How Do I Know If I Need A New Boiler?

Boiler systems have a life expectancy between 10-20 years depending on your maintenance routine and the quality of the system installed. The average system is fairly reliable, but issue can arise, and normally they show up at the worst possible time, like the coldest winter night. To help prevent your boiler system from cutting out on you at the worst possible time, we put a list together to help you answer a very important question: How do I know if my boiler needs replacing?

Reduced Water Pressure

There can be several reasons that the water pressure in your boiler drops including blockages, leaks, and low water pressure in your home. Either way, a professional should be called in to look at your system. If you have had repeated boiler service due to low water pressure, it may be time to look into replacing your system.

Whistling and Other Sounds

Your boiler is a fairly quiet mechanism, when it is running there is little to no audible sound. So, when you begin to hear noise coming from your system, it should be looked into. A whistling sound can be due to a few reasons such as limescale built up on the heat exchanger, or by air trapped in the system. But if the noise you are hearing sounds more like a banging, chances are your pump is ready to give in. 

Boiler Cutting In and Out

A system that continually restarts is extremely frustrating and can be caused by several reasons. Your pump or thermostat may be malfunctioning or there may be fuel or water intake issues.  Either way, you should schedule a service technician to come take a look at your system. If this behaviour continues, the added stress on the system will most definitely lead to additional damage.

Pilot Light Out

The pilot light is key to your system firing up, when the light goes out your system is not able to supply any heat. There can be several reasons for your pilot light going out, insufficient gas or pressure, blocked burner, or a malfunctioning gas valve. In most cases a pilot light that has gone out is not an indicator that your system needs to be replaced, but you should call a technician to locate and fix the issue. 

There are varying severities for each of the issues outlined above. Not all will require a new boiler system to be installed. But, only a certified technician will be able to properly assess your system. If you have had repeated boiler service, for either the same issue or differing issues, it is probably a sign that you will need a new boiler soon.