If your boiler breaks down during the peak winter times, that becomes a serious emergency. You will run out of heat and hot water which will cause inconvenience and disruption of your daily routine, which is why regular maintenance and care of a boiler is vital.
However, if your boiler starts showing signs that it is about to give up, we advise that you don’t wait for it to stop working, and replace it with a new one so that you can have heat through the winter.
In this blog, we will describe some of the general signs that can indicate that it might be time to replace the boiler. We have also explained how much time it needs and when is a good time to replace your boiler.
When Should You Replace Your Boiler?
Frequent Breakdowns
Even though installation of a new boiler comes with a high price tag, if your boiler is breaking down more often, it can cost you even more than a new boiler. Moreover. It can cause discomfort and frustration during the winter, so it will be a good idea to replace it with a new one.
Corrosion
Although modern boilers are designed to resist corrosion and last for a long time, sometimes leaks or a broken valve can start corrosion, which then keeps spreading if not taken care of. These corrosions can be easily detected in your annual maintenance and can be stopped. However, if you are too late and your boiler is heavily corroded, it is time for a replacement.
Higher Bills
If your cost of running a boiler is increasing continuously, it may be because your boiler has gotten old. Over the years, boilers tend to drop their efficiency which results in higher fuel consumption and ultimately increased running cost.
You can replace your boiler with a more efficient one such as an A-rated boiler which has 90% or above efficiency ratings. This will save you a lot of money in the longer run.
Noisy System
Boilers make different sounds that may seem dangerous but most of them are actually not. Sometimes, a tapping sound may indicate that sludge has accumulated in the system and needs to be fixed.
But, if your boiler has started to make unusual humming or vibrating sounds, or you hear banging sounds coming out of it, that might indicate a serious problem necessitating a new boiler.
Yellow Flame
If the boiler is running normally, the colour of its flame should be blue. If you see yellow or orange flame, it means your boiler is emitting too much carbon monoxide into your house. Carbon monoxide is a potentially dangerous compound and causes dizziness, headaches and even hypoxia in some cases.
Water Leaks
Any leaks in the boiler, if gone unnoticed, can cause massive corrosion and structural damage to it. If you see any leak in your boiler, you must get it fixed instantly. However, if the leak has caused enough damage and has rendered the boiler unsafe to use, you will need to get a new one.
Difficulty in Finding Parts
This usually happens when your boiler is too old and the manufacturer has discontinued that product years ago. If this is happening to you then maybe it is time to give yourself an upgrade by installing a modern boiler at your home.
Increase in Requirements
If you have recently built a house extension and added a bathroom, or your family has grown in size over the years and your boiler is not making enough hot water to compensate for the new requirements, maybe it is time to install a new boiler with high input rating.
What is the Lifespan of a Boiler?
Normally, a boiler is designed to last at least 10-15 years with normal household usage. However, if you don’t maintain your boiler regularly and protect it from any corrosion or damage, it may shorten the lifespan of your boiler.
So, you need to be more vigilant about your boiler and run regular maintenance to get the most out of it. You can increase your boiler’s life by:
- Getting a thorough service for your boiler annually.
- Preventing any corrosion and sludge accumulation.
- Powerflushing your boiler regularly.
How Much Time Does a Boiler Installation Take?
- There are a lot of factors that contribute to determining the time that is required to install a new boiler:
- The type of boiler you are having.
- Whether you want to install your new boiler at a new location.
- The type of fuel you use for your boiler.
However, some general frames of reference will provide a rough idea of how much time your new boiler installation is going to take. Below, we have described these scenarios:
- If you are swapping your boiler with a new one, this may take 4-6 hours.
- A complete combi boiler installation can take 1-2 days.
- If you want to relocate your boiler, it may take 1-2 days as well.
- If you are installing a different type of boiler, this will take 2-3 days.
- if you change both the type and the position of the boiler, you may need 3-4 days for that.
Why Should You Replace Your Boiler in Summer?
Nobody wants to run out of heat or hot water during winter and we all know that a boiler replacement can take a few days, which is why summer is the best season for that because you don’t need hot water or heat during summer. There are some other benefits as well:
- Boiler engineers are easy to book since they are not so busy during summer.
- It may reduce the cost of installation as well.
- You will have a fully operational and efficient boiler at the start of the winter.
- Since you have a lot of time, you can take your time to make your selection of type and place.
Get free Boiler Replacement with ECO Scheme
The Energy Company Obligation Scheme, or ECO scheme, is basically a requirement that the UK government has put on the energy companies. According to this, energy companies are required to provide energy-efficient heating systems to the people and then can recover the cost of systems from the energy bills of consumers.
It is important to know that this is not a grant scheme, and due to easy payment methods, this scheme has enabled low-income households to install modern heating systems. However, certain requirements are needed to be fulfilled to take part in this scheme:
- Your boiler must be more than 5 years old.
- You must be the owner of the house.
- If you are not the owner of the house, you will need permission from the owner.
- You must have a proper supply of gas at your property.