Condensing Boilers & Fuel Prices

[RedOnRed]

Is it a coincidence that household fuel prices are spiralling up, particularly since the increased popularity of high efficiency boilers and with the advent of condensing boilers being pretty much mandatory since April this year?

Household fuel companies are in the business of selling us fuel. Surely if we're using less of it then they have to increase their prices? Which is exactly what seems to be happening.

If the pattern continues it looks like more HE boilers means higher fuel prices. If that's the case, then does it mean there's less reason or more reason to have a condensing boiler?

[Andy Hall]

Somewhat academic, since in general you don't have the choice when a replacement is made.

[RedOnRed]

Not necessarily so. I had my 28 year old boiler replaced in April and could still be using it now...if I could've been bothered to keep on having it repaired that is.

Apart from brand new installs in say new homes, i'd say a lot of people do have the option.

[Paul Andrews]

I really doubt that the uptake of new boilers is distorting the profits - just think how many non-condensing boilers are still out there. Condensing boilers must be in the minority right now. I think it's as they say - good old demand and supply.

The cost of gas is just the same regardless of what boiler you have, so you can choose to use more expensive gas or less if you wish to change boiler.

I've recently changed to a condensing boiler, but it had nothing to do with the cost of gas or efficiency.

Paul

[Andy Hall]

That will really depend on several things:

1) If the installation situation means that there is exemption based on the points system defined in the Assessment Procedure from the ODPM

these rules are followed, then there are relatively few instances where a condensing boiler couldn't be installed, and would therefore have to be.

That's the official position.

The remaining cases are:

2) CORGI installer is willing to sign an exemption document for the local authority and install a non-condensing boiler even though the property really isn't exempt. He runs the (probably low) risk of being caught out by the local authority or CORGI in the case of an inspection.

3) CORGI installer installs non condensing boiler with no paperwork. Result is as (2) and the householder has no paper trail when he wishes to sell. Probability of anything arising also low.

4) Non registered installer installs non condensing boiler. Result as for 3)

[RedOnRed]

It just seems that household fuel prices are increasing across the board, which has coincided with the prevalence of condensing boilers which use less gas.

[RedOnRed]

Thanks Andy.

Bureaucracy behind the installs aside, i'm curious about whether people think fuel is increasing in price due to the increase of us using less of it.

[chris French]

In message , RedOnRed writes

[Paul Andrews]

snip

It has also coincided with reduced output from the north sea for the UK gas supplies and the country having to buy in supplies of gas from elsewhere..

[RedOnRed]

Just as I was getting all Tom Clancy and Freddy Forsyth on this...you just had to go and blow my conspiracy theory out of the water didn't you! :-(

[Dave Plowman (News)]

It's gone up because all energy prices have increased due to wars, natural disasters and the fact they're getting more expensive to extract.

[RedOnRed]

I might be wrong but since when has the production and price of North Sea gas and our domestic electricity been affected by overseas conflicts and natural disaters?

[Andy Hall]

This would require intellect on the part of jag+=2 which I have a hard time imagining.

[chris French]

In message , RedOnRed writes

Only some of our gas comes from the North Sea, and it subject to the same market forces as the rest of the gas supply. If prices in general rise then so does the price for 'our' gas

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Because we are no longer self sufficient in gas and buy it in from Russia.

[Huge]

You are.

Since the first drop of it came out of the North Sea?

[RedOnRed]

Lol.

So no-one sees any corellation in household fuel rising in-line with the growth of condensing boilers?

If not, i'll get me jacket shall I?

[Dave Liquorice]

The price has always been affected, simple supply and demand, market forces etc. The oil market is a global affair, anything happening elsewhere in the world can hoik the price up and down quite dramatically.

[Dave Liquorice]

Here, left arm first, now your right, cross at the front, tie at the back.

[Ed Sirett]

I agree with your analysis. I've had a visitation from the CORGI inspector recently as part of the routine monitoring. Apparently 80% of the registered firms are sending in no notifications at all. Now some of those firms _may_ be entirely engaged in maintenance and service. Some others may have no 'operatives' (but would like to accquire some) although the _firm_ is registered.

The inspector said that his boss is changing the strategy, instead of inspecting the notified work from arguably the most thorough 20%. He suggests targeting the 80% (really insightful thinking eh?). They can easily visit the companies but I would guess that something of a smoke screen will be put up to 'protect' their employee(s).