What are the Most Common Reasons Behind Boilers Breaking?
Having a boiler break down on you can be incredibly frustrating. It rarely happens at the most opportune moment, instead failing during an exceptionally cold wintry spell or when your budget is least prepared for the costs of a new boiler installation.
Thankfully, knowing the main causes of boiler breakdowns makes it a little easier to prevent them from happening. From inadequate maintenance to water pressure issues, here are a few things to keep an eye on.
Inadequate maintenance
One of the most common reasons behind why boilers break down is inadequate maintenance.
Even the most advanced boiler needs to be serviced by a company like Able Plumbers at least once a year, and failure to do so almost inevitably means that it will break down at some point.
If it’s your own home, this annual maintenance schedule is a recommendation. If you’re the owner of a rental property, however, then it becomes a legal requirement.
Either way, you won’t save money by putting off regular maintenance—you’ll end up wasting it on unnecessary repairs.
Old age
Boilers won’t last forever, no matter how well you look after them. As a result, at a certain point, breakdowns will likely start to become increasingly common until the cost of repairs starts to exceed the cost of investing in a new model.
In most cases, your boiler technician will alert you when it’s time to buy a new option. This could be when your boiler is around 20 years old, or a little less if it hasn’t been properly looked after.
Some boilers will also last longer than this, but may suffer from inefficiencies compared to newer models.
Limescale build-ups
Another common cause of boilers breaking is limescale deposits. Over time, limescale can start to build up in various locations in the boiler, reducing efficiency and even potentially causing damage due to overheating.
If you have limescale buildups, you’ll potentially hear some strange noises known as kettling.
Limescale deposits tend to be a lot quicker to occur in areas with harder water, but you can always install a water softener to prevent or at least slow down this issue.
Water pressure
In most cases, boilers require a certain water pressure in order to operate at optimum efficiency. Should the water pressure dip below this point, it’s possible that the boiler may stop working completely.
Low pressure can be caused by a number of issues, including small pipes, blockages in the system, or even water leaks.
If you suspect that you have a water pressure issue, it’s worth getting a plumber to come over and take a look at your water system to see if there’s an easy fix.
Knowing how to look after your boiler and plumbing system more generally makes it a lot less likely that your boiler will suffer avoidable breakdowns.
It’s important to stay on top of your maintenance schedule and sort out any issues that pop up before they escalate into something more severe.
