We may be clinging on to the last few weeks of summer, but if your boiler is on the old side, it is worth considering replacing it now, rather than waiting for the autumn/winter rush. If you get to winter and your boiler breaks down, you could find yourself out in the cold while you wait for availability from busy boiler installers.
The boiler is one of the unsung heroes of the home, plodding away day in, day out, providing hot water on demand and heating the home when required. Without much of a fanfare, your boiler is one of the most intensively utilised appliances in your home but, unless it breaks down completely, small faults go unnoticed. Regular boiler servicing can help to extend the lifespan of your boiler, but it may get to a time when it is more economically viable to replace your boiler completely, rather than keep repairing your old one.
You may need to replace your boiler if:
- You hear mystery noises such as banging, popping or hissing. This can be a sign that something has worn and needs to be replaced. In some cases, it might be cheaper to buy a new boiler than replace a broken part.
- You are regularly forking out on repairs. Nobody likes throwing good money after bad, but if you have spent a fortune on boiler repairs in the last year or so, it may be time to bite the bullet and invest in a new one. A reliable gas engineer will be able to advise you on whether it is more viable to repair or replace your broken boiler.
- It leaks. Boilers shouldn’t leak, and if yours is, you need to get it switched off and looked at as soon as possible as it comes with a carbon monoxide risk as well as the obvious water leak.
- It smells. A well-functioning boiler will be odourless. If your boiler emits any kind of smell, it could be a sign of carbon monoxide emissions; whilst CO itself is odourless, a smell is a sign that your boiler isn’t burning fuel properly.
- You notice rising energy bills. If your energy bills rise unexpectedly – that is, outside of the usual seasonal fluctuations, it could mean that your boiler is working less efficiently. Older boilers can cost more to run; another reason why you could save money by replacing your boiler.
Carbon Monoxide can kill. It is critical that you have a carbon monoxide alarm in the room where your boiler is located; if the alarm shows high levels of CO, contact a gas certified plumber immediately.
Once you have decided that you need to replace your boiler, it is a good idea to look at the options available to you. Follow Trust A Trader on Facebook or Twitter for next week’s post, when we take a look at the types of boiler available, and how you can choose the right one for your needs.