Having a good, reliable boiler in your home is essential to keeping you warm and providing your home with hot water. Unfortunately, like all household appliances, a boiler will get old and will need replacing at some point. But when do you know it's time to replace your boiler for a new one?
This article is designed to help you make that decision. Here are examples when you need to replace your boiler:-
1. When it's broke
This is the most obvious and common reason why somebody would replace their boiler. There is nothing fun about having no heating or hot water, especially in the winter!
Most people will buy a new boiler when their current boiler is no longer working. But there are a few issues with this. These include being left in a position where you don't have any heating or hot water, and this time could be a week or so until you find a gas engineer who is free to fit you a new one. Your boiler also isn't going to keep an eye on your bank balance and pick the best time for it to break.
2. Your energy bills are increasing
Older boilers, especially non-condensing boilers, were not very energy efficient by design. They can have an energy efficiency of 70-80%. Also, as boilers get older they become more inefficient.
Over the last few years the price of energy has rocketed and is one of the main costs to a household. Having an old boiler that isn't very efficient is a double whammy.
All modern boilers, including boilers sold by Heat My House, are A-rated energy efficient. This means that they have an energy efficiency of 92% or higher.
3. Frequent breakdowns
If your boiler is frequently breaking down, it's probably time to start thinking about a change. Firstly, as explained above, you don't want it to fail unexpectedly and by left for days with no heating or hot water. Secondly, breakdowns can be expensive. Parts and the hourly rate of a gas engineer can be very expensive. At some point, it's worth replacing your boiler and saving yourself money in the long term.
4. Safety concerns
Older boilers can start to break down, and water leaks and corrosion can occur. Leaks can develop into water damage in the property, but more worryingly, corrosion of the boiler can make it unsafe. Unsafe and unmaintained boilers have the potential to release carbon monoxide which can be fatal.
5. If hot water demand increases
If a home is extended or developed and it gains extra bathroom or a number of extra radiators, the hot water demand of the house increases and the current boiler may no longer be adequate.
6. Home improvements
Another good time to buy a boiler is when you're doing home improvements. Maybe you're moving the location of your boiler, or you're putting a new kitchen in and replacing your boiler at a later date could be more problematic.
Summary
Replacing a boiler is always going to be an expensive task and one that people will want to put off, but replacing a boiler at the right time could save you money, increase your home's energy efficiency, be safer and keep you more comfortable in your home.
