# Should I repair or replace my boiler?

*David · Founder, Datum · Datum · Boilers*

The rule of thumb: under about 10 years old with a single, non-major fault — repair. Over 12–15 years, or facing a big-ticket part (heat exchanger, PCB, fan) on top of rising bills and repeat call-outs — replacement usually wins on total cost within a couple of years. The two questions that settle most cases: is the failed part a major one, and are parts still available for your model? A discontinued boiler needing a heat exchanger is a replace; a five-year-old boiler needing a diverter valve is a repair. We quote both, every time, and let you choose with the real numbers.

## When repair is the right call

A relatively young boiler (say, under 10) with a well-defined, cheaper fault — a valve, a sensor, a pump — is worth repairing. It's sound, parts are available, and a new boiler wouldn't pay for itself. Replacing it would be selling you something you don't need, which we won't do.

## When replacement wins

Age past 12–15 years, a major component failure, discontinued parts, falling efficiency and repeat breakdowns for different faults — any two of those together and the maths tips. A new A-rated boiler with a long warranty often pays back a meaningful slice of the install cost each year in gas savings, before you count the avoided emergency call-outs.

## The honest number we give you

We diagnose the actual fault, then quote the repair and a like-for-like replacement side by side — including the efficiency difference and the warranty you'd gain. No pressure, no scare tactics; the decision is yours, made on real figures rather than a doorstep sales pitch.

> Two questions settle it: is the failed part a major one, and can you still get parts? We quote both routes every time — the decision should be yours, made on real numbers.
>
> — David, Founder, Datum

## Related questions

### Is it worth repairing a 12-year-old boiler?

Depends on the part. A cheap component on an otherwise sound unit, maybe. A major part like a heat exchanger — that money usually goes further into a new boiler with a 10-year warranty. We show you both numbers so it's your call.

### Do new boilers really save enough to justify the cost?

An old, inefficient boiler can run well below a modern A-rated one. On a typical family gas bill the upgrade recovers a real slice of its cost annually — genuine, but we'll give you an honest estimate for your home, not a sales figure.

### What if parts for my boiler are discontinued?

That's often the deciding factor. If the part you need is no longer made, a repair can be impossible or hugely marked-up, and replacement becomes the sensible route. We tell you straight if your model's there.

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