Planning for your boiler's replacement

Whether your heating system is newly installed or approaching the end of its life, plan ahead to avoid costly call-outs or being forced into a snap decision when the time comes to replace it. 

Having a forward plan will open up a wider range of options and ensure you’ve got the right funding in place, especially if you’re interested in low-carbon heating options. 

It also gives you the opportunity to make other improvements to your home that will help pave the way to a lower-carbon, more cost-effective future.

Wherever you are in your boiler's life span, get a free personalised plan to show you where you can make improvements to your home and how much it will cost. Try it out: use our home energy planning tool. 

Why you should avoid a last-minute boiler decision

In a recent Which? survey of homeowners with old heating systems (older than eight years), 3 in 4 (75%) told us they were not prepared in the event that they need to replace their system. A quarter (27%) of homeowners surveyed who had not prepared told us they take a “wait-till-it-breaks” approach to their heating. 

In the same survey, 15% told us they'd consider swapping to an air source heat pump for their next heating system. 

Read more: use our calculator to see how to maximise your heat pump savings with a specialist tariff in our guide to air source heat pump costs and savings

However, installing low-carbon technology isn’t an overnight decision you can make when your boiler has already broken down. With longer lead times and the option to make other improvements to your home’s setup, it’s worth planning well in advance. 

And if you just want a like-for-like replacement for your boiler, having a plan in place means you'll know how you're going to pay for it and who will carry out the work.

Just want a new boiler? Head to our guide to how to buy the best boiler for advice

Top tips for all boiler owners:

• Have a replacement plan in place before a breakdown. A surprise boiler replacement leaves more disruption and longer wait times.
• Service your boiler annually. This keeps it running more efficiently and can prevent costly repairs.
• Start making your home more energy efficient. If your boiler is new, focus on improvements that will lower your bills immediately and future-proof your home.
• If possible, ring-fence some savings. Replacing a boiler or switching to a new heating system is a big expense. Start putting money aside now so you're not caught off guard by a hefty bill.

Here are our recommendations, depending on your boiler's current status:

1) If your boiler is new or in good working condition

If your boiler is in good shape, keep up with annual servicing to make sure it works as well as possible for as long as possible. 

Even boilers that are doing the job may not be operating at optimum efficiency. During a boiler service, your engineer can set yours up to make instant energy savings by making the most of its settings and features. 

Check the small print of your boiler’s warranty, which often requires an annual boiler service to remain valid.

Get the best boiler service: Top tips for making the most of your appointment, and find out how much you can expect to pay

Take the opportunity to make your home more efficient

No matter what heating system you have, you’ll save money on your bills by keeping the heat you generate inside your home. 

If your boiler is still new and you’re not worried about needing a replacement any time soon, it’s a good time to put your savings towards other home improvements that will lower your bills. 

You’ll start to see a return straight away, and you’ll also be futureproofing your home so that it’s optimised for a low-carbon heating system in the future.

• Loft insulation: Loft insulation is one of the best - and most affordable - places to start improving your home’s energy efficiency. See what you can do yourself and when you might need an expert in our guide to how to buy loft insulation. 
• Insulating walls and floors: These are bigger, more disruptive jobs, but can have big rewards. If you’re having other building work done, take the chance to to minimise disruption and make your home improvements more cost-effective. See our guide on how to insulate your home for more information. 
• Double glazing It's an expensive job, but updating your windows will give instant rewards, making your home cosier in winter and keeping it cooler in summer. It will warm up quickly and for longer when your heating is on, making your home cheaper to heat. You'll also benefit from better sound insulation. Get started with our guide on how to buy double glazing.

2) If your boiler is starting to develop minor faults

As your boiler starts to age, it’s even more important to keep up regular servicing and maintenance to keep it going for as long as possible. 

Because heating systems are so expensive to install, we don't recommend you replace a boiler ahead of its time. You’re better off making sure you have some savings ringfenced for repairs as and when you need them. 

Do you need boiler cover? 

Our research consistently finds that, on the whole, you’re better off paying ad hoc for boiler repairs, rather than taking out insurance policies that can have spiralling premiums. 

However, in some cases – if your boiler is particularly unreliable, for example – you might prefer the peace of mind that comes with a policy. You might also get it as part of a packaged deal, for example with home or contents insurance, so see whether you're entitled to anything through other policies you have, to make sure you’re not paying twice.

How to choose boiler cover: see whether you need it and how much it costs. 

Find a reputable heating engineer

Finding a trustworthy boiler engineer you can rely on, who knows your home and your system already, can be an invaluable resource as your boiler ages. 

Keep up with regular boiler servicing and ask them how you can keep your system working well for longer.

Which? Trusted Traders vets local traders and ensures they have all the right certifications and credentials. 

Check past customer reviews and find a heating engineer near you at Which? Trusted Traders.

Plan ahead for what comes next

At this stage in your boiler’s life, it’s really worth making a plan for what might come next. 

• If you’re likely to want another boiler: bear in mind that this will be a big expense. While financing options are available, it’s always best to pay upfront if you can, so start ringfencing some savings so you won't be caught off guard by a big bill later on. Find out more about how much a new boiler costs or read our guide to the different types of savings account.
• If you’re interested in switching to a low-carbon heating system such as a heat pump or a hybrid system, this stage in your boiler’s life is a good time to start researching what's available and the routes to financing. 

Research the right heating system for you

Most UK homes are heated by 'wet' central heating, using a fossil-fuel-powered boiler to heat water, which is then circulated through pipes and radiators around your home. 

But there are other options out there, with different pros and cons for different types of home. You can also put together hybrid systems that use a variety of technologies for different things, in different parts of your home, or at different times of year. 

Read more about: the different types of home heating system.

Talking to an expert about what could work for your home in the future can be invaluable. If you have a forward plan in mind for building work you might need and what you might expect to spend, you can do the work gradually as and when it suits you. Plus, you can keep an eye out for any relevant grants or discounts that might help with costs.

Future-proof your central heating

Air-to-water heat pumps are the most common type installed in UK homes. They operate by passing water through your central heating system, so can be most closely compared to a typical boiler system. However, they tend to heat water to lower flow temperatures than boilers. This means heat pumps can be more efficient to run if you have large heat emitters (ie radiators) throughout your home.

• Assess your radiators: You can get an assessment at any time to see whether your home’s radiators would work with a heat pump. If they need to be upgraded, you might choose to do this ahead of time to spread out the costs.   
• Install underfloor heating: Wet underfloor heating is, in essence, simply turning your floor into a very large radiator that runs at a low flow temperature, so it can pair very well with a heat pump system. It’s expensive to install, but if you're doing other renovation work, you could consider combining the two. 

Underfloor heating: learn how it works, see installation and running costs, plus testimonials from homeowners who've had it fitted.

3) If your boiler is nearing the end of its life

By the time your boiler is showing signs that it might not last much longer, or if it’s particularly old, a plan is essential. 

Research your options, and make sure you have a heating engineer you trust on hand.

We don’t recommend replacing a functioning boiler before its time. But if yours is unlikely to last the winter, having a plan ready will spare you the stress of a last-minute decision.

If your next system is going to be a boiler, see our guide on how to buy the best boiler.

4) If you're interested in a heat pump

If your boiler is near the end of its life and you're interested in switching to a heat pump, you’ll need to get prepared earlier: while a like-for-like boiler replacement often takes only a few days, a heat pump is likely to take a few weeks.

• Decide what type of system you need: our guide to how heat pumps work explains the basics, or find out more about air source heat pumps.
• Get quotes from different installers: Look for local heat pump installers who come well recommended, and ask for a selection of quotes. Some energy companies and banks offer deals on heat pumps and installation. Head to Which? Trusted Traders to find vetted local heat pump engineers near you. You can also use the MCS Register to find certified installers of heat pumps, solar panels and other green tech in your area.
• See whether you can access the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS): To access the government’s BUS grant, you’ll need to use an MCS-registered engineer. The grant offers a discount of £7,500 on the upfront price for homeowners in England and Wales. The Scottish government also offers a similar scheme.

Read more on: air source heat pump costs and savings, which includes a running costs and savings calculator.

Use our personalised home energy planning service

If you're interested in making your home more energy efficient, it can be hard to know where your money is best spent and what types of installation would benefit your home's specific needs. That’s where our home energy planning tool can help. It cuts through the confusion, giving you information tailored to your property. Using data you input, as well as your EPC reports and other specifics, the tool will tell you how you can reduce your energy bills and how much it might cost upfront. 

You can get started with a plan and make any initial updates when your boiler is still working, ensuring you're well set up and ready to act when you do need a replacement.

Get a free home energy plan today

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