5 Signs It Might Time for a Boiler Replacement

The boiler is one of the hardest working appliances in the house and we often don’t give it too much though. It continues to provide us with hot water and heating during the colder months and while we might schedule the odd boiler service/repair visit, that’s usually about it. Boilers do have a lifespan though, and there are signs it will give you that the time to replace may be near.

1. Slow radiators

When your boiler is working well, your radiators start to work within a few minutes of the system turning on or the thermostat triggering it. But if the radiators take a long time to warm up or stay lukewarm when you have them on a full, this is a sign of a problem.

The first thing is to get a heating engineer or plumber to take a look at the radiators themselves. They can have a build-up of sludge from the system that stops them from working properly. A power flush can often solve this. But if the problem isn’t the radiators, then it could mean the boiler can no longer power the system properly.

2. There is a funny smell

Smells around a boiler are never a good sign and you should get a Gas Safe certified engineer to come out and check the boiler as quickly as possible. You need a gas engineer because the problem could be something like carbon monoxide escaping – and this can be a killer. Other signs of potential problems with this include the boiler having a yellow flame rather than a blue one or a pilot light that frequently blows out.

3. Energy bills are increasing

If your energy bills are increasing, there can be two reasons. One is a general increase – you can look for figures across Eastbourne to get an average and see how you compare. But if you are using more than your neighbours for no clear reason, then the boiler may no longer be working in an efficient way. A new A-rated boiler is 90% efficient and compared to a G-rated boiler, this can save over £300 a year on your gas bill.

4. You have trouble getting hot water

This is another one that is a classic boiler ageing sign. If it takes a long time to get hot water, it may be the boiler is no longer working as well. Or maybe the bathroom installer has just added a new bathroom or a more powerful shower – and you can’t get hot water downstairs when it is in use. This means the boiler may not be able to cope with the demands.

5. It makes strange noises

Finally, a boiler that runs well only makes some noise when it first starts up, a low and constant hum that you hardly notice. If there are strange noises, bangs, clunking sounds and more, then there might be a problem and you might want an engineer to check it. It might also mean the boiler is ageing and the time to replace it is near.