If you’ve had your boiler for many years, or you’ve just moved home and are worried that an old boiler isn’t running as efficiently as it could be, there is a very real possibility that it should be replaced.
In fact, there are numerous tell-tale signs that your boiler needs replaced, and we’re going to go over the 10 biggest red flags below.
1. Your boiler is an open flue appliance
Boilers with open flues mean they take their oxygen from the room, in which case you should have an air vent on your floor or windows to help keep up the supply. This old-school style of boiler is usually only about 65 – 75 per cent efficient.
2. Your carbon monoxide detector keeps going off
If your carbon monoxide detector frequently goes off while your boiler is operating, this is a surefire way of knowing there is a problem, and your boiler could potentially be very dangerous.
It indicates your boiler has a problem with the flues, and should be looked at by a professional right away. Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer, because you cannot see or smell it.
3. Your boiler constantly needs repairs
If resetting your boiler when you wake up in the morning, or constantly having to top up its pressure sounds familiar to you, you definitely have a problem.
If your boiler is old and needs a lot of repairs or maintenance in order for it to simply continue doing its job, you could benefit from a more efficient and trouble-free replacement.
4. Your boiler’s parts are difficult to source
If your service engineer regularly tells you that your boiler’s parts are obsolete or hard to source, it’s very likely that your boiler needs replaced.
A gas analysis test will confirm this, and if you’re told your boiler’s net efficiency is below 75 per cent, you’re probably throwing away at least £25 of every £100 you spend on your gas central heating bills.
5. Your maintenance contract price keeps rising
Another downside to having an old boiler is that when parts are difficult to source, maintenance companies will increase your premiums, meaning you’ll be paying more for your annual service or repairs.
This is partly because they want to encourage you to purchase a new boiler.
6. Your house doesn’t feel warm
If your radiators aren’t feeling hot enough, or your boiler keeps kettling and turning off, you’re probably wasting energy whilst not receiving the full heating benefit to your home. With a new boiler, you’ll really feel the difference.
7. Your water isn’t hot enough
If your water temperature just isn’t hot enough to have a shower or a bath, or you find you can only get hot water by turning the heating on, your boiler isn’t working properly. This could be due to a faulty diverter drive.
8. There is a strange smell emitting from your boiler
If there are dark marks around your boiler’s casing, and it smells odd, this could be a sign that your boiler isn’t burning correctly, potentially leaking dangerous carbon monoxide gas into the air.
9. You can hear strange noises
This could be down to a number of different factors, such as:
- Your pump not running correctly
- The bearing of your fan wearing out
- A blocked heat exchanger causing your boiler to ‘kettle’
10. Your fuel bills are increasing
If you suspect you’re paying over the odds for fuel, and your gas supplier frequently informs you that they are increasing your direct debits, it could be a sign your boiler is eating your money.
Conclusion
If your boiler is showing any of the above signs, it is very likely that you could benefit from getting a replacement, and in some cases your boiler could even be dangerous to you and your family’s health. Don’t ignore the signs that your boiler is on its way out, as you could be sacrificing energy efficiency and comfort, not to mention overspending on your monthly heating bills.
From looking at the above tell-tale signs, do you need to replace your boiler? Is there any other signs we’ve missed out?