Upgrading your boiler
Upgrading your boiler can seem like a daunting task. But a little preparation can go a long way. So, if you’re thinking about taking the plunge and making a change then our list of pros and cons is essential reading.
Let’s start with the con that’s probably front and centre in your mind: cost.
We won’t sugar-coat it, a new boiler can cost a lot of money. Obviously, it depends on the model and brand you choose, but you’re looking at £500 at least, and potentially up to £3,000. That’s a significant amount, no doubt about it.
However, simply looking at a new boiler as a single upfront figure is misleading - why? We’ll explain with our first pro…
You’ll save money.
A new boiler is going to be much more efficient than an older model – especially if it’s not working properly - and a more efficient boiler means monthly savings on your bills. So when you’re working out the cost of one you need to take this in to consideration as you’re likely to eventually make that money back as those monthly savings begin adding up.
A new boiler is an expensive one time cost but quickly begins to save you money, and continues to save money in the long term
The amount you’ll save per month really depends on what the rating of your previous model was. If it was rated ‘G’ you could be saving as much as £200 per year. Even with a boiler at the lower end of the price bracket you’ll have recouped your expenses in under three years.
And that’s not the only money you’ll be saving.
You won’t have to pay for emergency repairs. A lot of people wait until their boiler breaks down before finally making an upgrade. But when this happens you’re going to be shelling out a little extra to patch the old one up enough to function for a short period of time. So while you may think you’re saving money by sticking with your old boiler, it’s ultimately a false economy.
Another pro to consider is increasing space in your home. The majority of old boilers are pretty big and take up a lot of real estate, and aren’t always positioned in the most convenient places. An upgrade gives you the choice of a smaller model, to reorganise the space around it or potentially even move the boiler.
25 people a year die due to carbon monoxide poisoning1 - a newer boiler is a safer boiler.
The final pro, and arguably the most important one, is safety. If your boiler is old, or if you haven’t kept up the maintenance, it could be liable to leak poisonous carbon monoxide. Given that it’s both odourless and tasteless it’s impossible to detect without an alarm, and the NHS estimates that 25 people per year die in England and Wales as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning1.
If you’re a landlord you’re responsible for the safety of your tenants, and if it’s your family home you already know that keeping them safe is always a priority. A great way of doing that: upgrade your boiler to ensure it is as safe as possible.
