When Should You Replace Your Boiler vs Repairing It?
Your boiler is one of the hardest working bits of kit in your home. It quietly keeps you warm, gives you hot water, and you don’t really think about it… until it starts making a funny noise or throws up a fault code.
So, the big question we get at Abingdon Plumbing & Heating is:
“Do I repair it, or is it time to replace it?”
The honest answer is... it depends on the age, the fault, the parts cost, and how reliable you need your heating to be. Below is a simple guide to help you decide.
Start with the age of the boiler
- Under 8 years old and has been serviced?
👉 Often worth repairing. - 8 to 12 years old
👉 Depends on condition and part cost. - 12 plus years old (especially older noncondensing models)
👉 It’s usually more cost-effective to start thinking about a replacement.
Boilers don’t just “stop” at 12 years, but parts get harder to source, efficiency drops, and you tend to get repeat callouts which add up.
How serious is the fault?
Some issues are cheap and straightforward, others are a “big ticket.”
Usually worth repairing:
- Failed/blocked condensate
- Pressure issues
- Sensors/thermistors
- Minor leaks
- Diverter valve (on a fairly young boiler)
- Fans on a mid-age boiler
Think about replacing when:
- Multiple components are failing in the same year
- Heat exchanger is cracked/failing
- PCB (main board) is gone on a very old boiler
- Parts are obsolete or silly money for the age of the boiler
If the repair is going to cost you £400 to £600 on a 12-year-old+ boiler, you’re often better putting that money towards a new, efficient model.
Are you getting repeat breakdowns?
One breakdown in winter is normal. Three breakdowns in the same winter, the boiler is telling you something.
If you’re calling us out every few months, that’s:
- Inconvenient
- Costly in labour and parts
- Risky if you’ve got kids or elderly in the home
At that point, replacement gives you reliability and predictability, especially if you pair it with our Homecare package for annual servicing and priority callouts.
Efficiency and running costs
Newer boilers are more efficient. If you’ve got an older, over-sized, non-condensing boiler, you could be burning money every time the heating comes on.
A new, correctly sized boiler:
- Uses less gas
- Heats water faster
- Works better with modern controls
- Is easier to get parts for
So, if you’re already facing an expensive repair, upgrading can actually save money long term.
Safety and compliance
Some things aren’t negotiable.
If we find:
- Unsafe flueing
- Signs of products of combustion in the property
- Serious gas safety issues
- DIY alterations
…we may have to turn the appliance off and make it safe. In these cases, replacement (or major remedial work) is the sensible option.
Your safety comes first.
Property plans: are you staying or selling?
- Staying 5+ years?
A new boiler gives peace of mind, warranty, and lower running costs. - Selling soon?
A repair might be enough to keep it running, but a new boiler can also make the house more attractive to buyers.
Tell us your plan and we can advise based on value, not just “new for the sake of new.”
What a good engineer will do
When we come out from Abingdon Plumbing & Heating, we don’t just say “new boiler” as default. Which unfortunately is not uncommon!
We’ll:
- Inspect the boiler and fault
- Tell you if the part is available
- Give you the repair price
- Give you the replacement price
- Tell you honestly which makes more sense
Sometimes a £120 repair will give you another 3 years. Sometimes that same £120 is better in the pot for a new boiler. We’ll tell you straight.
Signs it’s time to replace your boiler
- It’s 12 to15+ years old
- It keeps losing pressure or locking out
- It’s getting noisy (kettling, pump straining)
- Parts are becoming obsolete
- You want better controls/smart thermostat
- You’re renovating and want everything modernised
At that stage, a modern, efficient boiler with a proper filter, correct flueing and a system clean is the smarter move.
Why replace with Abingdon Plumbing & Heating?
- Local to Abingdon, Didcot & surrounding areas
- Same day/fast attendance where possible
- We install to manufacturer’s instructions (to protect your warranty)
- We offer a 1-Year Workmanship Guarantee on our work
- We can service it every year and keep it happy
- We can bring it under our Homecare package, so you’ve got support going forward
Bottom line
- Small/one-off fault on a younger boiler? Repair it.
- Big, expensive fault on an old boiler? Replace it.
- Multiple faults and winter’s coming? Replace it and stop the stress.
If you’re not sure which camp yours sits in, send us:
- A photo of the boiler front
- The make/model
- The fault/code (if shown)
…and we can tell you what’s realistic.
Abingdon Plumbing & Heating
