Boilers can last an incredibly long time with the proper care, far longer than most other heating systems. This is mostly because boilers are more simply constructed than other systems. The fewer parts one has in the system, the fewer ways there are for something to go wrong. Despite this advantage, though, boilers don’t last forever. If you are using a boiler to keep your home warm, sooner or later you’ll have to replace it. Read on for more information about when to replace your boiler.
Increase in Repair Frequency
Boilers are less prone to problems, but they do still have them every once in a while. Normally, a boiler shouldn’t need repairs more than once every year or two. Older boilers have much more wear and tear on their various parts, however, making breakdowns more likely. If you need to have your boiler repaired every few months, you definitely need to replace it.
Rising Operating Costs
As a boiler gets near the end of its life, it starts to experience a steady decline in efficiency. This decline forces the system to stay on for longer and longer periods of time in order to compensate, resulting in higher operating costs. If your boiler appears to be costing more and more money to operate, and there’s no apparent reason for this increase, the system may be nearing the end of its life.
Age
Theoretically, you could keep a boiler operating over a century under ideal circumstances. The system will pass its ideal stage long before that, though. Once the system gets older than 25 years, it begins to cost more to keep running than it’s worth. If your boiler is between 20-25 years old, ask a professional about whether or not you should replace it.
If your boiler needs replacing, call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing. We serve the entirety of Chevy Chase, MD.