On average, a domestic heating oil boiler can last anywhere between 15 and 30 years. But, quite simply, your boiler’s life span will depend very much on the attention that you pay it, and proper maintenance is key to ensuring the longevity of your boiler. Whilst nowadays, modern boilers come with warranties that can be for as long as 12 years on certain models, it's good practice to look after your boiler well so it can look after you and your family.
In this blog, we’re going to look at what steps you can take to extend the life span of your oil-fired central heating boiler and ensure it lives a fruitful life, staying functional and operating safely way beyond the expiry of its warranty.
Regular maintenance
It’s recommended that you have your boiler serviced annually to keep it operating efficiently and safely. Summer is the perfect time to do so, when you're not reliant on your central heating, and you can ensure the boiler has been switched off and is cool for your heating oil engineer.
A boiler that isn’t serviced regularly is at a higher risk of breaking down and long-term damage occurring. Your OFTEC registered heating oil engineer will inspect your boiler, clean the air filters, replace fuel nozzles and fuel lines as and when required, check for any tell-tale signs that components may need replacing and make sure that your system is running as efficiently as possible, giving you peace of mind it’s also running safely.
If not regularly maintained, your heating oil boiler could develop dangerous faults that could reduce its lifespan, and also pose a serious threat which could be both costly, and more importantly, life-threatening. A build-up of dirt and debris can increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Also known as ‘The Silent Killer’, carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless and can cause headaches, dizziness, weakness upset stomachs, vomiting, chest pain, and even kill, and we would always recommend you fit a carbon monoxide alarm.
Maintain system components
Over time, air can become trapped in your radiators – if air is trapped, there is less space for hot water, which leads to cold spots and reduced efficiency as the radiator will be prevented from heating up correctly.
Bleeding your radiators every so often keeps them working efficiently, and the summer is an ideal time for doing this when you don’t need your heating on.
You might hear gurgling or rattling sounds when you turn your heating on, the top of the radiator or even the entire radiator might be cold - all signs that your radiators need bleeding. The Energy Saving Trust has some useful information about how to bleed your radiators.
It’s also important to check your boiler pressure regularly. The main two causes for losing boiler pressure are water leaks and trapped air in your radiators. The pressure gauge on your boiler should be set between 1 and 2 bar. If too low, you will need to add water to the system - check your boiler manual for instructions on how to do so. And if too high, the pressure can be lessened by bleeding your radiators.
Take the strain
Optimise your boiler’s settings and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. Avoid setting the thermostat too high and avoid turning on and off frequently which can wear out a boiler more quickly as it goes through repeated cycles of starting up and shutting down, all leading to unnecessary wear and tear on its components.
Remember to switch your boiler on for an hour or so every few weeks in summer to avoid problems such as seized pumps or valves - switching off for long periods of time can trigger issues with your central heating system.
And don’t forget to ease the burden on your boiler by insulating your home to reduce heat loss, so it doesn’t have to work as hard in the colder winter months. Not only advantageous to your heating oil boiler but also to your pocket as your heating oil bills are reduced.
Whilst cavity wall and loft insulation can be costly, there are some simple inexpensive quick fixes that will really make a difference. Draft excluders made from old clothing are one example, for instance, and draft excluder tape can be bought from your local DIY for just a few pounds. Check out our recent blog for more tips on maximising home efficiency and reducing heat loss.
Fuel quality
The type of fuel you use in your oil boiler can also influence its longevity. Choosing a cleaner burning fuel with an additive such as our Premium Heating Oil (PHO) rather than standard kerosene keeps components cleaner with less carbon build-up, helps to prevent rust developing in your boiler, and can make it up to 15% more efficient.
Specially formulated and proven to optimise performance, PHO is also good for the environment, with reduced CO2 emissions as fuel is burned off more efficiently when compared to standard kerosene.
It's also important not to run out of home heating oil. When your heating oil tank runs dry, your boiler will shut down, but not before any sludge or sediment that may have settled at the bottom of your tank over time has been pulled through, which can cause problems with the filter, the oil pump and the oil line. Should this happen, you may need a heating oil engineer to attend to bleed the oil line and get you back up and running once you've topped up your heating oil tank.
Our automatic refilling service helps avoid such circumstances occurring, and is just one of the valuable benefits of our Premium Package and provides peace of mind and convenience too - plus it also comes with an upgrade to our Premium Heating oil.
Monitor and address problems promptly
Even if you service your boiler regularly and take the above steps to extend your boiler’s lifespan, things can and do go wrong. A lack of heat or hot water is one of the most common problems, your boiler may randomly switch off, there may be a leak or you may hear unusual noises coming from your boiler. The important thing is to act quickly – your OFTEC registered heating oil engineer will be able to diagnose the problem and usually get you up and running in no time at all.
However, your boiler may quite simply be at the end of its life, and here are 4 signs that indicate the time may have come to replace your heating oil boiler:
- It’s age – as your boiler gets older, it’s more at risk of developing costly age-related issues which could ultimately result in boiler breakdowns. In addition, it’s efficiency will start to fall, meaning wasted money as well as the extra damage it’ll be doing to the environment. According to OFTEC, older appliances are typically around 60-70% efficient, where as modern high efficiency condensing appliances are normally more than 90% efficient;
- It’s making noises – if your boiler is whistling, banging, hissing or gurgling, it’s a tell-tale sign that something isn’t right;
- The flame isn’t blue – your oil boiler flame should be blue. If it’s a different colour, it’s a certain sign that there’s not enough oxygen getting to it. This means the oil won’t be burning properly, and can even mean that your boiler may be producing carbon monoxide. So if your boiler’s flame is yellow, orange or even white, you need to get to the root of the issue and your OFTEC registered engineer will be able to diagnose the problem accordingly;
- Increased fuel usage – whilst fuel usage can increase due to other factors such as colder temperatures outside or heating more rooms, higher consumption can be a sign of malfunctioning components within your boiler. If, for instance, the oil burner is not operating efficiently, more oil will be consumed.
Replacing an older boiler can take away the worry and inconvenience of breakdowns, as well as the financial burden of repeated repair work. In fact, it could potentially save you money in the long run not just by sparing you repair costs but also because modern boilers are much more efficient than their older counterparts.
If your boiler does need replacing, it may also be a good time to consider switching to another fuel source such as LPG. Whilst the outgoing UK government has been championing the installation of heat pumps for off-grid properties, they're not suitable for everyone.
LPG, as well as being cleaner burning than heating oil, produces fewer pollutants and virtually no particulate matter, is more versatile, is virtually impossible to steal, and is safe. And renewable gases are on their way, which are drop-in solutions that are compatible with existing systems and bring further environmental benefits.
Plus LPG boilers are significantly less expensive than heating oil boilers, take up less space and in addition, the price of LPG is less than heating oil at this point in time.
If you’d like more information about converting to LPG, please give us a call on 01423 772 789.