Your boiler is the heart of your home. It heats your water, it keeps you warm and comfortable, and it’s a critical part of your energy efficiency.
A boiler that isn’t working properly can be frustrating, expensive to repair or replace, and potentially dangerous. It’s best to catch signs of trouble early on.
The cost of the replacement depends on your current system, replacing system boilers is cheaper than replacing a conventional boiler with a combi boiler.
If you recognise any of these signs, it’s probably time to replace your current boiler.
1. Your boiler is older than 15 years
An older boiler can be very expensive to run.
For example, if your boiler is more than 15 years old it will probably use more gas and electricity than a newer one. This means that the cost of running the system will be higher. A good example of this is with condensing boilers – they were designed to maximise efficiency by extracting heat from the flue gasses before they leave your home.
However, these models were not designed for today’s higher energy prices so they can be extremely expensive to run!
2. Your boiler is damaged: leaking, broken valves, or corrosion
If your boiler is damaged and leaking, this can be a sign that it is time to replace it. Leaking can be caused by faulty valves or corrosion, which may be due to poor maintenance or age of the system.
If you notice rust on any pipes or components of your heating system and/or if there are areas of deterioration, this could mean that there are issues within your central heating system that need to be addressed.
3. You don’t have enough hot water for your use
If you have to wait for hot water, or if it takes a long time to come through the taps, then there is a problem. It could be that your boiler is old and needs replacing.
If you find that you are having to turn off your hot water at night (or during certain times of day), then this is another sign that your boiler may need replacing.
4. Making unusual noises
Boilers are like cars: they make all sorts of noises. But over time, unusual sounds could indicate that something needs to be fixed or replaced.
If you hear a strange noise coming from your boiler, check it out immediately and have the problem checked by a professional if necessary.
Homeowners know their boilers best and can tell when it doesn’t operate as it should.
You know your boiler best. It’s in your home, and you use it every day. You can tell when it doesn’t operate as it should—you might notice a leak or corrosion, or that you don’t have enough hot water for your use. You may also be able to hear abnormal noises coming from the boiler, which could be a sign of wear and tear requiring replacement.
It’s not just homeowners who know their boilers best, but also heating contractors. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, it’s time to contact a professional for an inspection. They can determine if your boiler needs replaced and if so, what type of new boiler will work best for your home.