Why do so few people buy back boilers?

The question as to why fewer people buy back boilers today than they did a generation ago is a confusing one. Back boilers have been heating homes reliably for many years, but they seem to be falling out of fashion. Very few people are actively buying back boilers. Although boiler companies can provide very efficient modern back boilers they are usually bought as replacements, not new systems.

So why do people not buy back boilers anymore? First, there needs to be an understanding of what back boilers are. Back boilers can be found hidden behind the fire, usually in a chimney breast. The fire front covering them is heating the boiler, and the boiler goes on to heat radiators and provide hot water for the rest of the house.

Back boilers need to be kept highly maintained to ensure safety, and they have caused safety problems in the past. This goes some way to explain the idea that they are outdated. Another reason why people no longer buy them is that they take up a lot of space. Usually they can be hidden behind a chimney, but need two tanks in a loft space, and an airing cupboard for the cylinder. In a small house, that is a lot of room.

Despite this, back boilers are not considered negatively. They are still being sold by top boiler companies such as Baxi, and huge leaps have been made in their technology and design. These leaps have, however, also been made with other boilers such as gas and combination system boilers, which helps to explain why they are only being bought as replacements.

So although it is difficult to buy back boilers outright, it is not because they have become undated or unwanted. There is the new technology out there designed by boiler companies to ensure that, if you need to replace your back boiler, you get a new efficient one that helps cut down your annual energy bills.