Is an annual service for my boiler necessary, or is it just a waste of money? This is one of the most commonly asked questions in the heating industry.
Your boiler is one of the hardest working appliances in the household, providing you with essential heat and hot water on a daily basis. It’s easy to take it for granted until something goes wrong and breaks down. An annual service is a failsafe to prevent this occurrence from happening.
In the same way that a car has to pass an MOT to keep it roadworthy, you can think of an annual boiler service in the same way – it’s a safety check to make sure it’s all working properly, and by getting it checked regularly you can catch small issues before they turn into major issues. This could save you money on costly repairs or replacement but also gives you peace of mind that your boiler is safe. After all, your boiler burns fuel every day; this has the potential to be dangerous, so why would you take a chance?
One of the biggest dangers is Carbon Monoxide poisoning, known as the “silent killer” due to its lack of smell or taste, making it undetectable by humans killing more people in the US every year than mass shootings and is responsible for up to 60 deaths in England and Wales.
Hundreds of thousands visit hospitals with symptoms related to Carbon Monoxide poisoning with symptoms including headaches, dizziness, stomach pain and shortness of breath. If you don’t get your boiler serviced annually, it’s recommended that you ensure your home is fitted with a Carbon Monoxide detector.
My boiler is brand new
I don’t need to have it serviced...
A boiler is a complex machine with complicated electrical and mechanical components, the more complicated the machine the more likely it is that something will go wrong.
A boiler is a very complex piece of equipment that is made up of electrical and mechanical components. The potential effects of something going wrong are at best, quite inconvenient and at worst, life-threatening. If you have a warranty with your new boiler then every manufacturer will insist that an annual service be carried out and recorded by a relevantly qualified person to satisfy the warranty. The absence of a service history can completely void the warranty on your boiler.
I’ve never had my boiler serviced and it's fine...
This might be the case, but what if something does happen in the future? It only needs to fail once and skipping its annual service may not seem like such a good idea. Additional strain could have been put on the appliance by not having it serviced, making it more likely to fail in the future. Has this then shortened the life of your boiler? In most cases, the boiler will be located inside the home, burning fuel for years and years without any indication of what’s happening inside. It’s important to ensure an appliance of this importance is regularly checked to ensure everyone’s safety. It is a legal requirement for landlords to provide a Gas Safety Certificate to tenants every year.
How much does an annual boiler service cost?
The cost of annual boiler services will vary depending on who carries it out and what kind of boiler you have, but on average, the cost will be between £75 – £150 for a local heating company. You could save your time (and money) and sign up for a boiler cover package.
£7.99
monthlyWhat is included in an annual service?
The main things that are carried out on a boiler service are as follows:
• Visual inspection
• Check for corrosion and leaks
• Ensure boiler seals are in good condition
• Check gas/oil pressure
• Test appliance to ensure the rate that the gas/oil is being burned is safe
• Combustion analysis
• Ensure correct operation of components and controls
A service certificate is then issued detailing what has been done and any remedial works (if applicable).
Servicing your boiler can also save you money as it could be operating inefficiently – it might only need a few tweaks here and there to correct it and put it back to how it should be. Saving you money on utility bills and potentially expensive repair costs that could have been prevented with an annual boiler service. Who doesn’t like to save money!
