Don’t get left in the cold! Too often, we see facility managers or property owners waiting until a boiler completely breaks down before replacing it. To make matters worse, these situations typically arise when the boiler has been working at its peak – during winter. A routine breakdown can turn into a full-fledged emergency quickly in bitterly cold conditions, and unless emergency funds are readily available, an unplanned boiler replacement can become a financial burden.
Rather than waiting until your boiler is completely kaput, plan for a boiler replacement well in advance. Here are some tell-tale signs that it might be time to break up with your boiler:
- It’s Getting Up There in Years: If your boiler is 15 years or older, it’s time to start planning for a new system. With proper annual maintenance, your boiler should last at least 15 years, but with advances in technology, you may struggle to get parts for older models in the future.
- It’s Getting Bad Grades: Modern boilers come with an efficiency rating, on a scale of A – G, indicating how efficient each model is. Boilers with an A rating are in the 90% efficiency group, while boilers with a G rating are in the 70% efficiency group. While this doesn’t sound like a huge difference, it could translate to hundreds of dollars on your energy expenses each year.
- It Isn’t a Winner: If your boiler system takes an extended period of time to heat up or has been failing to operate at all, it’s likely that you’re due for a major overhaul or a replacement.
- It Looks a Little Weird: It may seem like a small thing, but if your boiler burns with a yellow flame instead of blue, it could be a sign the fuel is burning incorrectly and creating carbon monoxide. If you haven’t already installed carbon monoxide detectors in your boiler room and throughout your property, the WARE pros strongly recommend you do so right away.
- It Can’t Hold It: A boiler that is leaking or requires additional make-up water could be nearing the end of its lifecycle. Avoid costly floods, property and boiler damage, and more by replacing the existing unit.
If you’re worried that problems may be bubbling up in your boiler, don’t forget that you can always call the pros at WARE to get more information and to schedule preventative maintenance appointments.