Tool · Repair or replace
Repair or replace? A guided framework
Five questions — age, repair history, alert code, efficiency and parts availability — produce a guidance band, with every point shown. The tool does not diagnose, price or guarantee anything; it frames the decision before you spend money either way.
Guided questionnaire · 5 questions
Answer all five questions
The guidance appears once every question has an answer — “Not sure” is a valid answer and is scored as neutral. The tool never prices the work, and it never replaces a diagnosis.
How this works
The scoring key, in full
The framework is the one published in the Boilers.ca guide Repair or replace your boiler: a decision framework. Points are added on both sides; the side with at least a two-point lead sets the guidance band, and a closer result is reported as balanced.
| Factor | Repair points | Replace points | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiler age | Under 10 years: +2 | 16–20 years: +2 · over 20: +3 | Age alone never decides; it sets the expected remaining life. |
| Repair history | First fault: +2 · one old repair: +1 | Recent or recurring failures: +3 | One fault is a component; repeated faults are a pattern. |
| Alert code | Code displayed: +1 | — | A code is a defined condition a technician can diagnose. |
| Efficiency (AFUE) | 93% or higher: +1 | 85–92%: +1 · below 85%: +2 | Certified AFUE only; the rating is on the plate or in the manual. |
| Parts availability | Confirmed available: +2 | Long lead time: +1 · discontinued: +3 | A repair is only a repair if the correct part exists. |
One hard rule overrides the tally: discontinued parts combined with a boiler over 20 years old or a recent/recurring failure history returns replacement guidance even if the points are close. Read the full reasoning in the repair-versus-replacement guide.
Tools and your service
A framework is not a diagnosis
The tool cannot see the heat exchanger, read combustion numbers or confirm part availability. Those come from the visit.
- A repair starts with diagnosis: testing against the manufacturer's procedure, not parts-swapping.
- A replacement quote covers sizing, venting, gas supply, permits and commissioning — not just the appliance.
- Safety-related findings — heat exchanger, combustion path, venting — are weighed first, before cost.
What this tool will never do
- · Quote a repair or a replacement — no approved prices are published on this site.
- · Diagnose a fault or tell you a part is safe to keep running.
- · Guarantee that a repair will last or that a replacement will save money.
If you smell gas
- Stop what you are doing. Do not use phones, switches, matches or anything that can spark inside.
- Go outside and leave the door open behind you.
- Call the FortisBC 24-hour emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 or dial 911.
Only after that, call ROMA about the boiler. Official guidance: FortisBC gas leaks and odour.
Sources and verification
- Boilers.ca — Repair or replace your boiler: a decision framework · accessed September 9, 2026
- Technical Safety BC — carbon monoxide safety · accessed September 9, 2026
- FortisBC — appliance maintenance and safety · accessed September 9, 2026
Facts checked September 9, 2026. Last updated September 9, 2026. Technical reviewer: not yet assigned.
Have the diagnosis and want both scopes in writing?
ROMA Heating & Cooling provides the repair scope and the replacement comparison for Greater Vancouver properties. A tool result is the start of that conversation, not the end of it.
On-site service in Greater Vancouver, BC. ROMA lists “Open 7 days” on its site; call to confirm same-day availability.