How do I know when I need to install a new boiler?

Published on January 23, 2025

How do I know when I need to install a new boiler? Check out RJ Martindale’s advice on what to look out for

How do I know when I need to install a new boiler? Check out RJ Martindale’s advice on what to look out for.

The colder months at the start of a new year is the time when you’re likely to be thinking about a new boiler installation.

If you’ve noticed that your radiators aren’t heating up as quickly or thoroughly as you’d like them to, you aren’t getting enough hot water to keep pace with your family’s demand for baths and showers or your old boiler’s starting to leak or make unusual noises, installation of a new boiler may be the most cost-effective way of making sure your household stays warm and comfortable.

Not sure whether you need to install a new boiler? Check our top tips!

RJ Martindale’s expert Gas Safe Registered boiler installation engineers set out some of the telltale signs which indicate that a new boiler installation might be needed:

1. You’ve got leaks or drips from pipes

Every boiler and central heating system has many elements which carry water around your home, and these will deteriorate or even wear out over time. It might just be a seal or an O-ring which needs replacing, or a pipe itself could be rusted – either way, an engineer can pinpoint the problem.

Boiler leaks should be fixed quickly to eliminate the risk of water coming into contact with electrical wiring and causing a short circuit. But if you’re finding that your boiler is continually leaking and it’s costing you a fortune in repairs, now’s the time to check out a boiler installation from your local RJ Martindale team.

Click here to get an INSTANT Boiler Quotation.

2. Your energy bills are sky-high

If you’re noticing your energy bills are constantly on the rise, your old boiler might be costing you more than it should. Modern boilers have come a long way, and offer fantastic energy efficiency compared to boilers installed even just 10 years ago. Designed to limit wasted energy and to maximise the heat you gain from the energy you use, installing a modern boiler could make a real difference to your household budget.

3. Your water pressure often seems low

There are some causes of this that you can’t do anything about, but equally it can be a sign that all isn’t well with your boiler. Start by checking your boiler’s pressure gauge. If it’s reading below 1, you should get it investigated, as it’s most likely the sign of either a faulty part, such as a pressure release valve, or worse, that your heat exchanger needs replacing.

If your boiler pressure stays low, or you experience a sudden drop in pressure, that’s the time to call a RJ Martindale Gas Safe Registered boiler engineer, who’ll give you reliable advice as to whether a quick boiler repair will solve the problem, or whether a new boiler installation might be needed.

Need a new boiler for your home? Contact Bolton's No.1 Plumbers and Heating Engineers

4. You’re bothered by banging or gurgling noises

Like any system with liquids circulating inside it, your boiler and central heating system will often make some noises. Usually it’s just pipes expanding and shrinking to handle the pressure they’re subjected to, water passing through them, or just your system firing up.

But clunking, banging or gurgling sounds are signs of something potentially more serious, and you should get them investigated. Again, this is a job for a Gas Safe Registered engineer from RJ Martindale, who’ll check out the problem and give you some expert advice. If the boiler’s unsafe, our engineer will recommend replacement and installation of a new, modern and energy-efficient boiler to suit your budget.

5. Your radiators and hot water aren’t heating up quickly

This is a sure sign that your boiler is nearing the end of the road, especially when it’s coupled with pressure readings that are consistently low and high energy bills. That’s the time when we recommend you explore a new boiler installation with RJ Martindale.

Click here to get an INSTANT Boiler Quotation.

6. You notice that ‘rotten eggs’ smell

That’s the sign of a serious problem that will need immediate attention by a RJ Martindale Gas Safe Registered engineer. If you’re noticing this smell, turn your boiler off straight away and call the national gas emergency line, on 0800 111 999.

Other signs of a leak aren’t so obvious, as carbon monoxide is free of smell or colour. Indicators of a carbon monoxide leak might include the pilot light flame burning yellow rather than blue, black marks around the bottom of the boiler, which indicate soot deposits, or someone in your house getting regular headaches or feeling dizzy or nauseous. If this is the case, your boiler is likely to be unsafe.

Install your new boiler with RJ Martindale’s Gas Safe Registered team in Bolton and beyond!

Your new boiler installation should be carried out by an accredited Gas Safe Registered engineer, ensuring your new boiler operates to its best.
The Gas Safe Register is a scheme overseen by the Health and Safety Executive, and RJ Martindale has been operating under it for more than half a century. Now installing boilers throughout the North West, including Bolton, Horwich, Chorley, Preston and we’re one of the North West’s most trusted gas boiler installation businesses, protecting homes, families and investments with fully-qualified, accredited and experienced gas boiler services.

Time to install your new boiler? Book a FREE survey with RJ Martindale’s local team of Gas Safe Registered engineers. We’ll recommend boiler models to suit your budget and your household’s needs from a range of leading manufacturers, before installing your new boiler promptly.

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