How Long Do Boilers Last?

No matter the boiler that you have, it will need to be replaced eventually. Like all home appliances over time, they will start to lose their ability to function as necessary. An important thing to keep in mind is how the advancement of technology and the change in the UK's climate and heating needs will affect the usefulness of any given boiler; many older boilers just can’t compete with the efficiency of their modern counterparts. 

Most people’s homes in the UK come already equipped with a combi-boiler; this is a dual-purpose boiler that is compact in its design that supplies the taps and heating appliances with hot water directly without needing the use of an older more archaic style that might require the use of a storage tank. Combi-boilers are meant to supply hot water when it is needed rather than using a cylinder to store hot water that is constantly supplied throughout the house. 

There are many factors that will affect the longevity of a boiler but a good rule of thumb to have in the back of your mind is that the typical life cycle of a boiler is around 10 to 15 years. Boiler maintenance and repairs should be something that you stay on top of throughout the length of time that you have any boiler in your home. Don’t be put off by boiler repair costs during those years as an inefficient heating system can cost you more than repairing or replacing the boiler as and when that is needed.  

The quality of the boiler that has been installed or will be installed is a massive factor in how long it will last; while it may be cheaper in the short term to install a lower quality boiler, however, if you have to replace it sooner than you would like that will most likely be more expensive than just paying the premium price from the start.

Who fitted or will be fitting the boiler is also another important variable to keep in mind. Just like when any home repair or maintenance is done you typically get what you pay for. A qualified engineer is not only the smartest thing to do in regards to the quality of the work done, it is also the required legal thing to do.

Sometimes the wrong boiler might be installed in a home causing it to not be as efficient as possible. If a boiler that is incorrect for a specific type of home is installed it might be more susceptible to damage or end up in disrepair.  Having the correct boiler for any given home will make a significant difference in how long it will be operational.

Boilers also need to be regularly serviced and checked for any faults, if problems aren't detected and dealt with promptly then the problem could potentially worsen over time leading to a small issue becoming a much larger one; what might be a small repair job if left undone could evolve into a much more significant and costly problem.

Boilers are an essential component in any UK home and all homeowners need to stay on top of boiler maintenance as anyone that has gone any period of time without hot water in the UK will tell you that being without it is definitely an unpleasant experience.