UPDATE: Please note that since this blog was written, the last model of back boiler has been taken out of production. You may be able to find a back boiler at a plumbing merchants but this will be discontinued stock. We would recommend switching to a conventional or combi boiler instead.
Over the years there have been many different types of boiler installed in people’s homes. We come across a number of different styles and models when we visit people’s homes, and perhaps the most discussed is the infamous ‘back boiler’.
What is a back boiler?
A back boiler is a unit fitted to the rear of a fireplace that both heats the room it is in, but also provides hot water for central heating and household use. They were installed frequently in the 1970s and ’80s, and although there are modern condensing back boilers, they are very rarely installed these days.
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.
What are the advantages of a back boiler?
So why were they installed so much 40 odd years ago? The back boiler will improve the efficiency of the stove, or heater in front of it by acting as a heat sink. They also take up less space than a traditional floor standing boiler, because they are hidden behind a fireplace that would otherwise be empty space. The direct competition back in the 70s would have been the giant washing machine like boilers that sit on the ground, look a little ugly and take up acres of space in your house. It is easy to see why they were attractive back then.
Add on top of that the fact that back boilers are extremely reliable – they tend to break down less than conventional boilers – and they made a lot of sense back then.
>>> Should I replace my conventional boiler with a combi? <<<
Why did back boilers get phased out?
There are probably several reasons that have lead to the decline of the back boiler. Firstly, those fridge sized floor standing boilers from the 70s are long gone, and the units themselves are much smaller, more compact and attractive. The combi boiler has meant that all the tanks that used to be necessary for a boiler are no longer needed and a small wall mounted unit takes up less space than both a conventional or back boiler, making them the preferred choice for smaller properties.
The other point is that since 2005, regulations mean that you need to install high efficiency condensing boilers. Since at the time there were no condensing back boilers, anyone who had their back boiler break down for good or just wanted to upgrade, had to install a conventional wall mounted boiler instead.
Of course, there are many properties where moving over to a conventional boiler is going to be both technically difficult and expensive, with rerouting of pipe work and gas lines adding significantly to the cost.
There is now however, at least 1 model of back boiler on the market that meets the current efficiency standards, so you can install a modern back boiler no problem these days.
Should you upgrade your back boiler?
Although the cost of upgrading to a new back boiler is going to be a couple of thousand pounds, the savings over an old G-rated boiler are going to be considerable. Depending on the size of the house and your gas consumption, you are probably looking at savings of £200-300 a year. That means the new boiler will pay back in less than 10 years.
Installing a new boiler
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Those ‘ugly’ floor standing boilers are NOT long gone. I have an ideal E type 80,000 BTU which is working now.Installed 1977.
It has needed one thermo couple in 20 years. The energy consumed by making new boilers every 12 years plus the travel of the fitters plus the repairs needed every three years of a ‘new’ boiler is hardly conducive to saving the world.
Hi Ian, you may well be right – it depends on how much gas you are using to be honest. You boiler is currently less than 60% efficient, and a new one would be nearer 90% – so you are looking at 50% saving in terms of the volume of gas used. If you are using a lot of gas then it would make sense to make the change.
I agree with you Ian, I am known as gadget man by my friends, but the 2 properties we own still have 1980s inefficient Baxi boilers (one a back boiler). They might be costing us £200-300 year extra each in gas, but to me this is a small price to pay for convenience and low cost reliability. They get serviced annuallyish for about £70 including a new £5 thermocouple.
The odd times they have broken down its 90% been the thermocouple and once a new gas valve £80. Always parts been available and fixed on same day.
Comparing with Mother-in-law over the same 30 year time span, she is now on her 4th boiler and has had numerous expensive breakdowns, of fans, circuit boards and none have been same day repairs as parts have to be ordered and not available off the shelf.
As we all know boilers are not known for being thoughtful and only breaking down on warm sunny days! Far from it.
I have no idea what she has paid over the years for the new boilers to be installed along with the hassle of actually arranging and getting the job done.
Our house is well insulated and we have modern zoned heating controls, so have best efficiency there.
We are going to keep our old boilers for as long as possible, because they are so simple and generally reliable and when they do have a wobble, it’s usually a £5 part and fixed on the same day, the day it’s probably below freezing outside!
So what is the make of the only back boiler available?????
You can still get hold of the Baxi Bermuda BBU HE Back Boiler although Baxi themselves have discontinued it. This is just about the only condensing gas boiler available.
Sorry James, but you’re talking nonsense. I’ve tried to get the new Baxi Bermuda HE back boiler for 2 years and it’s impossible.
Coupled with the fact that only 1 chimney liner is compatible with this system. And it’s harder to find than Lord Lucan.
I’m surprised you’re making such a claim. Because it simply isn’t true.
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for your comment, but it is you that is talking nonsense I’m afraid! – A simple ebay search pulls up buying options for this back boiler!
Hi I have recently had a combi boiler put in my council house to replace my back boiler but they didn’t remove the back boil from my lounge I have an electric fire in the hole but I’m looking to cover the hole with out having to remove the back boiler I assume that is have Been disconnected from the gas?? Will this be safe to do
Hi Kylie, thanks for getting in touch. There shouldn’t be any gas running to the old boiler, but your best bet is to get a gas safe engineer out to confirm and let you know whether it is safe to cover the hole.
I have moved into a property that has a back boiler which i am not familiar with. It is a Baxi Bermuda GF3 super. the heating system seems ok but i am not a fan of the existing fire. Can the gas fire be replaced and also what fire options are there that are compatible with my boiler?
Back boilers take up a lot of space. Can you use that space you save for anything, or does the old boiler have to stay in place?
You can still get solid-fuel back-boilers. The Esse Ironheart, Rayburn, and other range-cookers, are still going strong, as well as the stove manufacturers.
Tried applying for grant can’t get past what type of heating doesn’t have coal or solid fuel so can’t apply people who have that old type of heating don’t seem to count! Usually they are the poorest people who need help!
ECO grants should be available for these people to upgrade to a more modern heating system!
Hi
I have a Baxi Burmuda back boiler.I would like to know if it would be ok to replace the front gas fire with an electric one. I am thinking of going for a wood burner style fire which stands on legs and would allow the air to flow underneath to the boiler. Would it then be ok to blank off the flue for the existing front gas fire as it would no longer be required.
Exactly my thoughts too Danny Shepherd… Don’t use the boiler front part anymore as a gas fire, its just an older design style and would like to remove the front fire part and refit something else to fill the frontal hole…
we are thinking of getting a combi boiler can my baxi bermuda back boiler be capped so we can still use the fire
Hi Alison,
You would need to make sure that the back boiler is still connected to the flue. We’d recommend discussing the matter with Gas Safe Engineer – you can find the register here.
Thanks,
Harriet
Dear Sir/Madam
Thank you very much for all the information and advice on your Web site. I have gained some good knowledge from it also wish to advise that I present I have no problem with my boiler but want to upgrade my gas fire. Thank you very much and looking forward to your valuable advice. Thank you, Kind regards. Kasinathan
Need back boiler, fireplace, hot water tank etc removed and combi boiler installed. Combi boiler will probably be in a location 4-5 feet away on the other side of the wall.
I am really annoyed that I cant replace my old back boiler with a new back boiler as my house is tiny and here is no obvious place to put a combi boiler. Im not too bothered about efficiency as I live alone and don’t use that much but what I really want to do is replace the hideous gasfire which came with the boiler. Unfortunately when there was an option to get a new backboiler and fire I couldn’t afford it, now I can afford it but none are available.