Ways to increase your boiler's lifespan

A boiler is a machine that runs for thousands of hours a year. How it is looked after decides whether you get ten years out of it or fifteen.

1. Service it annually

The single biggest factor, and the one that also protects the warranty. Small faults get caught while they are small.

2. Keep the system water clean

This is the one that matters more than the rest put together. Sludge and debris circulating through the heat exchanger are what kill boilers early. A proper flush at installation and a magnetic filter afterwards make a real difference.

3. Check the pressure

Most systems sit between 1 and 1.5 bar cold. If you are topping it up often, you have a leak — find it rather than keep refilling.

4. Bleed the radiators

Air in the system makes the boiler work harder for less heat. Once a year is usually enough.

5. Run it in summer

Turn the heating on for a few minutes every month or so through summer. It stops the pump and valves seizing, which is why so many boilers fail the first cold week of October.

6. Lag the condensate pipe

If the condensate pipe runs outside, insulate it. A frozen condensate is one of the most common January breakdowns and one of the easiest to prevent.