Is the Ferroli LEB 9 boiler a combi, system or regular boiler?

You may wish to consider installing the Ferroli LEB 9 if you are looking for a electric Flow boiler for your house or flat.

Traditional boilers have one or more large tanks in which they store either heated water or water to be heated later. Manufacturers originally introduced combi boilers to the market in the 1970s to enable homeowners to save space - UK residential properties are among the smallest in the Western world.

Combi boilers don't need these tanks because they draw water directly from the mains and instantly heat it on demand thanks to the technology inside the boiler. Combi boilers then distribute this hot water to your home’s taps and radiators when needed.

The most significant disadvantage of combi boilers is that they are not ideal in larger homes where multiple people might want hot water at the same time – for example, if someone is having a shower while another wants to wash dishes in the kitchen. This is because combi boilers have a maximum volume of water that they can heat. When two people want hot water at the same time, the water temperature, pressure and volume delivered to both points drop.

Would the Ferroli LEB 9 electric Flow be a suitable choice of boiler for my house or flat?

To determine that, we need to consider the size of the boiler. Size doesn't mean how big it is - it means how big its "output" is.

Your boiler's output indicates the maximum amount of power available to it to heat the water you need to warm your radiators or when you want hot water from your taps. A higher output rate means that your boiler is capable of heating greater volumes of water.

If a boiler's output rate is too low, you'll often find that the water is not as hot as you want it to be. Too high, however, and you'll end up paying more for your electric than you should be.

The Ferroli LEB 9 electric Flow boiler has an output rate of 9 kW, so which types of property would this be suitable for?

Most boiler engineers would recommend that a boiler with this output level would be most suitable for smaller homes and apartments with up to 10 radiators and one bathroom.

What are the dimensions of the Ferroli LEB 9 boiler?

The Ferroli LEB 9 measures 740 mm high and 440 mm wide by a depth of 265 mm.

Is the Ferroli LEB 9 a condensing or non-condensing boiler?

Gas and oil boilers require a flue to siphon off exhaust gases created from the burning of the fuel they use. A "condensing" boiler reuses the warmth present in those gases for better efficiency to reheat colder water coming back from your radiators. Electric boilers like the Ferroli LEB 9 do not have a flue because they don't actually burn any fuel during their operation - they are naturally efficient and do not need any modification to achieve that efficiency.

What energy efficiency ratings have been awarded to the Ferroli LEB 9 electric Flow?

How we heat our homes and the damage this does to the environment has become a pressing concern for many homeowners worried about the effects and impact of climate change.

Approximately 14% of the UK's greenhouse gas production is caused by our central heating systems. The gas boilers in larger urban areas of Britain are mainly responsible for emissions of toxic nitrogen dioxide.

Would the environmental impact of installing a Ferroli LEB 9 electric Flow in your home be positive? Let's look at the numbers.

Boilers manufactured and installed in the UK are assigned energy efficiency ratings following testing to an agreed set of standards. These scores indicate how much energy the boiler uses and how much goes to waste when it's in operation.

By law, boilers must achieve a SEDBUK rating of "A" subject to achieving a minimum of 92% energy efficiency. Prior to April 2018, the minimum was 88% (88% and 89% on the SEDBUK are "B" graded and 90% and above are graded "A").

The Ferroli LEB 9 was awarded an efficiency rating of 99.5% with a SEDBUK band rating of "D".

ERP assessors are however not keen that the boiler is powered by electricity.

The Energy Related Products Directive (ERP) was introduced in 2015 and applies to all products that consume energy throughout their lifetime, including during the manufacturing process and at the point of final disposal.

The purpose of the ERP is to ensure that companies create products that are kinder to the environment by reducing both the energy they use and the harmful emissions they produce.

An ERP rating of "TBC" has been awarded to the Ferroli LEB 9.

This is very low, but why? In reality, nearly every electric boiler on the market has an actual energy efficiency in operation of near 100%. However, some electric boilers have low ERP scores because the electricity generation process currently involves burning fossil fuels, which is considered carbon-intensive, and this is factored into the score - unfairly, in our opinion.

Does a Ferroli LEB 9 electric Flow boiler come with a warranty period?

The Ferroli LEB 9 is covered by a parts and labour warranty of 2 years following installation.