How to buy and install a biomass boiler

A biomass boiler is one of the eligible heating systems for the new Renewable Heat Incentive, an initiative recently released by the government where homeowners are paid back for installing renewable heating systems in their homes. Buying and installing a biomass boiler can be confusing and it is important that you choose the right one for the size of your home.

This blog looks into the purchase and installation of biomass boilers to help you find the one most suited to your individual needs.

How much does it cost?

Lets get straight to the money topic for biomass boilers before we continue. A small, domestic biomass boiler can cost around £10,000 and a standard commercial boiler will cost around double at £20,000 and will heat two or more buildings. The final cost of your biomass boiler will depend entirely on your property and needs. Each quote for a biomass will be different as they take into consideration lots of different factors. Lets look in a little more detail at the factors that affect your estimate costs.

How do I choose the type of boiler for me?

The type of boiler your choose is determined by the following factors:

• Fuel: The type of fuel you choose to burn is important for both cost and availability. The types of fuel you can choose from are: log, wood pellet, wood chip and miscanthus. You need to find out the availability of each fuel in your area before you make a choice about which one you want to use. Biomass boilers aren’t small and storing the fuel for your boiler can mean you need a fair bit of storage in and around your home. You might need more storage for different fuels and you will need to research this whilst choosing your boiler.
• Automatic vs manual: Your biomass boiler can be automatic or fed manually. This means you can either feed the wood by hand yourself or have the boiler on an automatic timer. Manual is cheaper of course but it will demand quite a lot of labour.

What size biomass boiler do I need?

Biomass boilers can come in several sizes and the size for you will be determined based on the following factors:

• Number of buildings: The size of your biomass boiler will depend on how many buildings you wish to heat with the one boiler and the size of each building. The size of your biomass boiler will depend on the amount of kW output each year. The bigger the output the bigger the boiler.
• Back up: If you need to have a back up oil boiler in addition to your biomass boiler then this will affect the size of your biomass boiler. A back up system is usually required for bigger systems heating one home.
• Control system: You may need to install a specialized control system to over ride your current system. They can be used together or separate of one another.

How do I get started?

The first thing you need to do is contact several installers and get additional advice and set up a consultation. The installers will visit your home and will complete a full review of your property. Following this, they should provide you with a cost and proposal, outlining the intricacies of the project. It is up to you to decide if you want to go through this process with more thn one company to see your options.

What should I expect in the proposal?

The proposal should include an itemized list of all the equipment needed for the project. It should include a complete breakdown of the costs including any additional costs or potential costs for delivery of equipment, removal of old boilers, Renewable Heat Incentive applications and so on.

Is it worth installing a biomass boiler instead of an oil or gas boiler?

Biomass boilers are more expensive than gas and oil boilers however the money you will save on your heating bills and the money you will receive back from the Renewable Heat Incentive will make it all worth it. That and you will be helping to reduce your individual carbon footprint.

Have you installed a biomass boiler in your home? Do you have any advice to give about the process? Are you considering installing a biomass boiler but still unsure? Tell us below in the comments or chat with us on Facebook and/or Twitter.