Boiler servicing, we know, doesn’t top many people’s home maintenance agendas.
But here’s the thing…
Maintaining your boiler…
- Is no hassle at all
- Only takes a few minutes
- Can save you thousands in call-out fees
…and could be the difference between a toasty winter and a cold home when your boiler fails at the worst possible moment.
What You’ll Learn
- Why Boiler Servicing Is So Important
- The Cost of Not Servicing Your Boiler
- Warning Signs Your Boiler Needs Service
- How Long Should You Service Your Boiler?
- What You Can Expect From A Boiler Service
- Choosing the Right Engineer
Why Boiler Servicing Is Critical
It’s not enough to just make sure your boiler keeps working…
Servicing your boiler protects your home, your family, and your bank balance.
Did you know that there are approximately 23 million gas boilers operating in UK homes today? It’s true.
Millions of households across the UK use these machines every day to heat their homes and provide hot water. And when a boiler fails, the average cost to the country is a whopping £32 million per year in emergency call outs and replacements.
Think about that for a second.
Your boiler is an incredibly hard working piece of kit. It’s in operation all day, every day in the winter months.
Inevitably, that will lead to problems over time if your boiler isn’t regularly maintained.
It’s good to know the average boiler service cost as most homeowners think they’ll save money by delaying a service or ignoring warning signs, only to be hit with an expensive emergency repair bill that’s often in the thousands.
Servicing a boiler can help with some of those boiler fault symptoms that are present.
The majority of boiler breakdowns are easily avoided with regular servicing.
What’s The Cost of Neglecting Your Boiler?
Did you know…
Boilers are responsible for around 55% of your annual energy bills. That’s a huge slice of your yearly household costs!
If your boiler isn’t operating as it should, you are literally throwing money away.
Here’s how not servicing your boiler regularly can cost you more money:
● Makes your boiler work harder to keep your home warm ● Forces it to consume more energy ● Faults that occur become bigger, more expensive problems ● Premature system breakdowns occur ● Shortens the overall lifespan of your boiler
Most homeowners won’t even notice the extra expense. That’s the worst part.
How Long Should Your Boiler Last?
Your boiler has an average lifespan of approximately 15 years. This is assuming you have your boiler serviced every year and take reasonable care of the appliance.
However, it’s highly likely that your boiler will break down sooner without a proper maintenance plan in place.
Boiler replacements are not cheap. A new boiler installation can start from as little as £1,200 and rise to as high as £5,000 for the more complicated models and services.
Regular maintenance and servicing on the other hand will extend your boiler’s lifespan and ensure it runs at maximum efficiency all the way through its lifetime. It is really that simple.
What Happens During A Boiler Service?
You might be asking what happens to your boiler during a service.
A proper boiler service is in-depth and thorough. An engineer will carry out several checks that include:
Visual Inspection
The engineer will check all visible components for signs of wear, leaks, or corrosion. This includes the boiler casing, seals, connections, and the general condition of the unit.
Safety Checks
All safety devices are tested to make sure they’re working properly. This includes the pressure relief valve, flame supervision device, and carbon monoxide detectors.
Combustion Analysis
The engineer will test how efficiently your boiler burns fuel. Inefficient combustion wastes energy and can produce dangerous fumes.
Component Testing
All moving parts are checked to make sure they’re operating smoothly and efficiently. This includes pumps, fans, valves, and thermostats.
Cleaning
The engineer will clean the internal components to remove any buildup that could reduce efficiency. This includes the heat exchanger, burner, and main injector.
Pressure Testing
The system pressure is tested and adjusted if necessary. Incorrect pressure can damage your boiler and heating system.
Warning Signs It’s Time For Boiler Servicing
Don’t wait for your boiler to break down before you do something about it.
Take note of these warning signs and arrange a service ASAP:
- Strange noises – banging, whistling, gurgling
- Yellow flames instead of crisp blue ones
- Unexpectedly high energy bills
- Radiators taking longer to heat up
- Frequent drops in system pressure
- Strange smells coming from the boiler
- Pilot light repeatedly going out
Any of these symptoms should prompt you to call an expert to look at your boiler immediately.
How Often Should You Service Your Boiler?
Answer: Once a year.
Annual servicing is what most manufacturers stipulate as the minimum to keep your boiler warranty valid.
The real reason to get your boiler serviced annually though is because prevention is always better (and cheaper) than cure.
The best time of year to schedule your service is late summer or early autumn before you start to use your heating system in the winter months.
That way, you’ll have it checked over in plenty of time to catch and fix any issues before the weather turns cold.
Choosing the Right Boiler Engineer
Not all engineers are the same. A good engineer will:
- Be Gas Safe registered (without this certification they can’t work legally on boilers in the UK)
- Have experience with your specific boiler model
- Be upfront about their prices with no hidden extras
- Provide a detailed service report at the end
- Explain any issues in terms you understand
Don’t even consider hiring an unregistered engineer, no matter how cheap they claim to be. It’s illegal, it’s dangerous, and you’ll be voiding your warranty in the process.
Why Should You Service Your Boiler?
Beyond the obvious safety implications, regular servicing provides you with several key benefits:
Reduced Energy Bills
A boiler in good working order is more efficient, meaning it burns less fuel to heat your home. The savings add up.
Peace of Mind
Knowing your boiler has been serviced and is safe from breakdowns is a huge relief.
Warranty Protection
Annual servicing is a condition of most boiler warranties. Skip it, and you might lose that cover just when you need it most.
Extended Lifespan
Regular maintenance can help your boiler reach (and even exceed) its expected 15-year lifespan.
Fewer Emergency Callouts
Nip problems in the bud by having your boiler regularly checked, avoiding expensive emergency call outs at inconvenient times.
Better Property Value
If you’re selling your home, a well maintained boiler with service records is a bonus for buyers.
Your Boiler Service Checklist
Don’t wait until winter to think about your boiler.
Annual servicing is critical home maintenance that protects your investment and keeps your family comfortable through the coldest months.
The expense of an annual service is minimal compared to the cost of emergency call outs and early replacements. Plus, you’ll have the confidence that your heating system is safe, efficient and ready to keep your home toasty warm when you need it most.
Schedule your service now and beat the rush. Your future self (and your bank account) will thank you.
Remember… Spending a little now on maintenance could save you thousands on repairs in the future. That’s not just good advice – it’s common sense.
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