Why Should I Get My Boiler Serviced?

An annual boiler check can save you money and keep your family safe

For many homeowners, boilers are just another worry. There is an overwhelming idea that boilers are just money pits, but that’s far from the truth. Boilers are a vital part of your home, and they need attention from trained professionals. 

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What Is a Boiler Service? 

A boiler service is an annual check-up. 

Boiler checks aren’t legal requirements, but they do play an important part in boiler maintenance. Experts recommend booking a boiler check 12 months after the date of the installation and once every twelve months after that. 

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve got a combi-boiler, heat-only boiler, or a conventional boiler. All boilers are potentially dangerous, which is why you need to hire a qualified professional. Before you book your appointment, take a minute to find out whether you need a heating engineer or a Gas Safe engineer. 

For electric boilers, you need to contact a heating engineer. Gas boilers require Gas Safe engineers who are on the Gas Safe Register. The Register exists to document who is and isn’t qualified to work with gas appliances. You can even go online and find your engineer on the register. 

Once you’ve chosen a Gas Safe engineer, you need to book an appointment. They will check your boiler and all the related parts. Engineers look out for electrical issues, potential hazards, and common signs of wear and tear.

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5 Reasons To Get Your Boiler Serviced

If the industry-wide recommendation of 12 months hasn’t convinced you, our top five reasons will.  

Reduce Costs in the Long Run

An annual boiler check could be just what you need to save money in the long run. This might seem counterintuitive, but bear with us. 

An average boiler service costs in the region of £70 - £150, and it could cost more depending on the make and model. Your location could even bump the price up; heating engineers in London have a higher cost of living than those in the North. 

One of the biggest benefits of services is that they reveal potential problems. The cost of the service typically outweighs the cost of letting an easy fix escalate. Remember, new boilers cost around £2,500! 

Make Your Boiler More Efficient

New boilers tend to be energy-efficient already, but lots of older models aren’t. Energy efficiency is a relatively new concept, and it has been highlighted in recent years due to concerns about the environment. You can do your bit for the environment and even save money on your energy bills by booking an annual boiler service. 

Your heating engineer will identify any areas for improvement. Just remember, the cost of repairs or replacements is not included in the price of the service. 

Related article: Why is my boiler not working?

Protect Your Warranty

This is one of the lesser-known benefits of booking a boiler servicing, but it is no less important. All boilers come with a warranty, and some manufacturers build clauses into their contracts. 

You might not know this, but your warranty probably requires you to book an annual boiler service. If you don’t book an annual boiler check, you won’t be able to contact your manufacturer when something goes wrong. This is another way that services can save you money in the long run. 

Safe-Guard Your Family 

Annual boiler servicing can seem like an unnecessary expense, but broken boilers can be fatal. The statistics are slim, but no less worrying. Broken boilers can produce carbon monoxide, also known as the silent killer. In England and Wales, carbon monoxide is responsible for 40 deaths and 200 non-fatal poisonings that require hospital admission every year. Over 4,000 people go to A&E each year to be treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. It is thought that the real number is much higher, and that it is difficult to find an accurate statistic because carbon monoxide is odourless and colourless. 

Believe it or not, boilers can also explode. 

• Explosions from fuel - Boilers can explode when too much fuel is in the combustion chamber. 
• Explosions from pressure - Boilers can explode if the pressure is too high. This can happen when the stream and water pressure system is blocked or broken.  

If you think that your boiler might explode, turn it off at the mains, evacuate your home, and call a Gas Safe engineer. Signs include overheating, an unpleasant smell, brown water, and pinging noises coming from the pipes.

Of course, the best outcome is no explosion. Get your boiler serviced to avoid dangerous (and even fatal) situations. 

Stay on the Right Side of the Law

Remember us saying that boiler servicing isn’t a legal requirement? Well, this only applies to homeowners and renters. If you are a landlord, you are legally obligated to present a gas safety record every year. 

Annual boiler check-ups are a non-negotiable expense for landlords, but they can reap all the other benefits on this list by staying on top of boiler maintenance. 

Find Tradeswomen in London

We have a pool of professional heating engineers who service and repair combi-boilers, heat-only boilers, and conventional boilers. With our service, it has never been easier to find reliable tradeswomen in London. 

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Book a boiler service online today.

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