Boilers are far less common than gas furnaces, and that’s reflected in the responses to Consumer Reports’ most recent survey on central heating. Our members installed 1,791 new boilers between 2009 and 2025, compared with more than 34,000 gas furnaces.
But just like a furnace, when a boiler breaks, you want it repaired—or replaced—ASAP. Forty-two percent of members who responded to our 2021 and 2023 surveys said they had their boiler inspected at least once a year, and over 20 percent said they had it maintained once every two years. According to our 2025 analysis, 26 percent of boilers purchased between 2009 and 2025 broke within 10 years of ownership.
For more information on boilers, including how to maintain yours for maximum efficiency, see our boiler buying guide. And for our full ratings, check our boiler reliability ratings, where we break down each brand we test.
