While boilers don’t exactly have an expiration date, they of course don’t live forever, and often, there are clear signs that your current boiler needs to be replaced, or at the very least, inspected by a professional and repaired.
To help you know whether installing a new boiler might be on the cards for you, here are 10 signs to look (or listen) out for:
- Your radiators aren’t heating up quickly enough
If you’re starting to notice that your radiators aren’t heating up as quickly as they used to, this could be because your boiler is on its last legs. It could also be due to a blockage or cold spot; something that a boiler service will fix. Either way, radiators that are slow to heat up warrant further investigation.
- You can see a yellow flame
If you spot a yellow flame in your boiler when it’s switched on, it’s important that you seek help from a boiler expert at the earliest. It could mean that your boiler is leaking carbon monoxide, and you should schedule a boiler inspection even if you have a functioning carbon monoxide meter, or don’t have any symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can include nausea, headaches and fatigue.
- There’s an unusual smell
Boilers that are healthy and functioning as they should, shouldn’t smell, and if you can detect an odour coming from your boiler, you should have it checked out at the earliest, as it could mean a component has burnt out.
- Your energy bills have gone up
Old heating systems might see your energy bills rise due to a lack of efficiency; you can check the ERP energy rating of your boiler to determine its efficiency.
- The boiler keeps switching itself off
Whether caused by low pressure, a fault with the thermostat or pump, or something else, if your boiler switches itself off, it will definitely need to be inspected and possibly replaced.
- There’s a reduction in pressure
A loss of pressure can indicate a leak in the boiler’s system, or an escaping of air through a valve.
- It breaks down regularly
Going without hot water just once is bad enough, but if you’re experiencing problems with your heating on a regular basis, repairs might not cut the mustard, and a new boiler may be required.
- Replacement parts have been discontinued
Even if you have an aging boiler, but you’ve looked after it and it’s still performing well, upgrading to a newer, more energy-efficient boiler might still be beneficial and save you money in the long run, especially if finding replacement parts for your old boiler is becoming harder and harder with every passing year.
- It’s making odd noises
All boilers hum when turned on, but it should be a background noise that you can easily ignore. Should you be able to hear your boiler making clunking, whirring, or banging noises on the other hand, this is a clear sign of wear and tear, or a problem with the valve or pump.
- It’s just old
As mentioned previously, some older boilers that have been maintained well can continue to perform for many years, but generally, if a boiler is older than 10 years, it might be better to arrange a replacement through North London boiler installations, in terms of efficiency.
Nobody wants to have to replace their boiler, but the simple reality is that they don’t last forever, and when they do start showing their age, they are a lot less likely to be efficient and functioning as they should. If you spot any of the 10 signs listed above, your boiler could be trying to tell you how unhappy it is!