The average life expectancy of a boiler is about 10-15 years, so if your boiler is around this age range it may need replacing, especially if your heating system has needed to be repaired frequently.
At High Wycombe Plumbing we’re experts at replacing boilers and can provide you with a bespoke boiler replacement service for any of the major boiler brands.
Replace Your Boiler
Oftentimes, bigger problems come from the small problems that went unnoticed and ignored. So, here are the early warning signs to give you a cue on when to consider replacing your boiler:
Water leaks show you that the flow of water is not working properly. These can be caused by corrosion. Metal piping usually experiences this problem over time and most old boilers are prone to it.
Less pressure often signals that it goes somewhere that it shouldn’t have. There are two reasons this occurs in boilers, which is either water leaks or gas coming out of the joints or valves.
The pilot light is where the heating starts and you might keep asking why it often goes out for no apparent reason. Usually, it’s due to the blockage in the gas valve or some stuff were stocked on the orifice or holes where the gas comes out. In order to fix this, you will need to open the access panel and it will be annoying to fix if it happens frequently and also poses a bigger problem that might cost your safety.
You might have thinking about strange noises at night which keeps you awake only to find out that it’s coming from your boiler.
The banging or clunking sound in your boiler is called ‘kettling’ and this means that your heat exchanger is blocked by minerals from hard water called lime-scale that has built up over the years. The blockage in the heat exchanger causes the pressure to go up thus making these noises and can break your boiler. For old boilers, too much pressure accumulated can cause an explosion. A boiler might not look dangerous but it can certainly be one if left unsupervised.
The whistling sound in your boiler is caused by trapped air which is also caused by some blockage in the airways. A simple way to fix this is to let the trapped air out.
The gurgling sound is often heard from your pipes and is caused by air bubbles. These air bubbles disrupt the flow of water which affects the pressure and consequently, the amount of heat produced. This also creates a domino effect of frozen pipes. You can unfreeze these pipes if you know how to do it but it’s recommended to contact a professional to safely fix it.
Condensation is the process by which gases in your boiler are transformed to heat. It is suggested to install these pipes inside the house to keep it from freezing during winter. However, this might not be the case for everyone so, if the condensate pipes are outside and not insulated, they may freeze in extreme weather conditions. This is the perfect time for insulators to become handy. It is suggested to cover these pipes with insulation like heating pads to prevent freezing if installed outside the house. If this goes unmanaged the problem will spread out to the entire heating system.
This is probably a sign of an aged boiler and it is likely time to start thinking about replacing it. This behaviour is probably due to the final gulp of air of your boiler that’s caused by accumulated problems within its system. Some of the main causes are due to having multiple blockages in the orifice, blocked pipes or heat exchanger which are all byproduct of old equipment.
High Wycombe Boiler Replacement Service
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Please contact us to receive a free quotation for replacing your boiler!
This type of boiler is one of the most preferred boilers within the UK due to its high efficiency. Unlike traditional boilers, it doesn’t require a cylinder and tank to function. The government’s effort to implement the Clean Growth Strategy last April 6, 2018, means that certain requirements must be met by the manufacturers of these boilers one of which is the Smart Thermostat.
Best for: Small households with high water pressure. 0-1 baths.
Pros:
Instant and unlimited access to hot water.
As its wall-mounted, it requires very little space for the pipework, tanks, and cylinder.
A reduced amount of pipework repairs or risk of pipe-freezing.
Cheaper heating as it’s also compatible with solar heating systems.
The temperature can be adjusted through the latest smartphone. heating apps such as Tado Smart Thermostat, Nest and Honeywell Evohome etc.
Not advisable for:
Big households with multiple baths.
Homes that were installed with conventional boilers.
Homes with low water pressure.
If you need to run the baths and taps simultaneously.
This type of boiler is more of a space-saver version of the conventional boiler as some of the components are built-in.
Best for: Larger households with multiple baths.
Pros:
Installation is easier as it has fewer components detached from it.
Faster transfer of heat from the boiler to radiators.
Access to hot water for multiple running baths at the same time.
Compact and space-saving.
Temperature can be adjusted through Smartphone heating app features.
Compatible with solar heating systems which reduces the running cost.
Not advisable for:
Small homes as the cylinder needs its own space.
For homes without proper insulation for the cylinder.
Households that need water immediately as there is a necessary waiting time for newly heated water to be produced.
This type of boiler may be considered depending on what type of household you have and your priority in buying one. Here are some details to get you started:
Best for: Huge households with multiple baths being used simultaneously which all have the same boiler type.
Pros:
Conventional as it may seem out of all the boilers, this is the ‘heavy duty’ one as it can sustain water to multiple baths and taps at the same time.
The temperature can also be controlled via Smartphone heating apps similarly to combi and system boilers.
As for households with existing pipework from old regular boilers, there’ll be quicker installation as the structure has already been set and in most cases, only a few minimal adjustments need to be made.
The water pressure doesn’t affect boiler performance.
Not advisable for:
Small households due to big components such as tanks that will require some space.
Just like the system boiler, it may require some time to supply hot water as soon as the cylinder runs out of it.
The installation can take considerably longer as there are more components that need to be installed.
This boiler type is wall-mounted and most likely hidden in your kitchen area.
Best for: Small homes with an empty cupboard that fits the unit.
Pros:
Easy hot water access, especially for households using dishwashers and washing machines.
Not advisable for:
Small households with no space for the unit in their kitchen as it would be an eyesore and it would be harder to renovate without the boiler being considered.
These types of boilers are more adequate to areas that have no access to supplies that are abundantly available in cities such as electricity and access to gas mains rigid.
This type of boiler uses electricity to heat water and is more suitable for households with tranquil lifestyles.
Pros:
This type of boiler is incredibly silent because when generating heat it has no fast moving elements, unlike other boilers.
It produces zero gas emissions, making it environmentally friendly.
It can fit within a kitchen cupboard.
It’s also not mandatory to have annual maintenance of the unit as it doesn’t pose much danger, unlike Gas/LPG boilers.
Cons:
It’s harder to switch to another type of boiler in the future as it comes with less pipework.
It can only heat up limited water at a time, making it unsuitable for larger households.
It has a high running cost and tops the chart in a survey conducted in 2015 for the average running cost by boiler type in the UK.
This type of boiler may come in bottles or tanks and may vary depending upon one’s preference and consumption needs.
Best for: Homes on the rural areas with no access to the mains or gas grid.
Pros:
It’s available in conventional and combi form.
It’s a cleaner alternative than oil in terms of maintenance.
It has a reduced carbon footprint.
For any repairs or maintenance issues, it’s easier to have gas engineers around than oil engineers.
Cons:
This type requires a storage tank for fuel that needs to occupy some space in your garden.
Installations may be costly as this boiler requires tanks for storage.
As gas poses danger, annual maintenance is mandatory for this type of boiler.
Availability may vary on consumption. So, it may run out before the next delivery comes. At this rate, upgrading your storage tank may come in handy.
This type of boiler uses oil which comes in the form of liquid and converts it to heat that’s supplied to your radiators, taps, and baths.
Best for: Best suitable for areas that have no access to mains gas grid and electricity supplies.
Pros:
Modern oil condensing boilers are more efficient as they recycle some heat energy that would normally be wasted.
It can come in a combi form.
Cons:
Hard to find an authorized person to maintain the unit as gas engineers are easier to find than oil engineers.
Maintenance is mandatory for oil boilers.
