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Gas Boiler
This is a very common question that gets asked many times, but it’s not that easy to answer.
When you speak to the gas boiler manufacturers you tend to get a different answer every time depending on who you speak too, some will tell you, that you should get around 10 years, even more depending on how it has been looked after and is used.
The boiler of old would last anywhere from 15 to 40 years before it had to be replaced, there was not much that could go wrong, the most common repair was replacing the thermal coupling that kept the pilot alight.
They would burn out overtime and had to be replaced, a quick and cheap repair to carry out.
Today’s gas boiler is so much different from the gas boiler of old.
Now you have small computers (PCBs) built in to the boilers to define how they work.
You also have water and air pressure switches that send signals to the PCB telling it to start the ignition sequence and to fire up, and many more other devises that speak to the PCB.
The boiler of old was not very efficient with around 40% of your gas bill being lost through the boiler flue.
Now we have boilers that work at around 90% give or take a little either way.
That is a big saving on the gas bill, but also much better for the environment as well.
With all new boilers they need to be maintained with an annual service to keep them working and efficient, without the annual service they will eventually start costing you more money in running costs and may even breakdown.
The gas boiler of now has very small water ways in the heat exchanger, whereas the boiler of old had very big water ways, so the water could flow through quickly and heat your hot water and radiators.
One of the most common problems now with gas boilers is the heat exchanger gets blocked with sludge and the boiler stops working, a very expensive repair.
It is very important and also a regulation that every gas boiler installed is flushed out and cleaned, once clean, then an inhibitor should be added to stop any sludge build up within the system and the heat exchanger.
When the service is carried out the inhibitor should be checked and topped if needed.
Many of the boilers that are installed now come with a long warranty which is subject to an annual service being carried out and recorded in the benchmark book supplied with the new gas boiler.
Should the boiler not be maintained then in most circumstances the warranty can become void?
Now back to the main question, how many years should my boiler last?
Any boiler, whatever make or model, should if maintained annually should last around 15 years, a gas boiler left un-maintained, if you are lucky around 5-6 years.
Once last thing before we finish, the boiler that supplies you with plenty of hot water and heating when you need it, seems to get overlooked until it stops working.
The gas boiler is one of the most important appliances within your home, don’t neglect it, look after it and it should last you a long time.
When you speak to the gas boiler manufacturers you tend to get a different answer every time depending on who you speak too, some will tell you, that you should get around 10 years, even more depending on how it has been looked after and is used.
The boiler of old would last anywhere from 15 to 40 years before it had to be replaced, there was not much that could go wrong, the most common repair was replacing the thermal coupling that kept the pilot alight.
They would burn out overtime and had to be replaced, a quick and cheap repair to carry out.
Today’s gas boiler is so much different from the gas boiler of old.
Now you have small computers (PCBs) built in to the boilers to define how they work.
You also have water and air pressure switches that send signals to the PCB telling it to start the ignition sequence and to fire up, and many more other devises that speak to the PCB.
The boiler of old was not very efficient with around 40% of your gas bill being lost through the boiler flue.
Now we have boilers that work at around 90% give or take a little either way.
That is a big saving on the gas bill, but also much better for the environment as well.
With all new boilers they need to be maintained with an annual service to keep them working and efficient, without the annual service they will eventually start costing you more money in running costs and may even breakdown.
The gas boiler of now has very small water ways in the heat exchanger, whereas the boiler of old had very big water ways, so the water could flow through quickly and heat your hot water and radiators.
One of the most common problems now with gas boilers is the heat exchanger gets blocked with sludge and the boiler stops working, a very expensive repair.
It is very important and also a regulation that every gas boiler installed is flushed out and cleaned, once clean, then an inhibitor should be added to stop any sludge build up within the system and the heat exchanger.
When the service is carried out the inhibitor should be checked and topped if needed.
Many of the boilers that are installed now come with a long warranty which is subject to an annual service being carried out and recorded in the benchmark book supplied with the new gas boiler.
Should the boiler not be maintained then in most circumstances the warranty can become void?
Now back to the main question, how many years should my boiler last?
Any boiler, whatever make or model, should if maintained annually should last around 15 years, a gas boiler left un-maintained, if you are lucky around 5-6 years.
Once last thing before we finish, the boiler that supplies you with plenty of hot water and heating when you need it, seems to get overlooked until it stops working.
The gas boiler is one of the most important appliances within your home, don’t neglect it, look after it and it should last you a long time.
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