How Long Does a Boiler Last? Boiler Lifespan Explained

Not sure whether to replace or repair your boiler? How long does a boiler last, anyway?

You’re in the right place — our quick guide will cover exactly how long boilers last, how to prolong your boiler’s life, when to repair it, and when it’s time for a replacement.

How Long Should a Boiler Last?

Typically, you’d expect the boiler lifespan to be in the region of 10-15 years. It can be shorter for unreliable brands, or those with incredibly short warranties. This average boiler lifespan applies to boilers of all fuel types, such as oil, LPG, and gas; as well as all boiler types including combi, system, and regular boilers.

How Long Should a Worcester Boiler Last?

Worcester Bosch boilers tend to last between 12-15 years. However, we’ve seen Worcester Bosch boilers that are 22+ years old and still going strong.

When Should You Repair Your Boiler?

If your boiler is less than 5 years old, there are only 1-2 parts needing repairs, and the repair costs don’t exceed £300, the economic option is to repair your old boiler rather than replace it.

When Should You Replace Your Boiler?

When your boiler is over 10 years old, out of warranty, with no boiler care plan, and you’re facing repair bills of over £300, we’d suggest going for a replacement. You can get estimated replacement prices here.

How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Boiler?

Combi boiler installations typically start around £1,800, but can be much more expensive for large properties. The costs can also skyrocket if you need to install the replacement boiler in a new location on your property.

You can get fixed prices on screen here, or read our full guide to boiler installation costs here.

Extending the Life Span of Your Boiler

There are ways to ensure your boiler lasts as long as possible. As we’ve mentioned, we’d typically expect boilers to last in the 10-15 year range, but this isn’t going to happen unless you follow the steps below.

Buy Boilers With a Long Warranty

If you’ve read any of our boiler reviews, you’ll know we don’t recommend boilers with a warranty of less than 10 years. The warranty on offer gives an indication of what that brand thinks of their boilers quality; the longer the warranty, the more confidence the manufacturer has in their product.

Currently, the best deals on boilers with long warranties come from Heatable — you can easily get a 10-year warranty on a Worcester Bosch boiler. And, you can get prices on screen within 90 seconds, without providing any personal details.

Get a Hot Flush

If you do get your boiler replaced, it’s worth having a hot flush. This involves cleaning out your whole heating system of sludge, which comprises the build-up of rust that breaks off radiators, towel rails, pipe work, and boiler parts. Heating sludge can cause damage — often terminal — to the boiler’s components.

Install a Magnetic System Filter

You’ll want a magnetic system filter when you install the new boiler. This device will collect the aforementioned heating sludge.

After a while, the filter gets full and stops removing sludge. Luckily, most boiler service companies include magnetic filter clean-up in the annual service package.

Invest in a Scale Reducer

If you live in a hard water area, we’d also suggest having a scale reducer fitted. This device combats limescale, thus helping your boiler operate at optimum efficiency.

Break Down Sludge With a Central Heating Inhibitor

If you’ve just installed a new boiler, or hot-flushed your old one, you’ll want your boiler company to dose the system with the central heating inhibitor. This process breaks down central heating sludge into manageable chunks. Your magnetic system filter can then remove these chunks of sludge from your heating system.

Service Your Boiler Regularly

How often should you service your boiler? Well, we’d recommend servicing your boiler at least every 12 months. Regular service will allow your Gas Safe engineer to spot problems with your boiler before they’re terminal, potentially saving you money on expensive repair bills.

More to the point, most boiler manufacturers require proof that annual services have been completed by a Gas Safe engineer, otherwise they won’t honour their warranty.

What’s Next for Your Boiler Change?

Considering a replacement boiler? You can get fixed prices using this clickable form.

Still got questions about your boiler’s lifespan? Drop us a line via our contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.