7 Ways to Increase Boiler Lifespan
Why would you want to spend money on a new boiler installation? The cost alone is scary, let alone the disturbance to your everyday routine it could bring! However, this is basically why we should pay as much attention to increasing the lifespan of our boiler as possible.
The regular combi boiler has a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. This, of course, is contingent on how much it has been used and how much attention it has received. Boilers might fail after just 9/10 years in some circumstances.
On the other hand, you could be one of the lucky ones who has had their boiler running for the past 20 years. Whatever the situation may be, the bottom line is that the better you look after your boiler, the boiler's lifespan will increase. It's not a difficult task!
We've put up a list of helpful tips on how to increase the lifespan of your boiler to ensure that your boiler lives a long and fruitful life.
Get it serviced first
A yearly boiler service is required to keep your boiler in good working order. As a result, any potential issues can be identified before they become significant, costly issues, and general safety is assured, giving you peace of mind.
A yearly service, of course, must be performed by a trained person, in this case, a Gas Safe Registered Engineer.
Did you know that you can't legally remove a boiler's point unless you're a Gas Safe, licensed technician? Most excellent engineers will show you their ID, but if they don't, you can always check the Gas Safe Register online.
There is a list of necessary checks that might help your boiler increase its lifespan. These are some of them:
Visual Inspection
Check for corrosion and leaks in the boiler, boiler casing, and boiler seals.
According to the manufacturer's recommendations, Gas Pace tests the boiler's rate of gas.
Working pressure
Verify that the working pressure matches the manufacturer's recommendations.
According to the manufacturer's instructions, test the correct combustion rate with a gas analyzer.
Check to see if the boiler's safety device is working.
Controls
- Make sure the boiler's management is working.
- Condensate Trap That Isn't Clogged (Condensing boilers only)
- Magnetic Filter (Clean) (If a Magnetic Filter has been fitted)
- A yearly boiler service is the most convenient approach to ensure that your boiler lasts as long as it should.
During the summer, turn on the central heating
This recommendation may seem unusual, and it may appear that we're attempting to raise the cost of your gas bill.
Still, if you have an older central heating system and are concerned about the increasing lifespan of your boiler, we recommend that you switch it on during the summer months. We don't mean to leave it on all day; instead, turn it on once a month for a few minutes.
Why? Grit accumulates on the boiler's pump when it operates at a lower standard than typical, and if left to build up over time, it will infect the entire system. If this occurs, the central heating and boiler will have difficulty turning on, and you might be in for a pricey repair.
A Magnetic Filter should be installed
A system filter is installed on a heating system's return pipes, as close to the boiler as feasible. This is because it will capture the sludge before it enters the boiler, preventing sludge from entering the boiler parts and increasing the boiler's life.
After that, the filter may be cleaned. This is generally done annually by a skilled heating industry engineer. If you're considering installing a boiler's magnetic filter but aren't sure which one to acquire, you'll need to look into it individually.
Inhibitors should be added to your system
The inhibitor is an anti-corrosive chemical that prevents corrosion and scaling in your central heating system. It can also help to prevent sludge from forming in your radiators.
A heating system comprises several metals, and fragments of metal can break off and enter the system over time. Inhibitor combats this by coating the metals with a protective layer.
Retrofitting
Boilers lose ground to newer versions with more efficient parts and technology as they get older. You can benefit from developments in boiler design without having to buy a new model by retrofitting.
There are various advantages to retrofitting. Older boilers can be upgraded to meet the most recent certification and approval standards. You can increase safety and efficiency while lowering energy expenditures and emissions. You also extend the lifespan of boiler, of course.
Recognize the indicators that a boiler needs to be repaired
Is it difficult to get hot water out of your water taps? Is it constantly cold on your radiators? Is the colour of your pilot light orange rather than blue? Is your boiler making unusual, loud noises that it never made before?
Recognize the warning symptoms of an impending boiler failure before the entire system fails. Then, don't hesitate to get in touch with the engineers if you observe any of these symptoms so that they can establish an official diagnosis.
Pipes Should Be Insulated
This is unquestionably something you can do on your own. Pipe lagging is inexpensive and may be purchased from any plumbing or DIY store. It's worth lagging if your boiler condenses and the condensate pipe is terminated externally.
An issue with the boiler caused by a frozen condensate line is a relatively common call-out for gas engineers in the winter. This may be avoided by simply lagging the condensate pipe, which is a lot less expensive than having an engineer come out.
Apply these suggestions to your boiler/central heating system, and you'll have a decent chance of seeing your boiler last long instead of installing a new boiler.