Why should you pay for a new boiler when there are ways to increase your residential boiler lifespan? The price of a new boiler alone is enough to put you online, searching on how to extend boiler efficiency.
How Long do Boilers Last on Average
The first question that comes to mind is the average life expectancy for a boiler? Usually, An average lifespan of a boiler is between 10 to 15 years. The industry standard advice is to replace it after 10 years of use. Boiler age is hugely dependent on the maintenance frequency. Some people are using 30 years old cast iron boilers, which are not very efficient. Some iron boilers can even last up to 50 years but they cost you a lot of money in form of gas bills.
Regardless of the case, it all comes down to one thing; you must make every effort possible to make your boiler live for as long as possible. And this is not a difficult job if you know what you are doing.
Ways to Increase Expectancy of a Residential Boiler
Here are some tips you can inculcate in your boiler maintenance routine to ensure it lives as long as it can. Keep reading to find out whether you are catering to your boiler’s needs or not.
Tip 1: Do Not Skip Your Boiler Servicing Schedule
Among the top maintenance requirements for your boiler is its annual servicing. The main benefit of annual service is that underlying problems can easily be identified before time; well before they become irreparable.
But, the yearly service should be done by a licensed and skilled professional who is registered with the relevant safety authorities.
In fact, as stated in the law, one cannot even remove the boiler’s casing if not registered with proper authorities. Any individual who comes for your boiler’s servicing should present you with their legit identification. You can use their identification number to verify their registration and qualifications.
The latest models now come with a requirement for annual servicing otherwise the warranty will become void. If you fail to show a servicing history to your manufacturer, your warranty will not even be taken into account by the company.
Tip 2: Invest In A Magnetic Filter
In any central heating system, there is a component called a system filter made of either metal or plastic that is attached to the heating system’s pipes. The core of this filter is attached to a special magnetic component that accumulates any dirt entering the system over years of use.
You can find this system filter somewhere along with the returning pipes from the central heating system, usually in the vicinity of the boiler itself.
The magnetic filter is placed close to the boiler so that any accumulated dirt or sludge does not go into the boiler to destroy its components inside. Hence, the average life expectancy of the boiler will automatically increase if the components are in a functional state.
Another benefit of this filter is that it can easily be cleaned by a licensed professional during the yearly service.
Tip 3: Install A System Inhibitor With Your Boiler
An inhibitor is a special solution that prevents corrosion of the boiler and is attached to the central heating system. It actively reduces the accumulation of dirt and sludge inside the boilers increasing their average lifespan.
At the same time, you must know that the anatomy of the heating system is designed in a way that it comprises different metals that have the potential to break and clog the components over time. An inhibitor prevents this from happening by forming a protective layer.
It is fairly simple to install an inhibitor in the central heating system on your own by reading the manufacturer guide, however, being on the safe side, hire a professional for the job so that nothing goes wrong.
In case of a leak that you may not be able to identify, everything can go haywire. Hence, it is better to rely on a professional.
Tip 4: Use It In The Summertime
You may wonder why use a central heating system during the scorching heat of the summers? What is the point? But most modern-day boilers come featured with a special setting for the summer which only requires hot water.
Moreover, a boiler is a complex piece of appliance compiled using multiple components, hence, it will practically become useless if left untouched for long stretches of time such as during the summers.
So make sure you run your boiler every now and then even during the off-season to make sure it remains functional when needed.
Another benefit of this practice is that unwanted particles and dirt will not accumulate on the radiator or other components. Make sure you turn on the heating feature frequently during the summertime, so that the hot water circulates in the pipes. These practices can help boiler life duration considerably.
Tip 5: Do Not Forget To Insulate The Pipes
Ok, so this is one boiler maintenance tip you can do by yourself. Go to the market, get some good-quality pipe insulation from a plumbing contractor and install it on your own by watching any tutorial. It wouldn’t be a burden on your pocket as well and increase the boiler's average life cycle.
Before You Leave...
So by now, you would know that an average boiler lasts around 10 to 15 years. However, proper care, attention, and maintenance can easily increase your boiler’s efficiency and life expectancy by another 10 years, which is a win-win situation for all.
If you implement the maintenance tips discussed above on your central heating system and the boiler itself, not only your boiler will work efficiently but the overall age of your pipes would increase as well.
In the case of a new central heating system, you need not worry because your system is new and is under warranty.
But, even when you are using the above tips, do not throw your common sense out of the window. Do not install an inhibitor on an old central heating system that already has a lot of sludge built up inside. Observe, think, and then act.