should be), when it comes to swap to a heat pump, the existing pipework and heat emitters (radiators or underfloor) will usually not need replacing, making it a simpler and cheaper switch for the homeowner.
As gas boilers and heat pumps will be living alongside each other for many years to come, successful heating engineers will be able to deliver both technologies, and advise homeowners on the best solution for their particular application and budget.
The LCL Awards Gas Managed Learning Programme (MLP) is the ideal new entrants programme for the heating sector, culminating in Gas ACS and providing the right pre-requisites to move onto heat pump training. Find out more, here.