At a Glance
We recently carried out the annual service on a Worcester Bosch Greenstar Junior combi boiler for a homeowner in Hull. At around 15 years old, this boiler is getting on a bit now, but the Greenstar Junior was fitted in a huge number of homes across Hull and the East Riding, and plenty of them are still working hard today.
The Job
What a Service on an Older Boiler Covers
Every boiler is different, but on a boiler of this age these are the checks that matter most.
1. Combustion check
A flue gas analyser tells us the boiler is burning gas cleanly and safely. On older boilers this is the single most important check we do.
2. Seals, burner and electrodes
Rubber seals harden with age and electrodes wear down. Worn parts can stop the boiler lighting, or let it run less efficiently than it should.
3. Condensate trap
Condensing boilers produce water as they run. A blocked trap is one of the most common reasons a boiler cuts out on a cold morning.
4. Pressure and safety devices
We check system pressure, the expansion vessel and the pressure relief valve. These are often behind the slow pressure loss we see on boilers of this age.
Signs Your Older Boiler Needs Attention
If your boiler is 10 to 15 years old, keep an eye out for these. None of them mean you need a new boiler straight away, but they are worth getting looked at.
- The pressure keeps dropping and you find yourself topping it up. Our guide on why boilers lose pressure explains the usual causes.
- Drips, damp patches or rust marks under or inside the boiler casing.
- Banging, whistling or gurgling noises when the heating comes on.
- The boiler locks out and needs resetting more than once in a while.
- Radiators take longer to warm up than they used to.
Service, Repair or Replace?
An older boiler that is serviced every year can keep going for a long time, and a repair is often the sensible choice. We recently fixed a corroded and leaking Greenstar Junior in Hull rather than replace it.
There does come a point, though, where the repairs start adding up and parts get harder to find. When that happens we will always talk you through the options honestly. You can see what a replacement looks like in our Ideal Logic Max boiler replacement in Hull.
Is Your Boiler Due Its Annual Service?
Whatever its age, we service Worcester Bosch boilers across Hull and the East Riding. Our Gas Safe registered team will keep it safe, efficient and ready for winter.
