Back Boilers – Not for the Scrap Heap Just Yet!

The other day I went to see an old house that was up for sale at a cut-price because it required some extensive TLC. The letting agent showing me around mentioned that the house still ran on a BackBoiler, which intrigued me somewhat. Although seen by many as an extremely old fashioned style of boiler, Back Boilers actually contain some fantastic pros that are still relevant today.

For those of you who don’t know, Back Boilers were traditionally run on oil, gas or solid fuel and were fitted in a fireplace that heated a boiler behind it – hence the name “back boiler”. Now don’t be mistaken, just because Back Boilers are relatively old fashioned doesn’t mean that they aren’t efficient – on the contrary! And because they are situated behind a fireplace, they make good use of your home’s space and won’t intrude upon your kitchen or bathroom like a System or Combi – it’s all nestled in a little secret place. Perhaps the best thing about Back Boilers though is the cosy, homely atmosphere that comes with a solid fuel burning fire that many people day still absolutely love.

Of course Back Boilers aren’t without their cons – something this old is bound to have its ups and downs. The biggest (and saddest, in my opinion) one of course being that they are no longer installed, so when your Back Boiler does give up, it’s gone for good, so if you’re lucky enough to be blessed with an efficient and traditional little Back Boiler, make the most of yours while it lasts!