What is a condensing boiler?
You may have heard of the term 'condensing boiler' and you may be thinking 'how does it work'?
A condensing, high efficiency boiler can be a 'combi', 'system' or 'open vent (heating only)' boiler. A condensing boiler works on the principle of reusing heat that would normally be ejected into the atmosphere from the flue of a standard efficiency (non-condensing) boiler.
As a result, the temperature of the gases from the flue of a condensing boiler is typically 50-60oC compared with 120-180oC in a non-condensing boiler. Furthermore, if you choose to install a flue gas heat recovery system such as the Energycatcher® manufactured by Ravenheat, which is available through HeatNet, these gases can be further recycled to reuse some of the useful heat which would normally escape into the atmosphere an turn it into hot water - your paying for the exhaust fumes so why not use them in a useful manner?
On a condensing boiler (with or without a flue gas heat recovery system) the condensate is harmlessly expelled as a vapour through a flue and as a liquid through a convenient drain point.
Since 2005, all new boilers sold in the UK must be a high efficiency, condensing model.