Summer is the perfect time to take stock, check out your boiler, make sure that it has been serviced before autumn starts and get a new one installed if you need it.
As you use your boiler less over summer, or in some cases hardly at all, it is far easier, far less disruptive and potentially less expensive to get your boiler replaced over summer than if you have to do so in November and December following an emergency callout.
A summer service lets your Gas Safe registered boiler engineer test your boiler, fix any small issues, provide advice on how to save money and lower bills, and give you an idea of how long it is likely to last.
Whilst there is a general expectation of a boiler’s longevity, there are so many factors that can affect its lifespan that it can at times mean it can only be determined on a case-by-case basis.
What factors affect longevity the most? How long should a boiler last? And what are the signs that you may need to replace yours sooner rather than later?
How Long Should A Boiler Last?
As a baseline, boilers tend to last between ten and 15 years of efficient, effective and reliable service, but it is important to know what lifespan means in the context of a boiler.
It does not mean that a boiler will suddenly seize up or blow up as soon as you blow out the candles for its 15th birthday; instead, lifespan is the typical point where a boiler becomes more trouble than it is worth.
As a boiler gets older, it becomes less reliable, less efficient and sometimes less functional, all of which can cost you money unnecessarily.
The tipping point is where a repair becomes more expensive than a replacement, which tends to occur at some point after a decade of service.
However, this is not always the case, and some boilers have lasted several decades whilst still working very well, whilst others last as little as five to eight years before becoming unviable to repair. Why is this?
Why Do Some Boilers Last Longer Than Others?
Every boiler system is slightly different, either in terms of the boiler unit itself, the configuration of the pipework, the thermal efficiency of the house, how the boiler is used and a myriad of other factors.
This means that two boilers in two separate houses, even if the boilers are the same model, can have wildly different lifespans at times, with some boilers lasting years longer than their equivalents in particularly unusual circumstances.
Here are some of the biggest factors that can affect longevity.
Boiler Suitability
A high-quality boiler designed with your household’s needs in mind will last longer than a lower-quality, less suitable unit.
Specifically, if your boiler is too small to comfortably maintain the right temperature around your house, it will wear itself out quicker trying to do so.
Similarly, a boiler that is too big or too powerful may need to constantly turn itself off and on to maintain the right temperature, something that can wear parts out over time.
Installation
Irrespective of the quality of a boiler unit, it is only as good as the system it is installed in and the quality of the installation.
Even when a poor installation is not outright dangerous, a poorly-fitted boiler will tend to wear itself out far sooner than you might expect, as the boiler overcompensates to ensure that your home remains as warm as you want it to be.
Boiler System Condition
A boiler is limited by the quality of the pipes and radiators it is connected to; even the most efficient and high-quality boiler can be limited by a dirty heating system.
Sludge, rust, debris, dirt and other pollutants can accumulate in your central heating pipes, creating blockages in the system that slow or even stop hot water effectively passing through them.
This means that some boiler installations will also require a power flush to ensure your boiler works highly effectively.
Maintenance
It is easier to climb a molehill than a mountain, and the sooner a boiler expert spots a problem, the faster they can fix it.
In many cases, an engineer will spot a potential issue and fix a component there and then, saving you hundreds of pounds in the process.
Telltale Signs That You Need To Replace Your Boiler Soon
- Rising energy bills disproportionate to other factors
- More frequent or costlier repairs due to rarer parts
- Unusual noises
- Regular losses of water pressure
- Leaks
- Inconsistent hot water