Your boiler is in poor condition, here is what it means for you

Author: John

28th April 2024

6 min read

Following your heating engineers visit your boiler has, in their expert opinion, been categorised as:

Boiler Condition: Poor

Your heating engineer has classed your boiler as poor.

But what does this mean and why has the boiler expert come to this decision?

A Boiler in ‘poor’ condition is commonly a boiler that is showing signs of previous or current water leaks, visible significant rust may be showing and or the boiler is just generally in a poor condition, due to its age, lack of service history and or lack of past maintenance works. A boiler in poor condition is more prone to developing intermittent faults, that mean recurring mechanical and or electrical failures are more likely to come back time and time again.

The boiler make and model may also be known for being expensive or problematic to repair or known in the industry to have common faults.

What does this mean for you?

You should consider that a boiler in Poor condition may end up developing unforeseen issues which can lead to multiple visits or even make the situation worse, as removing parts at times can cause other parts to fail. This can result in increased costs, making any repair works uneconomical.

We recommend you consider your options before carrying our any repair works to your boiler that is categorised as Poor.

It is important to note that carrying out repair(s) or servicing works on a boiler that has been categorised as poor, will normally not improve the overall condition of the boiler.

Why are we making you aware of this?

Put simply, we want to make you aware of this so you can make an informed choice before deciding to proceed with any boiler repair works we may have quoted you for.

Boiler systems are complex, so to carry out your repair works, our engineer may need to remove other boiler parts to carry out the repair(s).

When our engineers start removing parts from boilers , sometimes only then can a fuller extent of any issue(s) become more apparent, leading to further issues developing.

It’s important to note that once parts are fitted, we are unable to return them to the suppliers.

Should I replace my boiler?

It is a question we get asked every day! Your boiler may just need a simple repair carried out and most of the time this may work, however boilers in poor condition can end up meaning customers can throw good money after bad. Our team are always on hand to answer any questions you may have, ultimately the choice is yours.

If you would like to find out how much a new boiler would cost, please contact a member of our team prior to accepting any repair works. Or you can get an instant quote by visiting our online boiler tool.

Average repair costs of a boiler in poor condition vs a new boiler?

In Edinburgh, fixing a boiler that’s in poor condition can often end up costing more than getting a new one. Usually, repairs for these old boilers cost between £500 and £700. This price can go up fast if there are a lot of problems or if it’s hard to find the parts you need. If the parts have failed because of bad water quality, simply replacing them won’t address the underlying issue, as the new parts will can be contaminated with rusty water where debris can get blocked in the new parts.

To really fix the problem, you’d also need to treat your central heating system with a chemical flush. This is important for a long-term solution because without it, any new parts are likely to fail just like the old ones. Chemical flush start around £200, up to £800 depending on the chemical flushing solution you need.

On the other hand, a new boiler costs about £2,000 to £4,000, depending on the type you choose and they come with a chemical flush included in the price. Even though it’s more expensive at first, a new boiler is less likely to break down and can save you money on your heating bills because it uses less energy. Considering how cold it can get in Edinburgh during winter, buying a new boiler could be a smarter choice in the long run.

You have categorised my boiler as poor, why haven’t you just sent me a quote to replace my boiler?

Sometimes we will, for example if your boiler is beyond economical repair or parts are unavailable, send you a quote to replace your boiler.

We will not send a quote to replace your boiler without you requesting this from us first. We feel this is important, as replacing a boiler is a commitment and not one anyone should take before seeking expert advice first. That is why our team are always on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Next Steps

If we have provided you with a quote to repair your boiler and you wish to proceed, please click on the green ‘ACCEPT MY QUOTE’ button that you will see in your quotation.
If you have any questions about the job report we sent you, please reply to the email we sent you with your job report and member of our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Top 3 tips to keep your boiler in tip top condition.

Get your boiler serviced every 12 months. Check out our boiler service plans.
Get your central heating system chemically flushed, speak to a heating engineer to advise you best.
Ask your heating engineer to add inhibitors to your system and to monitor your boilers PH levels. This will help you look after the water in your central heating system.

In summary

This article explains why it’s important to know if your boiler is in ‘poor condition’ and what that means for you. It talks about the problems/costs that can come up if you keep using or try to fix a poorly working boiler. It also aims to help you think about whether to fix or replace your boiler and what might be the right decision for you.