You can usually tell if you have a back boiler by looking at your gas fire. If you take off the plate at the bottom of the heater, there will be a model number under there that you can check, and you should be able to see the pilot light as well..
Herein, are back boilers still legal?
Conventional Back Boilers Can Still Be Fitted Legally. But the Building Regulations allow for conventional back-boilers (ie gas fires with boilers, fitted in fireplaces) to be replaced like-for-like in situations where it would be difficult to fit a new condensing boiler against an outside wall.
Likewise, how much does it cost to replace a back boiler? That's not an easy question to answer. The price will vary from property to property. A typical 3-4 bedroom property with 8-10 radiators, all pipework, and an A-Rated combination boiler, is likely to cost around 5,000.
In this way, what is a back boiler and how does it work?
A back boiler is a heating device which is fitted in the structure behind a household fireplace, enabling it to provide heat to the house for central heating and also providing hot water. They're usually fitted behind gas or electric fireplaces but an open fire back boiler can also be found in older homes.
Should I replace my back boiler with a combi?
It is worth remembering that your new boiler can not be fitted in the same location as your old back boiler so you'll have to find some new space for it. Combi Boiler: The most common choice for replacing a back boiler is with a combi boiler, because it's compact and efficient.
Related Question Answers
Can you sleep in a room with a back boiler?
You can install a boiler in a bedroom as long as it is room sealed. A room sealed boiler won't emit fumes into the room, making it safe to be installed in a room where people sleep.Are back boilers good?
Typically a back boiler is just under 80% efficient whereas a modern condensing boiler could be 98% efficient. By replacing an old inefficient back boiler with a new condensing boiler, fuel bills will be greatly reduced. Today lots of back boilers are replaced with the highly efficient combi boilers.Can you remove a back boiler?
Unfortunately, removing a back boiler can be a difficult process. The gas fire, back boiler and flue all need to be taken out, which is likely to cause damage to the hearth surround. But this means you can build a more modern-looking fireplace.How long should a back boiler last?
The life span of the combi boiler is also less than the old back boiler. A combi boiler will last you around 10 years. If you service you old back boiler regularly, it will last you a lot longer.Can a back boiler explode?
When a fire is lit in front of a redundant back boiler, left in a sealed condition, it can heat up and the internal pressure can cause the boiler casing to explode. Since the explosion, Severn Vale Housing Association has visited about 1,700 homes to make sure its residents are safe.How messy is removing a back boiler?
This is because removing a back boiler tends to leave quite a bit of mess behind, and usually involves removing the boiler leaving a large hole in the wall. In most cases, you can't keep your fireplace working when a back boiler is removed in this way.Can back boilers be repaired?
Back boilers work on open vented systems often with a gravity fed hot water system. At the moment it is not possible to install a new back boiler, although it is still possible to repair them if you can find someone specialist enough to do it.Are back boilers dangerous?
Dangers of a disused back boiler If the boiler is not in an open vented condition (i.e. sealed) internal pressure will build which can result in an explosion. Over the years incidents like this have caused several serious injuries and even one fatality.Does a back boiler need a pump?
Water circuit It can also be connected to a series of radiators to provide central heating but usually requires an electrical pump to be fitted to circulate the hot water, some systems can use the gravity circuit to include radiators.What does a back boiler look like?
A back boiler is a small, compact boiler fitted at the back of an open fireplace hearth. It sits behind a gas fire and provides hot water and central heating to the property.Does a back boiler use electricity?
Boilers only use a minimal amount of electricity, but it is still needed to make certain functions work. Display screens, back-lighting bulbs and smart thermostats will all use electricity to help keep your home heated and supplied with hot water. Electricity is required to ignite the boiler.What temperature should a back boiler be set at?
Boiler thermostat: this should be set at 65 degrees, to enable it to deliver water of 60 degrees (see above). While radiators will get hot quicker if the boiler thermostat is set at a higher temperature, the boiler may not condense, which will reduce its efficiency by 10-20%.What is a conventional boiler?
A conventional boiler is also sometimes called a regular boiler or heat only boiler. This type of boiler uses hot and cold water storage tanks, usually installed in your home's loft.How does a coal fire back boiler work?
The back boiler unit typically consists of a fire grate, which carries the combustible material e.g. coal, and a water chamber 'surrounding' it. Thus heat input to the water is gained from the hot flue gases as well as radiated from the 'coals'.What is a combi boiler?
A combination or 'combi' boiler is both a high efficiency water heater and a central heating boiler in a single compact unit. Combi boilers heat water directly from the mains when you turn on a tap, so you won't need a hot water storage cylinder or a cold water storage tank in the roof space.What is a system boiler?
System Boilers Explained. A System boiler directly heats your central heating system and produces hot water for a storage cylinder. They work like a Regular (Conventional) boiler in that they need to store hot water, but unlike Regular boilers they take their water supply directly from the mains.Can you have a back boiler with gas heating?
A back boiler is a unit that fits behind a fireplace or a gas fire and produces hot water for central heating and domestic use throughout the home. The boiler also needs a separate water tank or hot water cylinder to function, which needs to be stored elsewhere in the home.Can a wood burner heat radiators?
The good news is that you can use a wood-burning stove to heat radiators throughout your home. When your stove is lit it not only heats the room but the boiler, too. You can plumb the stove into your heating system to provide hot water and heat your radiators. 
