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Month: April 2023

Looking to replace an old boiler? Explore the future of heating with our guide to low-carbon, energy-saving air source heat pumps.

Upgrade to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint

If your boiler is reaching the end of its serviceable life, it’s worth considering your options. A straight replacement might seem the obvious answer, but newer, more efficient technologies now offer viable – and surprisingly affordable – alternatives.

One of these options is to replace your old boiler with an air source heat pump. These systems are designed to reduce your carbon footprint, save energy, and reduce your utility bills in the long run. And they do all this while delivering reliable heating and hot water, year-round.

So, what’s an air source heat pump?

Air source heat pumps are electrically powered systems that extract heat energy from the air surrounding your building, even in the coldest weeks of winter. They then transfer this heat to the inside of your building – almost like an inside-out fridge.

Air source heat pumps

How do air source heat pumps work?

Firstly, an external fan draws outside air over a network of tubes filled with refrigerant gas, which circulates at -28°c. This refrigerant absorbs the heat energy from the air, and turns it into a gas.

This gas then passes through a compressor, which raises the gas’s temperature, causing it to change into a hot liquid.

This compressed hot liquid finally passes into a heat exchanger, which heats water for both the radiator heating circuit and water outlets including taps and showers. The refrigerant, now cooler, turns back into a cold gas and is pumped back to the outside unit to capture more heat.

What are the benefits of air source heat pumps?

They’re highly efficient

Air source heat pumps can be over 300% more efficient than a traditional gas-powered boiler. Given the ongoing energy crisis, this could mean you save money on your energy bills while simultaneously reducing your carbon footprint.

They won’t freeze up

An air source heat pump can still work effectively in freezing temperatures, which means you’ll be able to enjoy reliable heating and hot water all year round. Yes, heat pumps are more efficient when it’s warmer outside, so you can expect them to work a bit harder when it’s cold. But when hot water and warm radiators are essential, it’s reassuring to know.

They’re easy to look after

Unlike a boiler, which you can usually expect to last around 10 years, an air source heat pump has fewer moving parts and should work effectively for at least 15 to 20 years. On top of this, they’re much easier to maintain, keeping call-outs – and downtime – to a minimum.

Consistent heat for longer

Heat pumps work at a lower internal temperature than a gas or oil-fired boiler, which means radiators won’t feel as warm. However, an air source heat pump provides gentler, more efficient heating over much longer periods, instead of quick boosts of heat on demand. This is particularly useful in the care sector, where it’s important to minimise the risk of residents burning themselves on radiators.

Is an air source heat pump the right option for you?

With some minor updates to make sure everything works properly, any building can be suitable for a heat pump. Here are your basic requirements:

  • The building needs to have enough exterior space for an outdoor condenser unit, which can’t be sited within a metre of neighbouring boundary walls
  • There’s space inside for a buffer vessel
  • The building has good insulation, such as cavity wall and loft insulation, larger surface area radiators and double-glazed windows. If this isn’t the case, we recommend upgrading to larger surface area radiators to help improve the efficiency of the heat pump and reduce your overall running costs. If you have old or single panel radiators, you may need to swap them for double or triple-panel units.

It’s worth saying that the noise from a heat pump is similar in volume to a fridge. As it gets colder outside, this noise will increase while it’s operating. However, you shouldn’t be able to hear the sound from indoors.

Will an air source heat pump save me money?

In theory, a more modern and efficient system should also reduce your energy bills. But there are other factors that will decide whether or not you’ll be able to save. These include:

  • Your current electricity tariff
  • The type of heat pump you’ve installed
  • The design of the heating system
  • Your geographical location and the average air or ground temperatures throughout the year

Savings will also depend on the system being replaced. If you’re replacing an old, non-condensing gas boiler with an air source heat pump, you’ll likely save more than if you have a more modern condensing gas boiler. In these cases, a heat pump may cost slightly more per year to run due to the current cost of electricity.

What else should I consider before I install a heat pump?

  • Costs – an air source heat pump is currently typically 5 times more expensive that a natural gas boiler
  • Upgrading your radiators – some heat pump system designs, especially low temperature heat pumps, also require larger radiators to work at their maximum efficiency
  • Underfloor heating – heat pumps work best when there’s less difference between the inside and outside temperatures. Floors cover a much bigger area than radiators, so they don’t need to get as hot to provide the same amount of heat. This makes heat pumps a good match for underfloor heating (though it’s not an essential pairing)

Can I use an air source heat pump for hot water?

Even without replacing your boiler, a heat pump can be a great solution for producing hot water, and a big first step towards reducing your business’s carbon emissions.

Advantages

  • Heat pumps are 3-4 times more efficient than gas boilers
  • They’re low carbon (which can be reduced further with a renewable energy tariff)
  • They offer reduced long-term running costs
  • They’re lower maintenance and have a long service life

Disadvantages

  • To improve running costs, you may need to improve your insulation. However, adding more insulation is beneficial regardless of the heating system you have
  • Air source heat pumps cost more to install than other, more traditional heating systems
  • Installation can take much longer than replacing a gas boiler, as it’s not a like for like replacement; you’ll need to plan around this to minimise disruption to your business
  • You need enough space outside for the pump and inside for a buffer vessel / water cylinder. Air source heat pumps also need an indoor unit, but this is exactly the same as replacing the existing boiler and will usually go in the same location

What are the different types of heat pump?

Air-to-air heat pumps

These units transfer heat directly into the air in your rooms. More commonly known as air conditioning units, they can switch between heating and cooling depending on the season. However, it’s worth noting, these types of heat pumps don’t usually provide hot water.

Air-to-water heat pumps

These units transfer heat to an existing wet heating system (radiators, underfloor heating).

Hybrid heating solutions

This is where air source heat pumps are combined with a boiler. The boiler can assist the heat pump by providing hot water or a heating boost during a particularly cold snap.

How can I look after an air source heat pump?

Air source heat pumps have a typical working life of 15-20 years. Just as you would with a boiler, you should get your air source heat pump professionally serviced every year to make sure it’s working efficiently and to help prolong the life of the unit.

There are some things you can do yourself, too. Firstly, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use your heat pump.

Next, make sure there’s always plenty of air around the heat pump. This means regularly checking for leaves or rubbish caught at the back and side of the heat pump, and pruning back any plants growing too close to the unit or its pipes. During the winter, you’ll also want to clear snow from the heat pump.

How much does it cost to run an air source heat pump?

As every building is different, we can only offer approximate running costs for an air source heat pump. Let’s say a property needs 18,000kWh of heat per year. In this example, you’ll need to divide that heat requirement by the efficiency of the appliance, then multiply it by the price of the fuel to get the total running costs of a particular appliance.

Using current average fuel prices:

Appliance Efficiency Calculation Total per year
New gas boiler 92% (18,000kWh ÷ 92%) x 35p per kWh of gas £6,848
Older, non-condensing gas boiler 70% (18,000kWh ÷ 70%) x 35p per kWh of gas £9,000
Air source heat pump 300% (18,000kWh ÷ 300%) x 45p per kWh of electricity £2,700

If you’d like to work out a similar equation for yourself, check your current energy bills for the amount of kWh of heat required to heat your property, and your current energy tariff.

It’s worth bearing in mind that the above example assumes the building is fully insulated and has larger surface area radiators, so it’s as efficient as it can be. Your current building setup will influence the amount of kWh of heat you need.

Understanding what sized commercial laundry equipment you need is all about identifying what your business requirements are.

Facilities managers may want to consider the space you have available on your premises and how much laundering you require day-to-day before weighing up the pros and cons of each individual laundry model.

Ultimately, commercial laundry is sized according to its capacity rather than its physical footprint, and is often split into three sizes:

laundry

Small or light-duty washing machine

A light duty washing machine may have a capacity of 5kg – 8kg and run for approximately 8 washes a day. This makes them ideal for businesses who require regular but light washing such as a bed and breakfast, a hair salon or social housing. It is worth noting that this size of commercial washing machine is often comparable in size to domestic equivalents but will be far more robust as they are built specifically for business use.

JLA 7 & 8 washing machines are a great example of small commercial washers who provide a large drum capacity whilst using minimal facility space, particularly when stacked, as is the benefit of the smaller ranges.

Medium/Large or heavy-duty washing

Heavy duty washing machines are well suited to those who require large wash loads on a continued basis. Hotels for example may often use this sized washer, and they frequently have capacities of anything between 20kg and 80kg.

Industrial washers

Industrial washers are large appliances with incredible power to ensure a higher turnover of laundry. They may take up far more floor space than their smaller counterparts but they can handle huge volumes of washing, with a capacity up to 180kg.

Why does the size of a commercial washer matter?

From a business and facilities perspective, the sizing of your commercial laundry equipment will be detrimental to how much laundry you can feasibly achieve, having an immediate impact on profits. Considerations will need to be made with regards to the available premise space, maintenance requirements, and utility bills, as these will all vary depending on the volume of appliances needed and in which size category they fall into.

Talk to our industry-leading laundry team today for a unique, all-inclusive Total Care package, specially designed for you with tailored advice on the best commercial washer size for your business.

It’s easy to see why so many ask if a domestic washing machine can be used in a commercial setting. After all, they both wash clothes and often look indistinguishable from one another, but the truth is you’d be mistaken in thinking that a washer you’d find at home will have the robustness needed for industrial facilities.

Let’s take a look at the key reasons you should be choosing a commercial washer over its domestic counterpart.

Touch dryer

Built to last

Commercial washers are strong by design and specifically built to cope with the high demand of continuous laundry. Whilst many domestic washers can withstand daily use trying to keep up with family life, they may only amount to 5,000 cycles of laundry in their lifetime which cannot service the needs of a commercial enterprise. JLA washing machines are tailored for this longer lifespan and can offer up to 30,000 cycles of commercial washing.

Cost savings through large scale laundry

Commercial washing machines are usually much larger than domestic ones, and when it comes to the likes of care homes or hotels for example, scale is everything.

The larger drum capacity and higher spin speeds of commercial washers makes it easy for businesses to wash en masse and ensure quicker drying times, reducing energy costs.

For comparison, a typical family-sized domestic appliance will have a 10 kg drum capacity. JLA washing machines range from 7 kg to 180 kg to cover both lighter commercial laundry needs all the way up to industrial-sized washers.

Same day repairs

The benefit of specialist laundry equipment is that there are specialist engineers to go hand in hand, ensuring you never experience downtime for long. Due to the relative low cost of domestic washers, engineers are not very common for repair works with many providers choosing to simply replace rather than repair. With JLA Total Care, if your commercial washer needs a hand we can send out an engineer within 8 hours to investigate.

Pre-programmed cycles

Commercial washing machines often have more advanced controls and settings than domestic ones, which allow businesses to customise their washing processes. Commercial machines benefit from the ease of pre-programmed controls, including sluice cycles for environments where there may be soiled laundry. Domestic washers do not have this functionality, giving little choice but to opt for hand sluicing at a greater labour cost.

Hygienic technology

Commercial washing machines have thermal disinfection properties, not found in domestic appliances, which are particularly important for care homes and healthcare environments. JLA’s washing machines have thermal disinfection solutions and OTEX, which disinfect laundry on a low temperature providing reassurance at a low, energy-saving cost.

Business regulations compliance

Not only does using a domestic washing machine in a commercial environment invalidate the appliances warranty, this will also mean you’re not covered for insurance or repair purposes if you experience any issues.

In keeping with safety and industry standards, businesses are required to meet WRAS (Water Regulations Advisory Scheme) standards when it comes to laundry. Category five is required particularly in health and social care environments where foul and infected laundry is present. This is to mitigate the spread of infection, and it’s a standard that simply isn’t met in domestic appliances.

If you’d like to find out which is the right washing machine for you and your business, talk to our commercial laundry experts today or visit our Laundry section for more product information.

JLA’s Chief Technology Officer Robert Ackland discusses the powerful new tools helping care providers improve efficiency in their laundry rooms.

What do we mean by ‘digital laundry solutions’?

Digital laundry solutions are a suite of Cloud-based systems that allow owners and operators to get valuable insights into how their laundry equipment is performing from day to day.

While still fairly new, these technologies are already proving especially useful for care providers who want to optimise their laundry processes. This could mean saving energy, reducing environmental impact, or making sure that laundry rooms are operating in line with CQC compliance standards.

At JLA, we’re also using this technology to monitor our customers’ equipment remotely. This way, we can identify potential issues before they cause any disruption, and help to ensure our customers are getting the very best returns from their equipment.

As we continue to revolutionise how critical equipment is owned and managed, we offer these connected laundry features through Total Care, our all-inclusive equipment and support package. Compatible Total Care equipment includes remote monitoring as standard, while all Total Care customers can manage their JLA account 24/7 through our free MyJLA portal. MyJLA allows these customers to see all their equipment in one place, view equipment insights, access all their key documents in one place, and even purchase detergents direct.

Improving laundry room performance

With a core focus on person-centred care and a high compliance burden to manage, most homes are happy if their laundry equipment just works. But left unchecked, a poorly operated laundry can significantly increase energy costs, damage the environment, and, in the worst cases, become a vector for infection.

This is why it’s so important to take a closer look at your laundry room’s performance. And now, with digital laundry solutions, it’s simpler than ever to understand how well your equipment is doing – often at a glance.

At JLA, we’ve made it possible to monitor the cycles you run, view energy and water consumption, and even see live estimates of your carbon emissions. Plus, if you operate multiple locations, you can see everything in one place through the MyJLA portal, and even give your local managers the ability to see, monitor and improve performance at their own sites.

Alongside this, our laundry experts will continually check for potential issues. If we spot a problem, we’ll have an engineer with you within Total Care’s industry-leading SLA.

JLA connect dashboard

Driving laundry room sustainability

While the industry’s move to greener equipment gathers pace, digital laundry solutions such as JLA’s are making the transition as simple as possible. Another benefit of our digital solutions is that we can check in on the cycles running in your laundry to make sure everything matches your expected usage profile.

After all, too many hot washes could be costing you in wasted energy and unnecessarily increasing your carbon footprint, while too few hot washes or large numbers of incomplete hot washes could be putting your residents at risk of infection. Armed with insights like these, we can help you tune your laundry room to the exact needs of your business, and make sure your equipment remains well-suited.

Plus, when you need to quickly demonstrate infection compliance or environmental compliance, it’s infinitely easier because all your records are safely stored online on MyJLA.

What’s next for digital innovation in care home laundries?

The last year has marked only the start of digital laundry solutions, and thanks to a growing focus on energy and money-saving, innovation is moving quickly in this sector.

Here at JLA, we’re planning to not only make compliance more visible to our customers, but also offer organisations more tools to demonstrate their excellence in infection control compliance. We’re also developing ways to offer real-time suggestions designed to help you make the best of your equipment.

We’ll also continue to develop our digital laundry solutions so that they remain easy access and intuitive to use, so that none of our customers will need specialist knowledge, training or equipment to take advantage. We’re dedicated to removing hassle and obstacles so that there’s nothing to stop you taking the performance of your laundry to the next level.

Learn more about JLA Connect and MyJLA with Total Care.

Your care home’s boiler runs all year round to keep your residents’ baths hot and rooms cosy. But what about caring for the boiler itself? Read our solutions to some of the most common issues.

1: Your boiler’s pilot light keeps going out

A pilot light is a small gas burner that’s permanently alight inside your boiler. If your boiler’s pilot light keeps going out, the issue could be something as simple as a draught blowing out the flame, or a build-up of soot on the gas nozzle.

Alternatively, a broken thermocouple could be stopping the gas supply. The thermocouple is a safety device in the boiler that detects temperature change of your pilot light, and knows if the pilot light has gone out.

What you can do

Firstly, make sure your care home’s other gas appliances are working properly. If they aren’t, you should contact your gas supplier as soon as possible and get the system looked at.

If your gas supply looks OK, it’s time to try reigniting the pilot light by following your boiler manufacturer’s instruction manual. If you’ve lost these, you can usually find them on the manufacturer’s website. This fault is often more common in older boilers, as modern systems ignite electronically. If the issue continues, it might be time to upgrade.

2. Your boiler is gurgling, whistling or banging

If your boiler is making unusual noises, the most likely cause is air in the system. Low water pressure or a failing pump could also be the cause. Whatever the cause, try not to ignore it: these noises are usually signs of a fault that could become a more serious issue (and potentially leave your care home without hot water or heating).

What you can do

If your boiler is humming or vibrating, check its settings. If its output temperatures are set too high, for instance, it could be working too hard for long periods of time. It’s also worth making sure that the boiler’s metal case is properly secure – if it isn’t sitting in its mounts properly, or there are screws missing, it’s much more likely to vibrate. Similarly, you’ll want to make sure any connectors are secure – these are usually brass fittings that can be carefully tightened with a spanner. If any noise continues, contact your supplier.

Bleeding your care home’s radiators can help if pipes are gurgling. A frozen condensate pipe will cause a similar noise (see number 9 below).

It’s worth knowing that knocking can be caused by the expansion and contraction of your heating pipes. This is normal, but it could be worth checking that the pipes aren’t fixed to floorboards or joists too tightly.

3. Your boiler is leaking

Causes will vary, depending on where the leak or drip is coming from, but a leaking system could mean a broken seal or valve, or is the result of corrosion. Whatever the reason, this isn’t a problem to ignore.

What you can do

Sadly, some problems are too serious or technical to tackle yourself. If you’re looking at a boiler leak, it’s always safer to call in a Gas Safe-registered engineer – never try to repair a boiler on your own.

4. Low boiler pressure

If your boiler’s pressure gauge shows a reading lower than 1 bar, or consistently loses pressure when it’s been topped up, you could be looking at a system leak or a faulty expansion vessel.

What you can do

Check for obvious leaks in and around your care home – radiators are the best place to start. If you do find a leak, call an engineer to repair your boiler immediately.

If there are no visible leaks, you could re-pressurise the system by carefully following your boiler manufacturer’s instruction manual. But if there’s still no improvement, call an engineer – it’s likely there’s a failed component in the system, or there’s a hidden leak.

5. Your communal or residents’ radiators are cold

If your care home’s radiators are only partially warm, or only some of them are working, the most likely culprit will be air in the heating system.

What you can do

Carefully bleed your radiators using a radiator key, which you can easily buy if you don’t already have one. Firstly, turn off the heating so hot water isn’t flowing to your radiators. Next, find the bleed valve on a radiator – it’s a small square or hexagonal nut, usually near the top. Pop your radiator key into the valve and slowly turn it anti-clockwise until there’s a hissing sound – this is air escaping the radiator. When water begins to trickle out (you might want to us a bowl or towel, just in case!) tighten the valve and move on to the next radiator.

If there’s no improvement, the system might need flushing – this needs to be carried out by a professional heating engineer.

6. The boiler is kettling

If your boiler is whistling like a kettle, a build-up of sludge, minerals or limescale is probably restricting its water flow, and causing the water inside the boiler to overheat and boil off. This is a common problem in areas with hard water.

What you can do

A kettling boiler is usually a sign that bigger problems are just around the corner, so it shouldn’t be ignored. Not only will the boiler be working much harder (and more inefficiently) to reach the temperatures you need, but it could also be stressing the system’s heat exchanger, causing cracks or other costly damage that could also lead to a breakdown. Similarly, kettling can cause your boiler’s internal pressure to increase, which could be dangerous if your safety valves aren’t working properly.

To solve the issue, call out a registered professional engineer and get your system professionally flushed. It shouldn’t take long!

7. Your boiler isn’t responding to the thermostat

A faulty thermostat can sometimes cause problems in a system that’s otherwise healthy.

What you can do

Check your thermostat. Sometimes, something as simple as an accidental knock can switch off or change its settings. If your thermostat settings look normal, but the temperature isn’t – or the controls aren’t responding at all – it could be time for a replacement, especially if it’s an older unit. You might also upgrade a thermostat if you’re upgrading your heating system. As this job involves wiring, it’s vital that you get a qualified professional involved.

8. Your condensate pipe is frozen

Condensing boilers come with a pipe that carries condensate (acidic water) to an external drain. In colder weather, the condensate pipe can sometimes freeze up, causing noise in the pipes. Your boiler should have a fault code that tells you when its condensate pipe is frozen.

What you can do

Thawing a condensate pipe is often as easy as warming up the pipe with a hair dryer or hot water bottle. Start near the boiler and work your way down the pipe – you should see water begin to flow into the drain. As this is such a common issue, you’ll find plenty of tutorials online, but if you’re not fully confident doing this yourself, don’t hesitate to call out a registered engineer.

9. Your care home boiler keeps switching off

This could be caused by a variety of different issues, including a thermostat problem, low water pressure, or a lack of flow. What you can do Check the boiler’s pressure and thermostat (see issues 4 and 7 above). If adjusting the thermostat, bleeding your radiators and/or re-pressurising the system doesn’t do the trick, call a registered boiler engineer to repair your boiler.

10. There’s no heating or hot water

For any care home, being without heating and hot water is a problem that needs solving fast.  In this situation, there could be a number of causes, most of which will need an emergency call-out and replacement parts.

What you can do

There’s rarely one single issue that leads to a boiler failing to provide heat or hot water, but it’s worth checking before anything else that there are no issues with your boiler’s water pressure or thermostat.

Your boiler is unlikely to fire up if its water pressure is showing as below 1 bar on the dial. If this is the case, it should be straightforward to repressurise the boiler by turning it off and adding a little more water through the filling loop, which will have one or two valves that can be opened. Take care to add water until the dial shows 1.5 bar, then close the valves again. (If you’re unsure about any of this, your boiler’s manual should have some handy pointers.)

When it comes to the thermostat, it’s a good idea to make sure its temperature hasn’t been set too low. If it has, the boiler simply won’t kick in.

If you’ve checked for these issues and still have no heating or hot water, it’s time to call in an engineer.

Need more boiler advice? We’re always here to help. Get in touch today.

Replacing your old boiler could make a positive difference to the energy efficiency of your care home, and reduce your bills as well. But while it can sound like a big job, it doesn’t have to be daunting – or disruptive. In fact, there’s plenty to get excited about. Here’s our guide on when to book a replacement, and what to expect.

With any investment, you want to be absolutely sure you’re making the right call. So when it comes to replacing your care home’s boiler, it’s understandable that you might have concerns about whether it’s the right time to make the switch, or even whether it’s necessary at all. It could be that the boiler has stopped working completely, or that a simple fault needs tackling. It could be that you’re putting up with regular trouble… or that little issues – a leak or a loss of pressure – could actually be resolved by a service.

So, what to do? Read on to make a more informed decision.

How often should I replace my boiler?

A good quality, properly installed boiler should generally last around 10-15 years, providing it’s been looked after and serviced regularly. You shouldn’t need to replace your care home boiler more often than this.

If your boiler is only a few years old and not working as it should, you should check whether it’s still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. If not, you should get it repaired by a qualified Gas Safe engineer.

How do I know I need to replace my boiler?

Generally, there are some clear signs that indicate it’s time to replace your boiler:

  • You’re calling out an engineer to fix the boiler more than once a year
  • Replacement parts are getting expensive and/or they’re hard to source
  • You’ve extended the care home and it’s not as warm as it used to be
  • Your bills are showing higher energy usage, even though you haven’t made any building changes or alterations

Do I need to replace my boiler with the same model?

You don’t have to replace your boiler with the exact same model. However, this could help to make the replacement’s installation a bit more straightforward. Just take care to review all available options from various manufacturers to make sure you’re choosing the most efficient model for your needs – and don’t forget to consider more environmentally friendly options, including air source heat pumps, if they’re suitable for your building.

How much does a new boiler cost?

The cost to replace a commercial boiler in a care home varies enormously – starting anywhere from £2,000 for a small light commercial boiler, up to more than £50,000 for the bigger, more powerful boilers. It also depends on a number of factors:

  • The size of the care home and your requirements – powerful boilers cost more
  • The type and brand of boiler
  • The hot water flow rate – how quickly it heats and supplies hot water
  • The warranty period – a longer warranty typically costs more
  • The quality and type of insulation used in your care home

The cost to replace your boiler will depend on:

  • The amount of work required – are you reconfiguring your heating system? The installation cost for replacing like-for-like will be less than if you need to add other services, for instance, scaffolding to get on the roof if that’s where your flue is located.
  • The type of installer – always use a Gas Safe Engineer to install your boiler replacement.
  • Your location – this might be due to the availability of installers or regional variations in installation costs.

If you’re spending hundreds or even thousands of pounds on a new boiler system, you want to make sure that it’s going to work the best it can. So, there might be some extra boiler replacement services to consider:

  • An extended warranty – many top-brand boilers come with 10-year warranties. But if yours doesn’t, it could be worth paying extra to extend the warranty beyond its usual period.
  • New equipment – consider investing in smart controls or thermostatic valves to control your heating in the most efficient way, and avoid heating empty rooms. You may also need new radiators if they’re old or won’t work with your new boiler.
  • A system clean, or power flush. This clears the rust and debris from the heating system, pipes and radiators.
  • A magnetic boiler filter which attaches to the heating system and stops magnetic particles from clogging up the pipework.

Can I get help with my boiler replacement cost?

1. Is it still under warranty?

Some boilers come with warranties of 10 years – the manufacturer will replace your boiler if it fails in that time. As always, check the small print of every policy – some charge a call-out fee, while others will bill you for installation. And always make sure you register the warranty as soon as your boiler is up and running (most have to be registered within 30 days).

2. Do you have boiler insurance (boiler cover)?

If you’ve taken out an insurance policy to protect your care home against boiler breakdown, you might be able to get some help with the cost of a replacement boiler.

3. Pay monthly for a new boiler with Total Care

If you can’t afford the upfront boiler replacement cost, JLA’s Total Care – a unique, all-inclusive package, specially designed for you – means no hefty outlay and easy fixed monthly payments, helping you spread the cost of the boiler over a fixed number of months. As with any rental agreement, just make sure you check the terms and conditions for full details.

4. Look out for special offers

Given the high upfront cost for a new boiler, it’s worth checking if there are any deals or special offers available.

5. Don’t buy a second-hand boiler!

When a boiler is removed, it’s susceptible to corrosion. One alternative to consider is a trade-in deal. Some boiler installers will give you a discount on your new boiler as payment for your old boiler – ask if this is an option when you’re shopping around.

What size of boiler do I need?

Don’t over-size a boiler for the sake of it. Too big and you’ll end up paying for energy you don’t need. Too small, and your residents might end up with cold baths. Either way, an incorrectly sized boiler will cause significant issues.

Can I improve my carbon footprint?

If you’re replacing a gas boiler, the obvious choice is to go for another gas boiler. But it’s also worth considering switching to low-carbon alternatives such as air or ground source heat pumps.

What happens during a boiler replacement?

This very much depends on the company installing your boiler. Typically the installation will follow these steps:

  • The installer will turn up and remove your old boiler
  • Your new boiler will be fitted, along with any new pipework
  • They’ll test your new boiler and complete any paperwork for you
  • You’ll be shown how to use the boiler, along with any new smart controls

For more help and advice on replacing a boiler, contact one of our experts today.

While sustainable technology might offer longer-term solutions to spiking energy costs, smaller changes can still add up to big savings throughout your care home. Here are six to get you started.

1. Upgrade older equipment and fittings

Replacing outdated equipment and fittings like drippy taps will likely save a fair bit of money. But if you go further and switch out your care home’s double-headed taps for single-lever taps, it’ll be easier to change water temperature and control your consumption from rinse to rinse.

Use up to 60% less water

Another simple, smart way to reduce energy and waste is to install taps that only draw hot water through the pipes when you turn the lever, defaulting to cold water the rest of the time. Add in a built-in flow-rate limiter, and – according to certain manufacturers – you’ll use up to 60% less water than you would with a conventional tap. These cost from as little as £11.25 per limiter, are suitable for use with most basin mixer taps, and simply screw into the end of the spout.

Energy-saving measures shouldn’t have to mean skimping on quality, either. Installing new showerheads featuring water-saving aeration technology will allow your residents to enjoy a spa-like mist every time they shower, reduce the amount of hot water (and therefore energy consumed) and only cost from £46 per showerhead.

2. Add reflective heat/solar film to your windows

By fitting reflective heat/solar film to your windows for around £34 per metre, you can reduce energy loss and ensure your heating system works harder for you. But the benefits don’t just stop at insulation in the colder months. By reflecting more of the sun’s rays during the summer, you’ll ease the pressure on your air-con systems, keep everyone nice and comfortable, and drive your energy use down. And as a bonus, your residents will benefit from an extra layer of privacy and security.

3. Sync up your aircon units and extractors

It’s worth double-checking that your care home’s kitchen extraction system is properly synced up with your care home’s air-conditioning. With the balance right, extracted air is replaced, and temperatures stay nice and comfortable. But when the balance is off, your kitchen extractors can end up dragging air from windows or doors to create an unwelcome draught. In turn, your air conditioning will use more energy trying to balance the temperature. A system review or basic service will cost from around £300 depending on the size of your units.

4. Get your heating system serviced

Between hot baths and warming rooms, heating is the biggest driver of your care home’s daily energy use. With that in mind, it’s always worth giving your systems an MOT, get them serviced so they’re running at their best, and weigh up whether they’re still viable to use longer-term.

Gas boilers need particular attention, as they’re likely to account for up to half of your annual energy spend. If you’re using one, prioritise getting it checked over to make sure it’s working efficiently for you. Depending on the size of the boiler, an annual service starts from around £200 plus part costs.

5. Power down those unused appliances

Leaving electrical appliances in standby mode might only consume a small amount of energy, but usage costs for idle machines can quickly add up. Just by turning off lights and powering down appliances like TVs in communal rooms, you could make some surprising savings.

Staying on top of this can be everyone’s role, too. Talk regularly about energy savings goals, and all the ways people can get involved, and everyone will be more likely to chip in and help.

6. Keep an eye on usage with smart software

Thanks to advances in technology, tracking your energy use in real time is no longer the stuff of sci-fi, so it’s easier than ever to make informed decisions about how to run your care home, and put even more focus on care.

JLA’s very own Connect service offers continuous monitoring for your laundry equipment. It helps to improve efficiency by estimating the amount of energy and water your machines use, and when, before suggesting better times to run them.

JLA connect dashboard

On top of that, it offers a handy way to quantify your environmental impact with CO2 emission estimates.

Get the full lowdown on Connect.

Need help? Call us on

01422822282

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