Combi boilers and the SEDBUK Rating

Combi boilers, also known as combination boilers, are a common and well relied upon boiler in the UK. Many homes use this kind of boiler to keep up with hot water and heating demands. Buying them can be difficult, however, as there are so many companies and models to choose from. And what does half of the jargon used mean?

Combi boilers are, for example, often advertised as having a ‘SEDBUK’ rating. Many of these are A, although sometimes they are B or even lower. SEDBUK is commonly used in an advertisement without an explanation, leaving buyers who know nothing about boilers scratching their heads. So what is the SEDBUK rating?

SEDBUK is a rather long acronym, standing for ‘Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK’. It was developed by the government’s Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme. It was done in conjunction with major boiler manufacturers so that the ratings and usage of the description was fair across the board.

In short, the SEDBUK rating gives an indication of the average annual efficiency that the domestic boiler can achieve in a household. This is all tested in a laboratory, taking into account the average usage of UK households, the temperatures specific to the UK, and the intricacies of the boiler technology involved. The bands that boilers fit into are based on percentages of these average annual efficiency marks. Band A are for boilers that have the highest percentages, and the bands go all the way down to G.

Combi boilers are therefore typically placed on the scale of these bands. The higher it is, the better the efficiency of the boiler. This is particularly useful when comparing two boilers. If one is rated higher than the other, you might consider that one to save you more energy and money in the future.

Keston Boilers – Renewable products

Keston boilers don’t just provide a great range of boilers, they also offer solar thermal hot water system and heating services. If you want to bring renewable energy into your home, think about investing in this kind of service. 

Keston boilers provide, for example, flat plate collectors. They offer a great, simple way to get an affordable solar thermal hot water system in your home. Keston’s flat plate collector models – the TS8000 and the TS8001 – are quick and simple to install, either in the roof or on top of your roof. The individual components have been stripped down to the bare minimum to provide maximum efficiency and simplicity. A special fixing glue secures the panels to the roof, making brackets and attachments a minimum.

Each flat plate collector has a aluminium absorber, and comes with a modular mounting system which can be used with roof-mounted and even free standing solar panels. As for the individual features, the TS8001 is in-roof model and comes with a timber frame for even easier installation directly onto any roof rafters. 

Keston boilers also sell evacuated heat pipe tubes for solar power systems. These are available for flat roof installations and come in a variety of sizes and options so that you can choose the best one for your specific needs. You can choose, for example, from a 15, 20 or 30 tube model. All have a five year warranty, and are built to withstand all sorts of weather giving you the comfort of knowing it will be hardy and reliable. 

Biasi boilers products

Biasi boilers also do a range of other products in conjunction with their boilers range. These are often designed and manufactured to work alongside boilers made by Biasi, and are therefore something to consider putting in in addition to your boiler purchase.

For example, Biasi boilers also make radiators in a number of different styles. The eco-style is great for those who are energy-conscious. There is a larger heating surface created by the design, meaning that there is maximum efficiency in heating the radiator. The enamel finish is scratch and corrosion resistant, and proven to be long-lasting. The eco-style model of radiator also comes with a 10 year warranty. Some other styles of radiator made by Biasi, for example the tubular radiator, come in a range of colours and come pre-welded for easy installation.

Biasi also make a range of towel warmers. Their towel warmer, the Dolomite, has a 5 year guarantee and can be easily mounted to any wall in the bathroom. If you need any accessories for your Biasi products, there is also an accessories range to cover your needs.

Biasi also make a solar thermal package for you to easily bring solar power into your home. The pack contains one of Biasi’s reliable and efficient Biasi ActivA system boiler, a twin coil cylinder, and an innovative solar panel. Biasi can install the products for you in your home to make things all the more easy.

Biasi boilers are well known in the industry for being reliable and adaptable for the needs of most homes, and this continues into their other ranges of products. 

New Boilers – So What’s The Future?

When it comes to new boilers, just what is in store for the consumer?

The problem is, that when it comes to new boilers, much of the excitement has happened in the last ten years with the advent of condensing technology. Then came along renewables, but for the marketing men behind the boiler manufacturers, it can be a hard slog generating interest, although this should change over the coming years.

Condensing technology is something that revolutionised the industry and it was quite fortunate that it was a seemingly simple upgrade in the existing technology, that made such efficiency gains possible. 

Condensing technology allowed boilers to go from the doldrums of around 50% to 80% efficiency levels, to around on average 90% and some over 100%. And it was all down to the idea of not just using the heat from the combustion process, but also from the exhaust gases which were hitherto driven out of the flue. Once that heat was used, they suddenly became extremely efficient.

But, almost, that’s old hat now and new boilers are going to have to get into something really exciting, if they are to appeal to both the marketing brigade and the consumer.

And that’s still just around the corner. The use of bio fuels (bio fuel and wood pellets for example), is still not main stream. But the new legislation and industry technologies are in the wings waiting, so much so that 2011 could eventually become a very exciting year for new boilers.

Potterton boilers

Potterton boilers have been in the industry of hot water and heating solution systems for 150 years. It has had an established reputation for reliability and credibility in Britain, and continues to supply large numbers of British homeowners with hot water and central heating.

Potterton boilers make a range of gas boilers, and these include the combi, heat only, and system boiler types, alongside some floor standing models. The combination boilers have a number of models, and one example is the Potterton Gold Combi HE A. This is SEDBUK (Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK) ‘A’ rated, and comes with a two year parts and labour warranty. The outputs range from 9.4kW to 33kW, therefore finding an output for any kind of domestic demands is easy. They are great space saving boilers, and can fitted into the smallest of spaces. Other models include the Potterton Promax Combi HE Plus A, the Potterton Heatmax Combi HE and the Potterton Performa Combi HE.

Potterton’s very popular heat only boilers have three models: the Potterton Promax HE Plus, the Potterton Promax SL, and the Potterton Suprima HE. The Potterton Promax HE Plus is a good example of the heat only boilers range: there a range of outputs to choose from (15, 24 and 30kW). Like Potterton’s other products it is SEDBUK A rated, and is great for space saving as it can easily be wall-mounted.

Potterton boilers also make system boilers, with two types included in their range: the Potterton Promax System HE Plus A, and the Potterton Performa System HE. These both come in a range of outputs and, again, are SEDBUK A rated.