What is the Life Expectancy of a Commercial Boiler?

A well maintained commercial boiler is the beating heart of many businesses, especially for the likes of restaurants and cafes. But what do you do if your commercial boiler looks like it’s coming to the end of its life? 

In this guide, we’ll discuss the lifespan you can expect from a commercial boiler and how you can keep it working properly for longer.

Key Points:

• Annual servicing is the best way to ensure your commercial boiler is running efficiently and safely  
• Commercial boilers will last around 15-20 years on average  
• Higher heating bills, frequent breakdowns and odd noises are key indicators that something is wrong with your commercial boiler  

Commercial boilers usually last up to 20 years providing that they are well maintained and serviced regularly. However, just like domestic boilers, most commercial boilers will likely show signs of wear and tear before their longest expected lifespan, meaning they will start to deteriorate at around 15 years.

Can a commercial boiler be made to last longer?

The key to making your commercial boiler last longer is by regularly having it serviced and maintained by professional heating engineers. 

Regular maintenance will minimise the chances of any unforeseen breakdowns, help to extend the lifespan of the boiler and increase the chance of it running at optimal efficiency. 

How to know when your commercial boiler needs to be replaced

Even though regular boiler servicing is the best way to extend its lifespan, there will come a time when your commercial boiler needs to be replaced. But how do you actually know when your boiler needs replacing? Here’s a few examples of what to look out for:

• Reduced efficiency – If you see your energy bills increasing but you haven’t changed any of your business habits, this may be a sign that your boiler isn’t running as efficiently as it should be. This may mean something needs to be fixed or the boiler needs to be replaced altogether.

• Frequent breakdowns – If your boiler needs frequent repairs due to breakdowns, this can lead to significant costs and business downtime. If this is the case, it may be more cost effective to invest in a new system.

• Uneven heating and hot water – If the boiler is no longer providing consistent heating or hot water, it may be a sign of the boiler deteriorating.

• Banging noises – As boilers get older, they do begin to become noisier. However, if you are noticing louder noises than normal or strange noises paired with leaks, then you may need a new boiler. 

Clean your commercial boiler 

Residue such as hard water, limescale and sludge can all build up in your boiler tubes, affecting its efficiency. Even the thinnest layer of residue in your boiler can cause issues. 

Thorough cleaning of your commercial boiler should be carried out at least once a year through chemical flushes. Our expert boiler specialists can provide you with power flushing for your commercial boilers, helping to keep the system running as efficiently as possible. 

Preventative maintenance 

Commercial preventative maintenance means taking a proactive approach to keeping your commercial boiler running smoothly. It involves bringing in a professional boiler and heating engineer on a regular basis to perform tests and inspect the boiler on your property. 

Preventative maintenance should be performed at least once a year, but weekly or monthly inspections can be conducted by the building manager to help keep on top of any noticeable changes. 

Book professional servicing 

It’s important to always have your boiler serviced by a professional engineer at least once a year. Domestic boilers are usually fine with just one service per year, however, due to the nature of commercial boilers, you may want to have them serviced 2-3 times a year. 

Our team at Lacey Plumbing & Heating have years of experience helping businesses with commercial boilers, no matter what type of sector they work in. Whether you manage a school, office, restaurant or your own shop, contact us today to see how we can help you and your business.