Written on: February 24, 2025

Planning Your Boiler Upgrade

What Factors Should You Consider?

Repair it or replace it? That’s a dilemma most homeowners face at some point, especially when staring at the prospect of an expensive repair to fix something that’s broken in their home.

When it comes to heating oil boilers, having a reliable and efficient home heating system is critically important here in Westchester County, NY, and southern CT, where we rely on our boilers for nearly two-thirds of the year.

If you’re not sure if your heating oil boiler will make it through another winter, don’t worry, we’re here to help. Whether you need to fix or upgrade your equipment, we have options for you.

If you’re on the fence about repairing vs. replacing your heating oil boiler, here are some guidelines to help you feel better about your decision.

If your heating oil boiler is more than 15 years old, you might be better off with a new one. The average lifespan of a home heating system is about 20 years. Just like computers and smartphones, heating equipment becomes outdated over time. With better technology, a new high-efficiency heating oil system can often pay for itself within a few years with the money you save each year on heating costs.

You should also consider replacing your equipment if:

• Damage is severe.
• Your system is undersized for your home (if you’ve built a house addition since installing it, for example).
• The repair will cost more than 25% of the replacement cost.
• Your monthly energy bills have gone up by more than 10% since last year.
• Your system has been repaired more than twice over the last decade.

You should consider repairing your boiler if:

• Your system is less than 15 years old.
• It can be fixed with a reasonable chance there won’t be further similar issues.
• Your equipment is properly sized for your home.
• The problems are relatively minor.
• Repair costs are 25% of the cost of replacement or less.
• Your monthly energy bills have risen by less than 10% since last year.
• Your system has been repaired less than twice over the last decade.

Heating Oil Boiler Replacement in NY and CT

While your old boiler may still be keeping your home warm enough, its efficiency rate is much lower than a new hot water boiler, which means you are using more fuel to generate heat.

Besides age, other signs that your boiler may be wearing out include signs of corrosion, frequent breakdowns, and expensive repairs.

Westmore Fuel has heating system options for every home and budget. We often install the System 2000 boiler from Energy Kinetics, the most efficient and versatile integrated heat and hot water system available. Some of our customers have enjoyed annual savings of up to 40% after they upgraded to the System 2000 hot water system. Plus, their homes stay warm and toasty no matter how low the outdoor temperatures fall.

Equipment Financing for Your New Heating System

Westmore partners with the National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF) to provide financing so our customers can take full advantage of the equipment upgrades we offer.

NEIF provides loan lengths of three, five or 10 years on its EnergyPlus financing for qualifying purchases with NEIF-approved contractors like Westmore Fuel. NEIF does not run credit reports, so your credit will not be affected in any way. Read more about financing through NEIF.

Heating Oil Service in Greenwich, CT and Beyond

From Greenwich, Darien, Stamford and Port Chester to Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, White Plains and surrounding communities, Westmore Fuel has been taking care of our heating oil customers in New York and Connecticut since 1938.

Contact us today to become a Westmore Fuel customer and get all that you want and need for your home comfort.