It can be a total nightmare when a major appliance unexpectedly needs to be replaced. That’s especially true for heating systems and air conditioners if they break down during the season when you need them the most. The best way to avoid being caught off guard by your boiler needing replacement is to know how long a lifespan to expect. How long do boilers last?
The general answer is that boilers are quite a long-lasting type of heating system. But in order to give you a clearer estimate of what to expect from yours, we’ll go over some specifics.
Boilers of the Past
Once upon a time, boilers lasted for half a century or more. Don’t you wish you had one of those? Well, modern boilers don’t last anywhere near that long … but you wouldn’t want that kind of old-fashioned boiler anyway. They were made of cast iron, and they were enormous and incredibly heavy!
Modern Boilers
There are three basic types of boiler, and the one in your home almost certainly falls into one of these categories.
There are standard gas boilers, high-efficiency gas boilers, and electric boilers. A standard gas boiler will often keep chugging along for over twenty years. High-efficiency boilers manage to be so efficient by having two heat exchangers. This means that the system is exposed to more combustion gasses and will corrode more quickly. They are not likely to last more than fifteen years, but the lower monthly heating bills might make this kind of boiler a worthwhile investment. Electric boilers also have a life expectancy closer to fifteen years.
Other Lifespan Factors
The most important thing you can do to ensure that your boiler lasts as long as possible is to have regular maintenance done by a qualified professional. This means that if you’ve never had maintenance done, it’s not reasonable to expect that the boiler will live to its full projected life expectancy. If you’ve been neglecting your boiler, schedule maintenance now. Late is better than never, and your technician can also give you a clearer idea of what condition your boiler is in and how much longer you should expect it to last.
You should also be sure to get repairs done as promptly as possible when you suspect that something is wrong with your boiler. Letting a problem continue means allowing it to get worse. You don’t want to end up with a major, expensive repair when you could have just dealt with a small one, and you definitely don’t want to have the boiler fail completely. Get prompt boiler service if you notice unusual noises or smells, a pilot light that won’t stay lit or burns any color other than blue, water leaking from the system, insufficient heat, or a spike in your utility bill.
Finally, repair needs can be a big factor in deciding to replace your boiler. If it’s nearing the end of the lifespan that you expect from it, spending a lot of money on a repair might be a poor investment. You may prefer to invest in a new boiler instead.
Contact ServiceMax if you’d like to schedule boiler maintenance or repair or learn more about your boiler replacement options.