How Long Do Boilers Last? - Viessmann CA

When is an old boiler too old?

There are many residential boilers in North America that are very old and inefficient, and they no longer work optimally. In most cases, upgrading these systems is necessary to save money on fuel and minimize environmental impacts. In fact, replacing your old boiler sooner rather than later is likely to make your house more comfortable and your boiler less expensive to maintain.

However, if a boiler is still working after many years, it begs the question of how long can a boiler last? Additionally, as new environmental laws take effect, are there any legal regulations governing the age of a system, and if so, what are they? Let's explore the topic of how long a boiler should last and at what point it makes sense to upgrade or replace your system.

 

What is the lifetime of a boiler?

It's only when the heating system breaks down that many homeowners and residents become aware of the age of their boiler. After all, the same boiler may have been standing in the basement for decades, doing its job for a long time without really attracting attention.

However, usually this means it became increasingly uneconomical in the months and years leading up to the breakdown. As this is usually a gradual process, heating costs rise slowly over the course of years, and in many cases the system owners simply attribute this to rising fuel prices. Few people think of this as a mechanical problem or a sign that the lifetime of your boiler is coming to an end.

Generally speaking, the optimal lifespan of most boilers is around 15 years, with some better warranties lasting up to 10 years. If your boiler is older than this, then you may want to consider upgrading your system.

 

How can you identify how old your boiler is?

Once you know how long a boiler should last, it's a good idea to check the age of your equipment. As a general rule, you can find this information on the rating plate of the boiler. In addition to the year of manufacture, the manufacturer is also listed. If you can't find what you're looking for, you can still discover your boiler's age by contacting the manufacturer and providing them with the boiler's serial number. This information will allow the manufacturer to determine what year your boiler was built in.