If you own one or more residential properties or if you’re a property manager and you want to ensure the safety and comfort of all residents, having a proper functioning boiler is one of the most important aspects to take into consideration. Yet just like any other appliance, boilers have a limited life span, and now matter how meticulous you are about boiler maintenance, sooner or later they’re going to show signs of malfunction.
When wear and tear starts affecting your boiler and it stops working as it once did, you’ll be confronted with a common dilemma: should you fix your boiler or should you replace it with a brand new one? One thing’s for sure: you can’t ignore boiler problems for too long, if you don’t want to wake up one day and realize your boiler has stopped working altogether. You have to decide which is the best course of action for you before you get to this point.
But before you rush to call a heating contractor to get your boiler fixed, we suggest you take a moment to consider replacing it instead. Here are 5 reasons why installing a new boiler might be the wisest option for you.
Increased efficiency
It’s not a secret that old boilers that already have a history of malfunctions aren’t able to work at full capacity. You can repair them all you want, but they’re not going to perform as they did when you first bought them.
To gain a better understanding of what having an inefficient boiler implies, let’s imagine your boiler can only work at 50% capacity. Wondering what happens with the remaining 50% of the energy? It’s being wasted into the atmosphere, affecting both the environment and your monthly budget. So, if you care about your hard-earned money and if you want to protect the planet, choosing an energy efficient boiler is definitely the most sensible option.
Save money on energy bills
Obviously, purchasing a new boiler requires quite a significant investment. People are sometimes reluctant to spend a large sum of money on buying a boiler, so they go for what they believe to be the cheaper option instead, which is repairing it. They view the purchase of a boiler as an expense, when in reality it’s an investment.
Since a new boiler guarantees better energy efficiency, you’ll be able to save a lot of money on your energy bills. Even if you won’t notice it immediately, these monthly savings will add up in the long run, contributing to the health of your budget. Compare that to the money you spend on regular repairs and the energy that gets wasted, and you’ll understand that a new boiler is in fact the cheaper choice.
Lower maintenance cost
Proper maintenance can ensure your boiler works as expected for a longer period of time, so you should never put maintenance tasks on the backburner. If it’s time for a routine inspection or if your boiler requires some urgent repairs, you can always resort to renting a temporary boiler, to maintain heat and hot water supply in the building. Working with a reliable boiler rental NYC (New York City) company will make the whole process infinitely easier for you.
But when repairs become too frequent and maintenance costs surpass replacement costs, it’s obvious you’d be better off buying a boiler. Instead of spending money on maintenance, spend it on a shiny new boiler that requires less maintenance and works like a dream.
Peace of mind
If you know your boiler is as old as time, but you keep holding on to it because it still works decently and you don’t want to go through the trouble of buying another one, you might have a classic case of disaster waiting to happen on your hands.
It’s not just the fact that you keep spending more money on maintenance every year that should worry you. There’s also the possibility of dealing with a boiler breakdown at any moment. The last thing you want is for your boiler to stop functioning when you least expect it. Replacing your boiler can help you avoid this unpleasant scenario and enjoy full peace of mind.
Space saving
Saving money is important, but you know what else can a new boiler help you save? Space. That’s right, modern boilers look nothing like those massive outdated appliances that some people still use. They’re much more compact, they have a sleek design and they don’t require as much space as older boiler models did.
This might not be the first thing people think of when buying a boiler, but it can be a great advantage, especially if your space is limited. So, keep that in mind when you’re trying to decide between fixing or replacing your boiler.
Signs it might be time to replace your boiler
Apart from old age, there are various signs that can indicate your boiler’s working days are coming to an end. If you spot any of the following red flags, you might have to plan for a boiler replacement.
- Your water is not hot – if your boiler seems to work, but your taps are running cold water, it’s pretty obvious you have a heating issue that you have to address. The sooner you find the source of the problem, the better, but if the issue keeps repeating, get ready to bid your old boiler goodbye.
- You hear strange noises – strange noises coming from your boiler are definitely bad news. All boilers make a sound while running, but if you hear something that’s completely different from the sounds that you’re used to, further investigation is required.
- Boiler keeps shutting down – boilers have a feature that will shut them down automatically to prevent overheating. If you find your boiler off repeatedly and you know for sure you didn’t shut it down, you should call an engineer to take a look at it.
- Sky-high energy bills – higher than usual bills can also indicate that your boiler isn’t functioning properly. If you don’t want to spend a fortune on heating, you might want to check the efficiency of your boiler.