Should I replace my 20 year old boiler? If you are a homeowner or landlord you may be asking if your old boiler needs replacing. We look at when is the right time to replace your boiler.

How Efficient Is A 20 Year Old Boiler?

A question that everybody thinks about as a homeowner or a renter, is if you should consider replacing your boiler. If your boiler is around 10 to 15 years old then you should absolutely consider replacing the unit.

It is at this stage that the boiler begins to become less efficient, and may start to lose heat, and lose you money. If your boiler is in its early teenage years then we say that at this point, you should be upgrading to a new more efficient boiler.

All modern boilers you will find are what are known as condensing boilers. This means that the boiler is able to recover heat that would have otherwise been lost through the use of the flue to pre-heat the heating system.

You may wonder if you get a new boiler installed, why it isn't running at its most efficient, as was advertised. This is because many boilers do not work at this efficiency straight out of the box.

How Old Should Your Boiler Be Before You Replace It?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to boilers. As a general rule, if your boiler is around 10 to 15 years old then it will start to become less efficient. When your boiler gets to this age, it is probably a good idea to start considering replacing your old model with something a little newer and more energy-efficient.

On average, your boiler accounts for around 60% of what your household spends in total on annual energy bills. So having an energy-efficient model is highly important to saving you money.

A boiler that is over ten years old will be operating at between 80-85% efficiency. When a boiler gets to around twenty years old, it will be working at 75% efficiency. Then if you leave your boiler even longer before a change, a twenty-five year old boiler will run at between 60-70% efficiency.

Just like many of the other domestic appliances that you keep around your home, all boilers come with an efficiency rating. This can most often be found in the manual that will have come with your boiler.

Let's say your old boiler is currently operating at around the 60% efficiency mark, then you will be wanting to upgrade to a boiler that works at 90% efficiency or higher.

This way you can ensure that energy isn't being wasted, and you will not have to replace your new boiler any time soon. Though, it is always important to keep an eye on your boiler's efficiency, even if it is brand new.

Another top tip before you get yourself a brand new boiler and have your old one replaced is to get all of the radiators and pipes in your home cleaned. Doing this will make sure that all of the unwanted dirt and debris from over the years is removed and disposed of, all ready for the new boiler to be installed.

This always helps a boiler to run more efficiently. We would also recommend that when looking to replace your boiler, you also invest in using a high-quality central heating control system. This system will also help you to save money, energy and gas.

New Boilers are Eco-Friendly

If you are making the change from an old boiler to a new more efficient model, then perhaps you should take a detailed look at all of the options which are available to you.

A lot of modern boilers come with perks that you wouldn't be able to find one or two decades ago. Just like a huge amount of other appliances you can find in your home, modern technology has changed them to enhance all different parts of your life, and this is exactly the same when it comes to boilers.

If you're looking at new boilers, why not direct your attention to green alternatives. Boilers have been moving with the times and new choices have been made available on the marketplace for people who want to use a boiler that is a little more considerate to the environment. These boilers can have you helping to save the planet while still saving you money and keeping your home nice and toasty.