Condensing boilers: the advantages for your home

Are you planning to replace your old boiler with a more modern, sustainable, and efficient model? The condensing boiler is a state-of-the-art technology to keep in mind for your home heating. Choosing the most suitable model for your home and consumption habits can offer numerous advantages. From efficient operation to reliable performance, improved energy savings and living comfort, let’s take a look at why it makes sense to install a condensing boiler and which type to choose.

Condensing boiler vs. traditional gas boiler

Before exploring the advantages, it is useful to know how a condensing boiler works and how it differs from a traditional gas boiler.

A condensing boiler, like a traditional model, is fuelled by methane or LPG gas that is burnt inside a combustion chamber, producing heat, which heats the water circulating inside domestic heating systems (such as radiators). In traditional boilers, the hot fumes produced by combustion are expelled, dispersing a large amount of energy.

In condensing boilers, however, the waste heat from the flue gases is recovered by a secondary heat exchanger. Here, the cooling and condensation of flue gas heat generates additional energy, which is used to heat the return water from the heating systems. Only when the flue gases have released all their heat are they expelled from the condensing boiler at much lower temperatures than from conventional boilers.

Condensing boilers are also equipped with advanced sensor and power modulation systems that allow the amount of gas burned to be adjusted according to actual domestic demand.

The main advantages of a condensing boiler

This first comparison has given us an overview of the ability of the condensing boiler to optimise its energy efficiency safely. Now let's take a more detailed look at the benefits:

Greater energy efficiency

Energy efficiency is the ability of a system or appliance to perform its function while consuming less energy. In the case of a boiler, therefore, energy efficiency is the ability to convert heat into the maximum possible amount of energy. For condensing boilers with high energy efficiency (A+++, A++, A+, A,) the minimum energy efficiency value must be 90% or higher.

Reducing consumption and saving on bills

The higher the energy efficiency of the condensing boiler, the lower the energy consumption and thus the lower the charge in the gas bill for the same consumption. Thanks to the recovery of latent heat, a condensing boiler can give you a 30% saving on gas consumption, thus amortising the initial cost and repaying the purchase investment over time.

Less pollution

Lower gas consumption - thanks also to modulation systems for the amount burnt during combustion - and energy recovery mean condensing boilers are eco-friendly. They emit less carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are responsible for pollution, for the same consumption. 

However, the sustainability of your condensing boiler depends on its operation at full efficiency. So, remember to carry out regular maintenance and make sure that the installation and activities of your condensing boiler, such as flue gas discharge, comply with regulations (UNI 7129:2015 "Consolidated Law for gas systems” and related legislation). 

Integration with renewable energies

The condensing boiler can be integrated with other technologies using renewable sources, such as an air-water heat pump powered by photovoltaic panels. This would create a hybrid system powered by two different heat sources. 

Otherwise, it is also effective to integrate the condensing boiler with a solar thermal system where solar panels (or collectors) transform the sun's energy into heat, supplying the house with domestic hot water and heating. 

Improved home comfort

In general, boilers are durable appliances, a fact that guarantees them a lifetime of more than 15 years on average. When consumers find themselves changing an old boiler after a long time, they then discover the incredible modernisation of the new models. Condensing boilers are less bulky, quieter and have a modern, understated, cutting-edge design for home comfort that is reflected in both style and performance.

How to choose a condensing boiler

If these advantages have convinced you to replace your old boiler with a modern, more efficient condensing model, let’s explore the most suitable types for your home. First of all, you can choose between indoor and outdoor condensing boilers: the former are preferable because they are protected from temperature variation and weathering. Condensing boilers can then be divided into:

• Wall-mounted condensing boilers: being mounted on a wall, these are therefore smaller in size, suitable for homes with little space, and can be easily placed in the kitchen, or in a cupboard or wardrobe.  
• Floor-standing condensing boilers: these larger models are installed on the ground and are suitable for larger spaces or buildings requiring a higher heating output.  
• Compact condensing boilers: these include the integration of a solar thermal cylinder for storing domestic hot water produced by a solar thermal system.

Heat your home with Enel Energia

The condensing boiler, therefore, adapts to every domestic ecosystem, guaranteeing efficient and environmentally sustainable performance. For your winter heating, Enel Energia helps you choose, with a selection of condensing boilers and gas offers tailor-made for you. 

Discover more at enel.it and heat your home with Enel Energia.