Why should I service my boiler?

Keeping your home safe

The most important reason to service your boiler is safety. A faulty boiler could lead to a carbon monoxide leak, so it’s vitally important to get your gas or oil boiler serviced to keep yourself and your family safe.

What can I expect during a boiler service?

During your boiler service, your Gas Safe Registered engineer will thoroughly inspect your boiler and look for any signs of disrepair. They will also clean the components of the boiler, and carry out tests to check the gas burner pressure, a flue-gas analysis, and flue-flow and spillage tests, if appropriate. Regular cleaning is particularly important for oil boilers, as oil can become contaminated, and minor problems can cause the boiler to lock out. Your engineer can prevent many of these problems during a routine service, you can help reduce contamination in oil boilers with heating oil additives. For gas boilers, they will also make sure that there is no gas leakage from the boiler itself, or its pipework, and check that your boiler has sufficient ventilation. If they find any safety issues, they will discuss this with you and arrange to fix the fault. If you don’t already have one, your engineer will also recommend that you install a carbon monoxide detector, to help keep you safe in the event of a leak.

Save money by servicing your boiler

Although servicing your boiler may cost money up front, it’s likely to save you money in the long run. By servicing your boiler regularly, you will ensure that it’s running as efficiently as possible, which will help keep your energy bills down. Getting a regular boiler service will also reduce the chances that your boiler could break down or stop working altogether. Emergency boiler repairs can be very costly, so it’s best to avoid this by making sure your boiler is properly maintained. A well maintained boiler is also likely to last a lot longer, so you can avoid paying out for a new one for as long as possible.

Keep your warranty valid

Another important reason to service your boiler regularly, is to ensure your boiler warranty is valid. Manufacturers stipulate that you must get your boiler serviced annually whilst it’s under guarantee, otherwise the warranty will lapse. If this happens and something goes wrong with your boiler, you won’t be covered by the warranty, and you will have to pay for any repairs yourself.

When is the best time to get my boiler serviced?

It’s key to service your boiler during summer in order to ensure it runs as efficiently and reliably as possible during winter, when you need it most. You will also avoid unexpected bills from boiler breakdowns, which could have been prevented during your annual service in summer. Don’t wait until the colder months to find that your boiler is faulty and you will have to face the cold weather without any heating or hot water. Boiler repairs and services are in high demand at winter time, and you could end up paying more if you wait until the colder months to get your boiler serviced or repaired.

How often should I service my boiler?

You should get an annual boiler service completed every year by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. This will ensure that your warranty remains intact, and will also allow your engineer to identify and resolve any potential issues before they become large-scale problems.