Boilers are undoubtedly the heart of the home and ensure you’re toasty and warm all year round – but what happens if you’ve got an older boiler that isn’t working as well as it used to?
Your heating equates to around 55% of your yearly energy bills when it’s broken down – so it’s massively important to ensure that you check that your boiler is serviced and well maintained. Over time, the efficiency of a boiler can decrease and there’s always a chance that they can become unsafe due to degradation but how often should you replace your boiler?
Combi boiler, first introduced in the UK in the 1980’s, is now the most common type of boiler across the country and it should last at least ten years when looked after and maintained properly!
So, how do you know your boiler isn’t working as it well as it did?
If, for example, the flame on your boiler is turning more yellow than blue, this is an indication that your boiler needs to be replaced. It also could be emitting carbon monoxide which is really dangerous. If this is happening to your boiler, switch it off straight away and contact an engineer immediately.
On the other hand, if it’s a case of your boiler losing pressure, then you may simply need an engineer to repair the boiler to take a look at why the pressure is dropping and fix the issue. You can sometimes do this at home, but only if you’re confident in doing so. Read our guide on what to do if your boiler is losing pressure here. And remember, speak to us for an engineer visit to look at your boiler.
Energy Bill Rises
If you’ve noticed an increase in your energy bills which isn’t consistent with the seasonal fluctuations, then it may be worth looking at replacing your boiler – particularly if it’s over ten years old.
Contact your energy supplier or log on to your supplier portal to see if you can compare your energy usage compared to the same time last year. This may give you an indication as to whether the efficiency of your boiler is in decline, but do not forget that you could just be using more heating because it’s colder.
Overall Temperature
Most people keep their temperature gauges pretty consistent so if you’ve noticed you’re feeling colder than usual at home, it could be down to your boiler.
In the first instance, contact a Gas-Safe registered engineer to come out and take a look at the boiler and they’ll be able to advise accordingly.
If you’ve found that you have got hot water but no central heating, we’ve got an advice guide on the next steps to take here.
Noise
If your old boiler is making a lot of noise or you’re not familiar with the sounds it’s making – it could be on its way out. Call out the professionals to take a look and don’t try to fix the issue yourself! For noisy boilers, why not read our dedicated helpful advice guide here?
It’s important to organise an annual service as it decreases the risks of any malfunctions and issues can be rectified there and then instead of having to fork out hundreds of pounds when the fault becomes greater.
A boiler service is almost like an MOT – but for your boiler! A Gas-Safe registered engineer will visit your property and remove the casing on the front of the boiler to look at the components inside.
A good boiler service will include:
- Checking the flue – both inside and outside
- Checking the flame
- General inspection
- Checking the pressure
- Checking the safety features are in working order
- Checking the seals
- Checking all the internal components such as burner, heat exchanger etc.
- Checking the boiler fires up correctly without any faults occurring
- Clean-up of the parts, if necessary
- A report given to you in writing as proof
Of course, the length of time your boiler lasts is down to the boiler and manufacturer itself. We’ve written a post on the best combi boilers to buy in 2020 so if you’re considering a new one then it’s worth reading it here.
Additionally, as part of our 24|7 StayWarm plan, we will upgrade your boiler to a new, more economical model for the most competitive price of £2,200 together with a 10-year StayWarm plan for as little as 25 pounds/month. Learn more here
Our professional engineers will be there for you 24/7 on every plumbing emergency, boiler breakdown, central heating issues, and annual service.
Contact us today to find out how 24|7 StayWarm can help you.
