How often to have your boiler serviced
If you know that you should have your boiler serviced but are asking yourself ‘how often should I service my boiler?’ then we have the answer. To ensure that it’s running safely and efficiently, your boiler should be serviced by a professional. Not having your boiler serviced could lead to faults, higher energy bills and your warranty ending early. Not exactly what you want. Please find below more information on how often you should get your boiler serviced, who should do it, when it should get serviced, why it needs it, what in entails and how to book yours in. Keep reading!
Do boilers need servicing every year?
Yes most boilers and heating systems should be serviced by a professional plumber once every year, not only because your plumber is maybe reminding you to do so, but also for safety, efficiency and to maintain your boilers warranty.
How often should I service my boiler?
Boilers should be serviced once a year, especially if they are gas or oil. This annual service is an opportunity for a qualified heating engineer to look over the unit and make sure it's running as well as possible for you. This will give you the peace of mind that your heating system is running safely and efficiently.
Electric boilers don't need the same level of servicing as gas and oil boilers but it's still a good idea to have them looked over when possible. For that peace of mind at the end of the day.
For those of you who are landlords, having the boiler and flue system serviced annually in the properties you rent out is a legal requirement. So make sure you book those boiler services for all the properties you own and rent out, and we can issue a landlord's gas safety certificate in accordance with the law if required while we are there.
Who should service the boiler?
A boiler must be serviced by a fully qualified heating engineer and the qualification(s) they should hold will depend on the type of boiler you have installed in your home. See below the difference:
Gas boilers - A Gas Safe Registered engineer is the only person qualified to service a gas boiler.
Oil boilers - An oil boiler must be serviced by an OFTEC registered engineer.
And remember, when the respective heating engineer arrives at your home to carry out the boiler service, always ask to see their ID before they get to work. For your safety as well as making sure the job gets done to the best ability.
When should I have my boiler serviced?
There's no right or wrong answer here – as long as it's being serviced once every 12 months, that's all that really matters. While you can have your boiler serviced at any time of year, we highly recommend arranging one during the summer - during the time when you're barely using it (or not using it at all) to make sure it's in working order for the colder months ahead. Also, it's often the time when the engineers have more free time in their diaries and you might even find that their rates are lower or special offers are being offered on boiler servicing more so than during the winter months.
Why should I have my boiler serviced?
As we've already mentioned, by having a fully-qualified heating engineer look at your boiler once a year, you'll have the peace of mind that it's running safely and smoothly. It will also give you the confidence that it's running as efficiently as possible, helping to keep your energy bills to a minimum - save money where you can.
Additionally, a boiler service is also essential to keep the boiler warranty valid. Without a warranty covering your boiler, should it need repairing, you won't be able to call on the manufacturer. So, it should be well within your interest to have your boiler serviced to keep your boiler warranty valid throughout the time you have it.
By choosing not to have your boiler serviced every year, you're risking:
- Carbon monoxide leaks in your home
- A steep rise in your energy bills
- A fault that could lead to the boiler breaking down
- Having to pay a repair bill that could have been avoided
What does a boiler service involve?
A thorough boiler service should last for around 30 - 40 minutes as the heating engineer does the following:
- The engineer will start by looking for any signs of corrosion or leaking as well as checking the flame in the boiler
- Then they will remove the boiler casing to check the components inside and clean (where necessary)
- This will then lead them to check the flue terminals to ensure they aren't blocked in any way
- Then they check that the gas pressure is at the correct level
- And finally the engineer will end the service by firing up the boiler to check it's performance as it operates.
IMPORTANT: It's worth noting that the time it takes to service the boiler could be extended if a boiler fault is found.
What can I do myself to keep the boiler working well?
There are a number of things you can do to ensure your boiler lasts for many years to come.
Just like any mechanical device, your boiler does need to be looked after, and some regular maintenance can really help, as well as having your annual boiler service of course.
Click here to read 11 simple but important boiler maintenance tips.
Time to book your annual boiler service?
Assett Plumbing plumbing services cover boiler servicing for homes and businesses throughout Northamptonshire including
- Northampton
- Kettering
- Corby
- Wellingborough
- Rushden
- Thrapston
- Huntingdon
- St Neots
- Oundle
We are approved and fully vetted by Northants County Council under their “Buy with Confidence” scheme as well as being certified Trusted Traders.
Book in today for your annual boiler service to be carried out by qualified engineers that have your best interests at heart. To find out more, simply give us a call on 01604 372395 today or click HERE to book.
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