How often should you replace a boiler?
Maintaining your boiler is one of the more boring jobs that lands on the shoulders of homeowners. You might get away with ignoring your boiler, only paying attention to it for the annual service, but eventually, your boiler’s age will catch up to you.
Unfortunately, boilers don’t last forever. So eventually you’re going to have to think about replacing the boiler in your home. While some people will wait until their boiler completely fails before replacing it, others will try to get ahead of the curve and replace it before it breaks.
No one wants to be dealing with a boiler breakdown in the middle of winter. And this could leave you waiting a while for a replacement since boiler engineers and boiler parts are often more difficult to source in the middle of winter.
So, if you’re wondering how often you should replace your boiler and if yours might be due an upgrade consider the following. These are the most common times you should think about replacing your boiler.
When it would cost more to repair it
You might think it’s an old plumber’s trick to tell you that your boiler would be more expensive to repair than to replace, but you’d be surprised how often this happens. Boiler components can get expensive, and with so many moving parts inside a boiler, repairs can quickly add up. If a plumber tells you that your boiler would be more expensive to repair, it might be time to start looking for a replacement.
When it stops working efficiently
An inefficient boiler is not only going to make it difficult to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, but it’s also going to send your energy bills through the roof. And if you’re concerned about your carbon footprint, an inefficient boiler is not going to work in your favour. If you have home boiler cover that includes an annual service, make sure you ask if your boiler is working as efficiently as it could be. See https://www.yourrepair.co.uk for further details.
When you want to sell your home
If you want to make it easier to sell your home, a brand new boiler could help to sweeten the deal. No new homeowner wants to immediately start thinking about replacing the boiler. This is why a new boiler that is still under warranty could be a huge advantage to some buyers. And you might be interested to learn that a new boiler, central heating and double glazing will add 4% to the value of your home, so this could be one investment that is quickly recouped.
How to help make your boiler last longer
There is no set timescale on how often you should replace your boiler. A boiler can last between 10-15 years and even longer if properly maintained. There are also steps you can take that will help to extend the life of your boiler and allow you to avoid shelling out for a new boiler for a little bit longer.
- Get an annual service. A boiler service will help to identify small problems before they become catastrophic failures.
- Use your heating efficiently. Keeping your heating at a consistent temperature will avoid putting unnecessary strain on your boiler.
- Learn how to use your boiler. Understanding what the parts do and how they work together can help to extend the life of your boiler. Learning basic boiler maintenance like checking the boiler pressure can make a huge difference.
- Turn it on occasionally throughout the summer. If you want to make sure your boiler is still working efficiently as you head into autumn and winter, make sure you don’t let it sit idle all winter. Turn it on at least once a week so that the parts don’t seize up.