Imagine how difficult our lives would be if we didn’t have boilers. We use these things to heat our shower water, to wash the dishes easier and for many other things as well, so we cannot say that they don’t play an important role in our lives.
However, when it comes to boilers, there are multiple types of them that you can find on the market these days, some more advanced than others. Usually, the go-to choice for a lot of people is to purchase an electrical one, and in most situations, this is a complete “no-brainer”. But, is that the best option compared to all the others? Are there any better out there? Well, you’ll find out in this article.
Today we’re talking about gas boilers, and we’ll give you five great tips that you can use when purchasing one. By utilizing these, you’ll be able to make a better choice and spend your money on something worth it instead of just doing a risky purchase. We have a lot to talk about, so let’s end the intro right here and jump straight into the content.
The difference
The difference between gas and electric boilers is quite large, and we’ll tell you why. An electrical one uses electrical energy to heat the water inside, but the gas ones use electricity as well, except in much lower quantities. Why?
Well, a boiler that uses gas as a primary resource to heat water requires something to set that gas on fire. All of this happens inside a chamber, and don’t worry, it’s safe. When the electric ignition device lights up the gas, it begins a process through which you get hot water a few moments later, shortly put.
Is there a difference in cost and maintenance? Yes, there is, and believe it or not, these models are a lot more cost-efficient and easier to maintain than the electric ones, which is why they’re so popular in the United Kingdom. If anything goes wrong, you can find a reserve part for it on the market almost immediately. So now that you know all this, you probably want to buy one, right? If the answer is yes, let’s take a look at the tips that we’ve promised.
1. Price
To purchase anything, you’ll need to prepare a budget, and since boilers are not the cheapest things you can get these days, the price will play a huge role in your selection process. It’s sometimes true that you get what you pay for, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot find a reliable, cheap gas boiler on the internet.
Many companies allow you to get a replacement if you’re already fed up with your electrical one, and the entire process isn’t that costly. A great example of such a company that operates in Dublin is nrmplumbingandheating.ie. If you want to save money in the long-run, it’s better to switch as early as possible. Gas seems to be a lot more cost-efficient than electricity.
2. Capacity
Choosing a boiler is a process in which you’ll have to decide what capacity you want to settle for. If you are using this for your own home office, you can probably go for the smaller ones and have just enough water for all of your needs. However, if you’re looking to purchase one for your entire family, you’ll have to try and find a larger model. Capacity is important. You don’t want to run out of hot water in the middle of a shower because somebody washed their hands before you hopped into the bathroom, which happens quite a lot with smaller capacity models.
3. Brand
The brand is important because it determines how reliable the boiler will be to some extent. We’re not saying that you shouldn’t give the “underdogs” a change now and then, but you know what we mean. Keep in mind however that popular brands will usually have more expensive products, so be ready to pay quite a lot for your gas boiler if it’s coming from the top-tier brand in your area. If you’re on a budget, we don’t recommend doing this.
4. Quality
You cannot know the quality of a gas boiler until you purchase it and use it for at least a few years, right? Well, not really, because it’s 2024 and we have the internet to solve almost every single one of our problems. It doesn’t take more than just a few Google searches to find out if a certain product is good or not. Tons of reviews are available and by reading just a few of them you’ll be able to decide whether you want to spend your money on something or not. When you’re reading reviews, make sure to find them on 3rd party websites, because if you only read the ones on the official site, you’ll most likely form a false picture of that certain product in your mind. Usually, they only tend to post positive reviews, which is why you should consider reading those from another website.
5. Availability
Last but not least, comes the availability factor which is of huge importance in case you end up experiencing some issues in the future. We already mentioned that gas boilers are used quite a lot in many countries, especially in the United Kingdom, but you still have to make sure that the model you’re purchasing is very common in your living area. Why? Because if something ends up breaking, it’s a lot easier to replace just the broken part than to purchase an entirely new boiler.
So, if you purchase from a brand that’s almost non-existent in your area, you won’t be able to find reserve parts as easily. Try to go for the ones that many people in your country use, and that way you’ll always be able to rely on some extra used parts when things go downhill.
Overall, you shouldn’t have any issues with gas boilers because they are pretty durable and a lot more cost-efficient than electrical ones.
