Boilers are often treated as ‘out of sight, out of mind’. Yes, we know it provides us with hot water for our showers and keeps are homes cosy in the winter, but once it’s been installed and working, it can be left alone to do its job – right?
Well, put simply it will work but it does require attention every now and then. Most people knwo that when you buy a new car you need to book it in for its annual MOT and servicing and so on. Boilers are not seen in the same light as cars, but they should be.
Manufacturer’s have become more aware of the importance of regular maintenance on boilers and most boiler warranties/guarantees offered, are subject to Annual Boiler Servicing. Whilst it isn’t currently British law (although we feel that it should be) for every boiler to be serviced annually, it is an important maintenance routine that your boiler should have.
Why is it important to have an annual boiler service?
Annual servicing will ensure that your boiler is running efficiently and safely for the year ahead and minimises the risk of breakdowns thus increasing the lifespan of the boiler as well. It also validates any manufacturer’s warranty/guarantee for the appliance.
Annual Servicing keeps you safe and healthy
Carbon monoxide poisoning in the home accounts for 50 recorded deaths per year, and as many as 4,000 medical visits1 and poses a danger to anyone with a fuel burning appliance in their home.
Annually servicing of your boiler can help to ensure that it is combusting fuel efficiently and most importantly safely, which can greatly reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning as well as prolonging the lifespan of the boiler. For more information on carbon monoxide poisoning visit the Gas Safe website here.
Remember a boiler breakdown for elderly or vulnerable people can have severe health ramifications. Whereas for most of us it is just an inconvenience.
When should I service my boiler?
Ideally it should be serviced every 12 months, especially if it maintains the manufacturer’s warranty..
We all know how it goes, you put a reminder in your diary to book an appointment but something comes up and you forget and before you know it the cold Winter snap has arrived and boilers everywhere start to breakdown. When this happens, you can be sure you are likely to have a longer than anticipated wait to get your boiler back up and running, as you won’t be the only person with a broken boiler.
A boiler works it hardest during the colder months, therefore we believe the best time to service your boiler is in the warmer months (May-August). Not only does this help ensure it is working correctly making it less likely to breakdown when the colder months return, but you will also have a lot more flexibility in regards to choosing a convenient date and time to suit you.
How will an annual boiler service save me money?
Just like with a car service, carrying out regular maintenance can help identify any faults or issues early on before they start creating a bigger problem. The cost of regular maintenance on your boiler will be significantly cheaper than the cost of a major repair or replacing it. Boilers are one of the most expensive appliances in most homes and also the ones that can create the most upset when they go wrong.
My boiler was installed in the Winter, so do I have to service it then to validate my warranty/guarantee?
All manufacturer’s warranties/guarantees are subject to annual servicing every 12 months from the date of installation, for the duration of the warranty/guarantee. So if your boiler is still under warranty/guarantee then you can’t change your service date/month.
However, if your boiler is no longer under guarantee/warrantee and was installed between October-March, we would recommend that you schedule in to have it serviced during the Summer months to avoid difficulties in getting it serviced during the busiest months of every heating engineers calendar.
Book in your boiler service HERE
