The climbing cost of heating our homes has been a cause for concern with many households in recent months - but rising bills could actually be a sign that your boiler needs replacing.
Carrying out a couple of simple checks on your boiler could be the key to bringing your energy bills down and making your home more efficient. Meanwhile, looking out for unusual smells or noises when it comes to your boiler can help you to avoid expensive breakdowns - and spot potentially lethal issues.
Experts at comparison website Compare Boiler Quotes have compiled some of the biggest warning signs that your boiler may need to be looked at by an engineer, or replaced altogether. Here are four questions to ask yourself when it comes to your boiler.
READ MORE: Martin Lewis' MSE explains how Flybe passengers can claim refund for cancelled flights
Are your energy bills higher than usual?
The vast majority of households have seen their bills climb within the past few months - but it's not just the price of fuel that could be behind the increase. It's worth checking your boiler's energy efficiency rating by looking at its ErP label - a colour-coded scale that runs from A, the most efficient (dark green), down to G, the least efficient (dark red).
If your boiler is at the lower end of the efficiency scale, it may be time to replace it with a newer, more efficient model - while this involves an upfront cost, it can help to cut your bills down in the long run. An A-rated boiler is up to 20% more efficient than a G-rated one, meaning that swapping out a G-rated boiler for an A-rated one could save you up to £300 a year on your heating bill, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Are your radiators taking longer to heat up?
If your boiler is on its last legs, it may take longer to do its job properly - so if you find yourself waiting an unusually long time for your radiators to heat up, this could be a key sign that it's time to think about replacing your boiler. If this is the case, your energy bills could be driven up as your boiler works at full blast to heat your home - but it still might not be as warm as you'd like, meaning that you're wasting money until you replace or repair your boiler, consumer experts at Which? warned.
Is your boiler making unusual sounds?
If your boiler starts making humming or banging noises, this is another tell-tale sign that an engineer needs to be called out take a look at it before it leads to an expensive breakdown. According to Which?, loud noises in your boiler could indicate a wide range of issues, from a broken valve to heat pump problems or just general wear and tear.
Is there a smell coming from your boiler?
If you notice a rotten egg or sulphur smell coming from your boiler, it should be seen to by a professional straight away as this could indicate a dangerous gas leak. If you suspect any kind of gas leak it’s important to immediately switch off your gas supply at the meter, open all windows to ventilate and evacuate the home before calling the emergency gas line (0800 111999) - you should also ensure you have a carbon monoxide detector in your home to alert you to any leaks, as carbon monoxide gas itself is odourless and may go undetected until it's too late.
READ NEXT:
The TV Licence rules you need to know for Sky, Netflix and other streaming services
I tried cheap chocolate from Lidl, Sainsbury's and Costcutters and a 55p bar beat Cadbury
Top tips to bag an incredibly cheap holiday - from house swaps to volunteering
All the Child Benefit changes you must report to HMRC or risk missing out on payments
