It is incredibly easy to take central heating for granted – which makes the inevitable upheaval when your boiler dies all the more stressful to navigate. With reports that major energy companies are finding it difficult to deliver maintenance and service, it’s more important than ever that you log any issues you’re having with your own boiler as soon as you possibly can. But how can you tell that your boiler is on its way out?

High Energy Bills

Energy bills are currently rising at an unprecedented rate, with nearly 80% of households reporting an increase in their cost of living as a result of increased tariffs. Against the backdrop of an energy crisis, it can be hard to discern whether or not you are using too much energy. However, scrutiny of your usage in your monthly bill can reveal to you if you are using more energy than you would expect – in turn suggesting an issue with your central heating.

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Sulfurous Odor

If you can detect a sulfurous or eggy scent coming from your boiler, you should call an repairman out immediately, turn off your boiler and open a few windows. Eggy smells indicate the presence of a gas leak, which is an incredibly dangerous scenario to be in. This can also signal that you need a new boiler entirely – but an engineer will be sure to advise you when they investigate.

Orange or Yellow Boiler Flame

A blue flame should be visible within your boiler at all times. If this flame is yellow or orange in color, it can be a signpost to the presence of carbon monoxide. Though the change in color could indicate a need for re-calibration, or even the presence of a draught in your home, it could also indicate a boiler nearing the end of its natural life.

Evidence of Leaking

If you hear dripping from your boiler, or find evidence of leakage from the boiler itself, this can be a sure-fire sign that you need to find a replacement. Leakage indicates the failure of a crucial watertight seal somewhere, where a disintegrated component or simply an ageing fitting. Either way, leakage indicates the need for a serious servicing, in order to ensure that everything else is up to code.

New Noises From Your Radiator

Lastly, this one is a common phenomenon in the home but could also belie a much larger problem with your central heating. Radiators make noises when they warm up, and many of them are normal – chiefly, the light tapping and juddering as the metal heats up with the water. Noises with a longer duration, such as creaking and more incessant forms of juddering, can suggest the boiler is not working optimally.