‘Zombie boilers’ are back in the spotlight this October as Wolseley Plumb Center launches its campaign to raise awareness of inefficient boilers and their costs to homeowners. Installers are invited to compete on Twitter by sharing the ‘boiler horrors’ they see in the field, using #zombieboiler and @plumbcenterUK for a chance to win a zombie experience.
Wolseley’s Richard Harvey says: “These boilers hide away in our homes gorging on energy, threatening freezing winter breakdowns, and sending bills rocketing. We’re urging heating engineers to unearth these relics and let homeowners know they have a horror in their midst that isn’t doing its job of heating their house properly.”
More than nine in every 10 of the UK’s 25 million homes has gas central heating and a third of these – around 9million – are estimated to house an ageing, inefficient boiler. Worse still, two million of these are believed to be heated by a boiler so decrepit they have been labelled ‘zombie boilers’.
Wolseley is offering five facts to help heating engineers drive the message home with customers:
- It’s estimated one in four homeowners have a boiler breakdown each year. The older the boiler, the more likely this is to happen and Wolseley figures show over two thirds of boiler sales happen in winter.
- Energy Savings Trust statistics show heating accounts for around 60% of annual energy bill expenditure, with savings of up to £350 per year for those who switch from an aged ‘G’ rated boiler to a new, ‘A’ rated model.
- Customers can tell if they live with a zombie boiler by the unpleasant noise it makes. Low pressure, a worn-out fan or pump, or a blocked pipe will signal that it’s time to replace the boiler.
- Zombie boilers are uncontrollable, guzzling gas and money in a constant state of on or off, with no in-between. Contemporary controls used on a new boiler can result in a further £75-£155 a year saving.
- Homeowners may also have radiators falling victim to the zombie boiler. The sludge created by an ageing system gathers in radiators, rendering them inefficient, and in the worst cases, completely incapable of heating a home. A poorly performing radiator can also significantly harm a boiler’s efficiency, and old, damaged products are also just as in need of replacement. Filters and water treatment additives may help a system like this, but a full service and system flush will be needed first to make an impact.
Visit www.plumbpartsmagazine.co.uk/zombieboiler and follow @plumbcenterUK to find out more about the ‘Zombie Boiler’ campaign.
