As the icy, blustery winter weather sets in, you don’t want to be wide awake at night wondering if your boiler is about go belly up. It’s not hard in our hectic schedules to forget about those household appliances that should receive regular maintenance. However, it’s well worth spending a small amount of your time making sure everything works as it should or you could find yourself stuck in the cold when you need your boiler the most. Here are some signs your boiler might need some TLC:
Age
Most boilers should last approximately fifteen years but with regular maintenance, they can last even longer than that. If your boiler is older than fifteen years, then it’s definitely time to consider a new one. Many of the recent upgrades for making boilers more efficient and controllable also won’t be available for old models. For Gloucester Boiler Installation, visit http://www.hprservicesltd.com/gloucester-boiler-installation-and-heating-systems/
Slow
If you notice that it takes an age for your boiler to heat up, this is a strong indication that a repair or replacement is probably required. A new, modern boiler will heat up almost straight away, providing warmth to your home and hot water to your taps as soon as you need it. A boiler that takes too long to do this has passed its best and is not providing you with energy efficiency either.
A Rating Lower than ‘A’
When buying a new boiler nowadays, it will come with an energy efficiency rating graded between A to G. A ‘G’ rating indicates an efficiency of less than 70% and an ‘A’ has an efficiency of over 90%. Upgrading to a higher rated boiler can result in energy bill savings of several hundreds of pounds annually.
Frequent Repairs
When you need to attend to your boiler more frequently, it might be time for a new one. If you are resetting or adjusting the pressure regularly and finding the cost of repairs escalating, then investing in a new boiler could save you money and hassle in the long run. More serious problems that require an engineer to be called out are further signs that a boiler is becoming an expensive drain on your finances and should be replaced.
Feeling the Chill
If your home just doesn’t feel as warm as it should or you’re noticing the cost of your energy bills are on the rise, it could mean your boiler isn’t working as it should. If your home feels colder than it should, you’ll need to call a registered gas engineer to come and find out what the problem is. If there isn’t a problem with your radiators, then chances are your boiler needs some maintenance or replacing.
Things That Go Bump
When your boiler begins making strange noise that become noticeable above the normal background hum, it definitely time to have it looked at. It could be due to a number of issues or general wear and tear. Any odour being emitted or black marks visible around the boiler casing need immediate investigation as well.