| Your boiler is on the blink. Now you have some | | | | expert to figure the best option and I would |
| big decisions to make. Do I get another opinion? | | | | definitely get a second or even a third opinion. |
| How much will it cost to replace the boiler as | | | | The next cause of trouble could be a failure of |
| opposed to fixing it? How much energy will be | | | | the controls on the boiler. Once again I would go |
| saved? Home heating with a hot water heating | | | | with the 20 year rule. Unless the control that |
| system is a very good way to heat. However, | | | | failed is relatively inexpensive I would replace the |
| when the boiler does not work or leaks there are | | | | boiler. Often I have seen that when one control |
| many things to think about. The troubleshooting | | | | fails other controls are soon to follow and the |
| ideas in this article will work for both steam and | | | | beast becomes a money pit. This is especially true |
| hot water boilers. | | | | of oil burners. Many new boilers now come with a |
| If there is no water running out of the boiler and | | | | five year full replacement warranty that even |
| it is just a control issue it may be best to get | | | | cover labor. Once again the really hard questions |
| another opinion. If there is water running then | | | | come for those boilers in that five to fifteen year |
| there is a stop leak liquid that can be placed into | | | | old age bracket. The questions get even harder |
| the boiler as a temporary fix. It should be viewed | | | | when you are without heat, it is freezing outside |
| as temporary and not a permanent fix. Either a | | | | and you do not have the time to get other |
| section of the boiler will have to be replaced or | | | | opinions. At this point you have very limited |
| the boiler may need to be completely replaced. | | | | options. Do make sure that you get a cost for |
| If the boiler is fairly new and the warranty will | | | | the repair before you give the permission to fix |
| pay for some of the cost then replacing a section | | | | the boiler. Electrical controls are not returnable |
| may be the way to go. Bear in mind though, that | | | | once they have been installed. So once installed |
| the warranty rarely covers the labor cost. Labor | | | | you bought them. |
| will need to be paid by the homeowner. If the | | | | Questions about boiler failure and replacement are |
| boiler is more than 20 years old then it is a | | | | many. This should give a brief overview of the |
| no-brainer, replace it, the increased efficiency | | | | options that are available for the homeowner. |
| combined with the age of the existing boiler make | | | | There are many variables and often no answer is |
| it a simple decision. Oil boilers especially are very | | | | the completely right one. Many things depend on |
| much on a down hill slope by 20 years, gas boilers | | | | the situation of the homeowner, the age of the |
| are often in better shape even though the | | | | boiler, the cost of the repair, and the efficiency of |
| efficiency is way down from what today's are. So | | | | the existing boiler as opposed to the efficiency of |
| bottom line, replace if older than 20 years. For | | | | a new boiler. Many times that all adds up to a |
| boilers in the 10-15 year range it is often a very | | | | judgment call between the homeowner and the |
| difficult call. Work with your heating service | | | | heating company. |