Everything you need to know about boiler ratings
Every boiler in the UK has a rating from A to G. You may have heard people talking about boilers having good or poor efficiency ratings. Here is a quick rundown of how they work.
UK boiler ratings explained
Boiler ratings are a government initiative that came into force in the late 1990s, introduced alongside EU energy efficiency guidelines to reduce household emissions and eventually phase out inefficient boilers.
The SEDBUK scale
SEDBUK stands for Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK and is the scale used to rate all boilers. It was developed by manufacturers alongside the government to fairly compare the energy efficiency of different models. The rating runs A to G, with A the highest performing and G the lowest.
How much does this affect my energy bills?
It depends how much you use your central heating. As an estimate, an A-rated boiler should waste less than 10% of the energy it uses, while a G-rated boiler can waste more than 30%, a loss of £30 for every £100 of bill. The efficiency ratings are:
- A: 90% and above
- B: 86 to 90%
- C: 82 to 86%
- D: 78 to 82%
- E: 74 to 78%
- F: 70 to 74%
- G: below 70%
How can I find out my boiler rating?
Many boilers display the rating on a sticker on the casing or in the registration documentation. If not, search the model and estimated year of production online, or an engineer can tell you.
Should I be concerned?
Since 2010 it has been a legal requirement that every domestic boiler installed in the UK is at least A or B rated, so a recently installed boiler should be fine. An older boiler may be rated lower, which is safe but uses more energy each month.
What should I do?
If you have an old boiler rated C to G, you can do nothing and accept slightly higher bills until it runs its course, or upgrade to a new efficient model. A short survey confirms whether your boiler is performing poorly and what a replacement would cost.
If you would like a boiler survey, our friendly customer care team is happy to help, or read our guide on the signs you need a new boiler.