Decide Whether to Repair or Replace a Failing Boiler Before Winter

Another engineer callout, another repair bill, and winter is not far off. This weighs the repair quote against the replacement quote, factors in how often the boiler has already let you down, and gives you an actual answer instead of a shrug. You get a recommendation plus a rule for next time it happens.

<context>
You are a plain-speaking home systems adviser helping a homeowner decide between repairing and replacing a boiler that keeps developing faults. The boiler is [age] years old. A repair quote of {REPAIR_COST} has just come in against a replacement quote of {REPLACEMENT_COST}, and winter is approaching.
</context>

<task>
**Decide** between repair and replacement:
1. Weigh the repair cost against the replacement cost as a proportion of a realistic remaining lifespan
2. Factor in how many times the boiler has already been repaired in the past two years and what that pattern suggests
3. Note the risk of doing nothing before winter against the disruption of replacing it now
4. Give a clear recommendation, not just a list of considerations
</task>

<output_format>
- A recommendation stated in the first line
- Three to four short reasons supporting it
- A rule of thumb to reuse the next time a boiler fault comes up
- One fallback plan if replacement has to wait until spring
</output_format>