Ensuring your boiler is in good working condition at all times is essential for saving you time and money, but also keeps you safe from possibly dangerous scenarios. It’s a major inconvenience if you’re having to call for boiler repairs regularly.
If you’re asking yourself, “how long does a boiler last”, the answer should be between ten and fifteen years if it’s looked after properly. If you’ve experienced any issues with a boiler that’s younger than 10 years, then you may want to start looking at ways to increase your boiler’s lifespan. To make life easier for you, here are 7 tips on how you can do just that.
Get Your Boiler Serviced Annually
Having your boiler serviced on an annual basis is not only useful for ensuring it lasts as long as possible, but it is also a requirement from manufacturers to keep your boiler’s warranty valid. This means, if you run into problems with your boiler but did not maintain annual servicing by a professional, you will not be able to send it back to the manufacturer for free repair.
Make sure you hire a professional you can trust to complete your boiler service. Gas-safe engineers are always the best option to guarantee the work is done to the best possible standard.
Make Repairs Quickly
If something goes wrong with your boiler, you must make repairs to it as quickly as possible. If ignored, issues with your boiler can often become worse. An exacerbated boiler issue can incur further costs to you than if the initial problem was repaired as and when it happened. It’s always important to get a professional to help you with your boiler repair. Attempting it yourself as an untrained repairman could be harmful or make the problem worse.
For example, a boiler leak may cause other issues if not fixed. Leaks can lead to mould or fungi growth if left alone, which are problems in their own right. More severely, an undetected gas leak from your boiler can lead to explosions or the release of toxic fumes into your home, causing harm to you and your household.
Upgrade Your Boiler
Making minor modifications and improvements to your boiler can help increase its lifespan drastically. Simple adjustments such as changing the filter on it or adding heating controls to it. This will help to improve the boiler’s overall performance and efficiency.
If your boiler has been giving you problems for a while, it may be time to consider an upgrade. Once you have a new boiler under a new warranty, it’s much easier to maintain a new boiler that you know works, than to spend money on trying to diagnose an issue. A new boiler will have a guarantee attached to it, provided you follow the servicing requirements and keep up with maintenance.
Don’t Overwork Your Boiler
The best way to ensure you don’t overwork your boiler is to make sure you have the right specs and sizes to suit your water usage and household needs. If you have your boiler on a pressure setting that is too high for it to handle, it will inevitably decrease the amount of time your boiler will last.
If you need advice on how to choose the right boiler or need someone to tell you whether or not your boiler is right for you, it’s best to speak to professionals within the field. They will be able to give you all the information you need to make sure you have the right piece of kit.
Install a Magnetic Filter
A magnetic filter was not deemed essential before, but recently, boiler and gas-safe engineers now recommend it as a standard installation. The magnetic filter removes any metallic compounds before they can settle and create a build-up of nasties in your pipes. Without a filter, sludge can also build up in your radiators, which will impact the heating efficiency and workability of your central heating, again forcing you to fork out more money. With a magnetic filter, there is less chance of sludge build-up, giving you more peace of mind that your boiler works smoothly.
Use a Power Flush
In the event of suspected sludge build-up, consider hiring a professional to perform what is called a power flush. This must be done by a boiler specialist. Essentially, a professional will introduce special chemicals into your central heating system which will dissolve any sludge or foreign matter. This will release pressure in the pipes and prevent your boiler from overworking itself. If you suspect there may be a pipe block somewhere, ask a professional about a power flush solution.
Use Gas Safe Engineers
Gas Safe engineers are professionally trained to handle difficulties with boilers. They are also trained to deal with any potentially harmful gases that may have leaked or that leak during boiler repair. When you hire a gas-safe engineer, you also guarantee that the job will be done to the highest possible standard as quickly as can be. If repair work is done by someone who is not correctly trained for the job, there may be further costs resulting from damage or “quick fixes”. A gas-safe engineer has the tools and knowledge to have boiler repair done right the first time.
Ensure Radiator and Pipework Efficiency
During a boiler service, you can request that a gas-safe engineer checks the efficiency of the boiler. If a boiler and or central heating system is running inefficiently, it may mean you are paying more than you should be. It also means that the system is not running at its optimal level, therefore potentially shortening your boiler’s lifespan.
The manufacturers of your boiler should give it an efficiency rating, which they indicate by putting a sticker on the system. To get the most out of your boiler, make sure it has an efficiency rating of “A”. This means your boiler will operate at over 90% efficiency at all times, meaning only 10% of the energy used to run is “lost”.
How Long Does a Boiler Last?
If you follow these tips and get your boiler serviced regularly, your boiler should last between 10 and 15 years, maybe even longer with modern boiler models. Regular maintenance and servicing are good safety precautions, but they will also save you money in the long run.
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