UK boiler sales saw an increase of just over 18% in the first quarter of 2014 compared with the same period in 2013, according to figures from the Heating & Hotwater Council.

“We believe that much of this increase can be explained by renewed consumer confidence together with financial establishments relaxing lending terms. People are now investing in new boilers whether as part of a house renovation project or in new houses following a move. We have also witnessed an increase in the number of houses being built. We are hopeful that this positive trend continues as the UK economy improves,” said Roger Webb, Director at the Heating & Hotwater Council.

Figures released by the Hot Water Association (HWA) also show an 8% increase in the sales of hot water cylinders in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

Isaac Occhipinti of HWA said: “Sales of cylinders are rising steadily and we hope that this will continue at a pace as more and more homes become ‘renewable ready. If the UK is to increase its use of renewable technologies then storage of some sort will be necessary and currently hot water storage is the only practical solution to turning the energy produced into something useful and banking it for when it needs to be used.”