How long does a boiler last?

The realistic figure

A modern condensing gas boiler, properly installed and serviced annually, typically lasts 10 to 15 years. Budget models on hard water with skipped services can struggle at 8; a well-maintained premium boiler can pass 15.

What shortens a boiler's life

• Skipped annual services — sludge and scale build up unchecked
• No magnetic filter — system debris circulates through the heat exchanger
• Oversizing — a boiler too powerful for the home short-cycles and wears faster
• Hard water without treatment — limescale coats the heat exchanger

The warranty tells you the manufacturer's honest expectation

A manufacturer offering 10 or 12 years of cover — conditional on servicing — is telling you they expect the boiler to last at least that long. A 2-year standard warranty tells you the opposite. When comparing boilers, the warranty term is the single most honest signal of expected lifespan.

Making yours last

Service it every year, keep the service records, fit a magnetic filter if the system does not have one, and get faults looked at early. A £100 service is cheaper than a £400 heat exchanger.