Condensing Boilers in Ireland: Prices and Info
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A standard gas or oil condensing boiler can cost between €1,500 - €3,500. A condensing boiler works by condensing water vapour in exhaust gases to recover latent heat that would be otherwise lost. This recovered heat is then redirected back into the heating system, increasing the efficiency of the boiler and reducing costs. Condensing boilers are no longer permitted in Ireland as part of new builds.
Condensing Boiler Prices
A standard condensing oil or gas boiler will cost between €1,500 to €3,500 depending on factors such as:
- Boiler size
- Brand
- Installation location
- Any new temperature controls
- Pipe upgrades
It is recommended to shop around to get a quote from two or three installers before agreeing to a price.
Selectra's Condensing Boiler Tip
"Make sure that the technician who carries out the installation is an RGII registered gas installer to ensure that the work is carried out to a high standard of both safety and service."
How Do I Compare Condensing Boilers?
The size of your home and the heating requirements it has will be the biggest factor to take into account when comparing condensing boilers.
The power of your boiler determines how much it can heat your home. All boilers are limited to how many kilowatts they can produce, which determines how many radiators or rooms it can heat sufficiently.
A condensing boiler with a lower kW output will be more suitable for smaller households, as it won’t be able to cope with a bigger household supply. Similarly, bigger kW outputs will cost you too much to operate for smaller households, causing you unnecessary expenses.
| Boiler Size | Radiators |
|---|---|
| 12-24kW | 5 |
| 24-30kW | 10 |
| 35-42kW | 20 |
Are There Grants for Condensing Boilers?
No, there are no direct gas boiler grants or SEAI grants for any type of boiler available in Ireland.
The government is aiming to phase gas and oil boilers out of the market by 2025 due to our Paris Agreement commitments. Ireland has committed to reducing its carbon emissions to zero by 2050 and given that fossil fuel boilers such as oil and gas emit carbon, the government is aiming to phase them out of the market.
Despite this, there are grants for non-carbon emitting heating systems, as the Irish government continues to encourage people to invest in non-carbon heating methods.
Alternative heating grants available from the SEAI include:
Bleeding Your Boiler
Trapped air inside your heating system can lead to inefficiency and higher bills. By bleeding your boiler, you can remove these air bubbles and avoid the need for costly boiler services.
What Is a Condensing Boiler?
Simply put, a condensing boiler re-uses some of the waste produced from the gas or oil used to heat your water.
Any gas boiler or oil boiler emits fumes (mainly water vapour or steam) that evaporate through the flue. If you have a non-condensing boiler, these fumes or carbon monoxide gases are lost and are considered unused or wasted energy.
In doing so, it has an efficiency rating as high as 98% compared to a traditional non-condensing boiler, which may function anywhere between 70-80% efficiency.
A condensing boiler simply re-sends these fumes into the system to extract maximum usage from every drop of gas or oil used. This level of efficiency implies savings of around €146 per year on the average gas bill.
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Is My Boiler a Condensing Boiler?
There are a few things you can quickly look at to know if your boiler is a condensing boiler.
- Check the Installation Date
If your boiler was installed after April 2005 then, it is a condensing boiler as this is when legislation mandated all boilers be condensing. - It Has a Plastic Pipe
If you notice a plastic pipe leading to a drain, your boiler is definitely a condensing boiler. - Check the Flue
Is the flue leading out of your home, through the exterior wall or roof, made of metal? If so, it is another indicator you may have a non-condensing boiler.
Is a Combi Boiler the Same as a Condensing Boiler?
In actuality, there is no difference between a combi boiler and a condensing boiler. A combi boiler is a type of condensing boiler which provides hot water on-demand. These are usually ideal for smaller homes with little space available.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Condensing Boilers
When it comes to efficiency and cost reduction, condensing boilers are an effective way to lower your home heating bills when compared to other boilers such as biomass or electric boilers.
In addition, their higher efficiency means less energy is wasted, making them a slightly more environmentally friendly way of heating your home.
Despite this, they can be complex machines with frequent need for servicing to avoid the need for replacement and require space for the additional plumbing to be installed.
Below you will find a summary of the pros and cons of condensing boilers:
Pros
- High efficiency of up to 90% meaning large savings on your energy bills
- Less CO2 emissions means better for climate change
- They can fit into your existing gas boiler system easily.
- They are compatible with renewable energy systems and can be connected to solar thermal systems
Cons
- Higher initial cost as they require extra plumping for both a flue and a waste pipe or drain
- Can be complex to maintain and repair
- The waste water pipe can freeze in extreme cold temperatues
- Require good installation to avoid poor performance and breakdowns
Learn More About Energy Saving Our energy guide articles contain lots of useful information on saving energy, lowering costs and having a more positive impact on the environment.
The services and products mentioned on this website may only represent a small selection of the options available to you. Selectra encourages you to carry out your own research and seek advice if necessary before making any decisions. We may receive commission from selected partner providers on sales of some products and/or services mentioned within this website. Our website is free to use, and the commission we receive does not affect our opinion or the information we provide.