Could your old, faulty boiler mean you’re paying too much on your gas bill?

No-one likes having to pay over the odds for their utility bills, but if you have a routinely – and inexplicably – high gas bill, it could be your boiler that is at fault.

Over the years, I’ve dealt with various customers who have had this problem, and know it could be down to a couple of different faults with an older, temperamental boiler.

Below, I’m going to tell you what could be causing your high gas bill, and what to do if you suspect it might be the case.

What can cause a high gas bill?

As far as boilers are concerned, there are three things that can cause an unusually high gas bill. These are:

• A broken thermostat, resulting in the boiler not cutting off when it’s supposed to
• A faulty motorised valve, so the boiler continues to run when even when it’s not timed to
• An old pilot light constantly burning, which could cost you an extra £90 per year 

The first two are usually down to a much older, inefficient boiler, although if you have an old pilot light constantly burning, we can assume that it is also wasting gas.

I was once called to a job where the customer’s water was too hot and the gas bills were very high. It turned out there was a faulty motorised valve keeping the boiler on, and heating the hot water 24 hours a day.

Because it was such an old system, there was no cylinder thermostat, meaning it just got hotter and hotter. If this story sounds at all familiar, I’d recommend moving onto my next point…

Get it checked out

The best way to confirm your suspicions about your old, inefficient boiler is to call a Gas Safe registered engineer. They will be able to conduct a gas analysis on your boiler, check efficiency levels and spot any faults.

Unfortunately, this is NOT something you can fix yourself. With older boilers and faults, you really have to call in the experts, and you MAY have to prepare yourself for the fact that your boiler needs replaced.

Could it be dangerous?

Yes, a faulty boiler could absolutely be dangerous. If your boiler is burning more gas than necessary, it could be a warning sign of something more serious, which in turn could potentially put you and your family in danger. That’s why it’s always best to get it checked out ASAP.

TIP: If your boiler is old and costing more and more to run in gas, it’s a sure sign the boiler will need to be replaced fairly soon. Efficiency levels drop as boilers get older and worn down, so even if it’s not immediately dangerous, it will end up costing you more than necessary.

Conclusion

If you’re worried that your old, inefficient boiler is causing your high gas bill, the best thing to do is to get it checked out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. A high gas bill can be caused by:

• A broken thermostat
• A faulty valve, or;
• An old pilot light

If your old, faulty boiler is constantly burning too much gas, it could be a sign of something more serious which could potentially put your family in danger, so get it looked at by a professional ASAP.