Are you trying to work out if it’d be cheaper to replace your boiler, rather than getting it repaired – again?
If you have an old, noisy boiler, or it’s constantly coming up with fault codes and needing new parts, you’ll probably already realise you have some tough decisions ahead of you.
Should you bite the bullet and fork out for a brand new boiler, or should you spend another £300 to replace it and just hope it lasts through the winter?
It can be especially tough if you’ve been paying for repairs left, right and centre yet your boiler still has problems. So, when is it time to cut your losses?
With over 20 years in the business as an Edinburgh engineer, I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But I do want to help, which is why I’ve put together this blog post.
Let’s take a closer look at when it might be cheaper to replace your boiler, rather than repair it.
When might it be cheaper to replace my boiler?
There are a few main factors that should help you decide whether it’s time to replace your boiler or not. I know it can be a pain hearing bad news, but I often talk these through with my own customers who are having issues, and it helps make their decision a bit easier in the long run.
1. Your boiler has already broken down once or twice in the past year
If your boiler has already cost you quite a bit of money in repairs, it might be time to think about replacing. This might sound obvious, but if you’re forking out £200 – £350 or even more on repairs each time, it’s probably going to end up costing you more than its worth.
This isn’t always the case, though. Sometimes you might be lucky, and pay around £70 for a new part that will help the boiler last another three or four years. It does happen. So if you’ve had a couple of these less expensive repairs, and your engineer thinks your boiler might just be fine for a while longer, you can take that chance.
2. Your boiler is old and making lots of noise
If you have an old, noisy combi boiler that is keeping you awake at night, it could be a sign that it’s kettling. If it requires more than a replacement pump, it could be an expensive fix. Once boilers get to a certain age, there’s no guarantees that fixing one part will mean your boiler will keep going without something else failing.
Especially if your boiler is old, noisy and ticks any other of the things on this list, it could be ultimately cheaper to replace it.
3. Parts are expensive and hard to source
As boilers get older, less of them are left in houses across the UK. Which means there’s much less of a demand for parts, and they become fewer and fewer. So, if your engineer tells you that you need a couple of new parts for your boiler, but they’re going to be very expensive, it’s a bad sign.
Even if you do invest in these expensive parts, there’s a chance that your boiler will break down again. If you know parts are expensive, then it could end up costing you a lot more money than it’s worth.
4. Your boiler has been condemned
If your boiler has been condemned, it’s not always the end of the world. It could just be a simple repair – or, there could be a very serious problem. If your boiler needs extensive repairs to make it safe, and it realistically only has another couple of years left in it anyway, it could save you money to replace it now rather than later.
This is something you can consult with your engineer about – see what they think. They’re here to help, not just to try and sell you a new boiler for the sake of it. Remember, you and your family’s safety should always come first.
5. Your boiler is old and inefficient
Did you know that if your boiler is old and inefficient, it could be costing you over the odds for fuel? If you’re currently using and old heavy weight gas boiler and living in a detached home, you could save nearly £700 annually on your fuel bill by replacing it with a new, A-rated boiler. Just sayin’!
| Annual fuel costs with different boiler types (source: Sedbuk) | ||||||
| Boiler type | Efficiency | Flat | Bungalow | Terraced | Semi-detached | Detached |
Old gas heavy weight |
55% | £779 | £1020 | £1062 | £1204 | £1705 |
Old gas light weight |
65% | £659 | £863 | £898 | £1019 | £1442 |
New non-condensing |
78% | £549 | £719 | £749 | £849 | £1202 |
New condensing |
89% | £481 | £630 | £656 | £744 | £1053 |
*Chart provided by www.which.co.uk.
6. Your boiler is coming to the end of its natural life
It’s worth noting here that different brands tend to have different lifespans. If you have an old Baxi boiler, for example, its typical lifespan is around 14 – 16 years. Say your Baxi is 10 years old – in that case, I’d be happy to recommend spending £300 on repairs, as there’s life in the old dog yet! However, if it’s 14 or 15 years old, it’s probably not going to be worth it in the long-run.
On the other hand, if you have a Worcester Bosch boiler, you’re looking at a 16 – 20-year lifespan. In which case, if you have a 10-year wall-hung combi, I’d advise spending no more than £400 on repairs. For a 10-year-old Worcester Highflow, you could happily spend £650, safe in the knowledge you could get up to another 10 years out of it!
However, if your boiler is getting to around 16 years old, repairs will start costing a lot more. You’d probably be safer (and cheaper) replacing it for a newer model.
TIP: If you’re unsure about how old your boiler is, look up and make and model on the internet. You can also check your paperwork (if you have any) to try and determine how old it is. A good engineer should help advise on how much longer you’ve got left.
Boiler replacement costs
Unsure of how much a replacement boiler could cost you? I’ve written a blog about that. As it stands, a replacement boiler from a market-leading brand could cost you anywhere from £1850- £3,500 – including sundry parts, pipes, labour and VAT. But just beware, boiler costs are expected to rise in the run-up to Brexit.
There are many factors than can affect how much you’ll pay, such as whether you’re looking for a direct replacement (combi – combi), a system or regular boiler swap, and whether you’re looking to relocate your boiler to another part of your house!
TIP: If you want to get the most for your money, and a brilliant deal on a new boiler, check out this blog for some of the best tips to help you do just that!
Conclusion
I hope this blog has given you a better idea of when it might be cheaper to replace your boiler. I know it’s a tough decision, and no-one likes expense. But there are ways you can save on a new boiler. If you’re still unsure if there’s life left in your old boiler, speak to your chosen engineer. They should be able to provide you with some good advice.
Do you have any questions about your old boiler? Let me know in the comments. I’m always here to help!
