Should I Repair or Replace My Boiler? How to Decide

This is the question we get asked most often. Your boiler has broken down, the engineer has given you a repair quote, and you are wondering whether it makes more sense to just get a new one. Here is how to think about it clearly.

The one third rule

If a single repair costs more than a third of the price of a new boiler, replacement usually makes more financial sense. A new combi boiler installed starts from around £1,790. So if a repair quote is above £500 to £600, you are getting into replacement territory.

Repair if:

• Your boiler is under 8 years old
• It is a straightforward, one off fix (a valve, a sensor, an ignition lead)
• The repair cost is under £300
• The boiler has been reliable otherwise
• It is still under warranty

Replace if:

• Your boiler is over 10 to 12 years old
• You have had two or more repairs in the last year
• The repair involves a major component like a heat exchanger or PCB
• Parts are discontinued or hard to source
• Your energy bills are noticeably higher than they should be
• The repair quote is above £500

The efficiency argument

An old G rated boiler runs at around 60 to 70% efficiency. A new A rated boiler runs at 90% or above. That means for every pound you spend on gas, your old boiler wastes 30 to 40p. A new one wastes less than 10p.

Over a year, that difference adds up to £200 to £400 in gas savings. Over 10 years, a new boiler can literally pay for itself in lower bills alone.

What we would honestly tell you

We repair boilers every day. We would never push someone towards a replacement if a £150 repair will keep their boiler running safely for another few years. Equally, we will be straight with you if we think you are throwing good money after bad. There is no point spending £400 repairing a 15 year old boiler that will probably break again in six months.

Need help with your boiler? Our Gas Safe registered engineers cover the North East. Get in touch today or call 07579 760536.