Should I Replace My Water Heater Before It Fails?
When can I replace my boiler?
By using the boiler, it will need to be replaced after about 12 to 15 years due to wear and tear, even if it is a well-maintained boiler. A boiler that is 15 years of age or older poses many risks. One of the dangers is that on a chilly winter’s day, the boiler may break down and unexpectedly leave you in the cold.
Boilers are replaced because their economic lifespan has already been reached, and they are worn out. Parts of the boiler, such as the boiler and burner, can break down over time. Due to the age of the boiler, it does not make sense to replace the parts. Defective parts are more common in older boilers.
High energy costs
Another reason why older boilers need replacing is that they need more energy to keep the temperature in the house at the desired level. Newer boilers are much more economical and worth an investment. You save at least 25% of the energy costs with a new boiler.
Malfunctions
Boilers that regularly malfunction or cannot heat the house optimally also need to be replaced. As boilers get older, you will be confronted with these compilations. Keep in mind that old boilers, after being out of order for a while, will fail when they have to function again. Purchase a new boiler before the chilly winter period begins so that your home is winterized, and you don’t have to sit in the cold.
Boiler maintenance
If you want to get the most out of the boiler, the boiler must be serviced every two years. This will extend the lifespan of the boilers. An unmaintained boiler will fail sooner. However, you do not have to wait until the two years have passed. In the meantime, you can also take steps yourself to maintain the boiler and ensure that it functions properly.
Here are a few guidelines for interim maintenance;
- Lower the thermostat
- Unplug the power cord from the wall socket
- Then you remove the mantle from the boiler
- Clean the oxidized parts with a wire brush
- Unscrew and clean the siphon.
- Reinsert the loosened parts
- The last thing to do is to check if the whole thing is leakproof.
- The cost of replacing a boiler
A new boiler costs a fortune, and you expect it to last a long time. As discussed earlier, proper maintenance of your boiler can ensure that it will last a maximum of 15 years. After 15 years it will need to be replaced anyway. Boilers can be purchased with or without installation, but usually, consumers want to have the installation carried out by the specialist for a little more money.
This gives you the guarantee that the boiler is attached correctly. Boilers with installation vary between $1000 and $2000. Of course, there are other types of boilers with extra power. These types are much more expensive, but you can achieve the best efficiency with additional power.
Replacing a boiler is a necessity when its lifespan is already over. Because replacing a boiler is such a significant investment, it is wise to be financially well prepared for this expense. Do you also have to deal with multiple leaks in the house? Let the plumber take a look and fix the problem.
Be on time when replacing the boiler
A boiler that is broken can leak and cause water damage. Prevention is better than cure. The older the boiler is, the higher the risk that your boiler will break down. Therefore, be on time.
Assess the consumption
Have you had the same boiler for a while? Then it is good to take a look at the use of the boiler. Manufacturers do not stand still and are launching more efficient boilers increasingly on the market. This may mean that you have a boiler that saddles you with high energy costs. Then it may be wise to replace the boiler with an energy-efficient boiler. Product development never stops, and the technology in the boilers (both energy and insulation) keeps getting better.
The investment that you then make to replace an old boiler with a very efficient one is often earned back 1 or 2 years ago.
Get the best return on your boiler
A central heating boiler supplies a certain amount of hot water per minute and could store it in a boiler. If the amount of hot water is exactly the amount you need, you will, therefore, achieve an optimum return from your boiler.
In a time of 15 years, a lot can, of course, change in a particular living situation.
It may be that fewer people started living in your house, which means that the capacity of the boiler that was purchased then is now much too high.
You can quickly change this by having an installer reset your boiler, and this will already give you a substantial saving annually.
Tip: replace the boiler in the summer
You should hardly ever touch your thermostat in the summer, as the sun is, of course, the cheapest heating system there is.
So at that moment, you have no worries about your old boiler. But now that winter is around the corner, and it is going to get a lot colder outside, the heating will have to work hard again.
At this moment the problems often come with central heating boilers! So make sure that you are on time for maintenance on your boiler.
If you are going to replace the boiler, do this in the summer and make sure that you can use the heating in the winter.
Maintenance and replacement of components
Periodic boiler maintenance is recommended. It reduces the risk of malfunctions and unnecessary wear due to incorrect settings.
This way, your boiler lasts longer and stays a lot more economical in gas consumption. Another essential aspect when maintaining the boiler is appropriate venting. Read more about this on the page venting a heating.
We will briefly list the most critical maintenance components of a central heating boiler that are often in need of replacement:
- Burner
- Boiler
- Expansion vessel
- Volcano
- Fan
These heating components are available separately and cheaply and can be quickly replaced by an installer.
