Boiler 5 January 2023

How often should I get my boiler serviced?

In the UK, it is generally recommended to have your boiler serviced once a year. This helps to ensure that your boiler is running efficiently, safely, and effectively. A yearly boiler service can also help to extend the lifespan of your boiler, saving you money in the long run.

What Affects How Often You Need a Service

There are a few factors that can affect how often you should have your boiler serviced. If you use your boiler frequently, for example, you may want to consider having it serviced more often. Similarly, if you have an older boiler, you may want to consider having it serviced more frequently to ensure it is still operating safely and efficiently.

It’s also worth noting that if you have a newer boiler, it may not need to be serviced as often. Many newer boilers come with extended warranties, which may require less frequent servicing.

Signs Your Boiler Needs Looking At Sooner

Quite apart from the annual service, these are the signs that mean you should get someone out now rather than waiting:

• Your boiler is making strange noises or leaking
• Your energy bills have suddenly increased
• Your boiler isn’t heating your home effectively
• Your boiler is frequently switching off or on

If you notice any of these issues with your boiler, it’s important to have it serviced as soon as possible. A professional engineer will be able to identify and fix any problems with your boiler, helping to ensure it is running safely and efficiently.

Your Warranty Almost Certainly Requires It

This is the reason that catches people out. Nearly every manufacturer makes an annual service a condition of the warranty, and they mean it — miss one year and the cover can lapse quietly, so that it fails at precisely the moment you need to claim on it.

Keep the paperwork. Manufacturers ask for evidence of a continuous service history, not just your word for it.

Landlords: It Is the Law

If you let out a property, this stops being a recommendation. You are legally required to have every gas appliance and flue checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and to give the tenant a copy of the Gas Safety Record within 28 days — or before a new tenant moves in.

A gas safety check and a service are not the same thing, although they are often done in the same visit. The check confirms the appliance is safe; the service also cleans it and keeps it running efficiently.

What Actually Happens During One

An engineer will check the boiler is burning correctly and analyse the combustion, inspect the flue and its seals, check the gas pressure and rate, examine the seals and electrodes, test the safety devices, look at the system pressure and the expansion vessel, and clean the internal components. They will also look for the warning signs of trouble — sooty staining, a lazy yellow flame instead of a crisp blue one, excessive condensation nearby.

What a Service Costs With Us

A boiler service with Plumbing Angels is a flat £95 + VAT, whatever the make or age of the boiler. If we are servicing a second gas appliance on the same visit — a gas fire or a cooker, for instance — that one is half price. Call us on 01732 792 454 to book one in.

In Short

It’s important to have your boiler serviced regularly to ensure it is operating safely and efficiently. In the UK, it is generally recommended to have your boiler serviced once a year. However, there are a few factors that can affect this recommendation, such as the age and usage of your boiler. If you notice any issues with your boiler, it’s important to have it serviced as soon as possible.