What time of year should I service my boiler? (2024)

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Your heating system, boiler and storage tank are an important part of your winter preparations. Every year, on average a fifth of UK homes are left in the cold after a boiler breakdown, 5% of these will be left with a bill of more than £1,250. Most of these breakdowns are caused by small preventable things that would cost little to repair.



Why do I need to Service my Boiler?

An annual boiler service is an important part of home ownership, ensuring you get the best from your heating systems. An efficient heating system helps to reduce running costs and unnecessarily high energy bills over the colder months. Making sure your central heating is working at peak efficiency means you get a warmer home per unit of energy you’re paying for.
Regular boiler servicing can catch minor issues before they become expensive, and potentially dangerous problems to fix further down the line. Both oil and gas boilers have the potential to emit carbon monoxide (CO). An estimated 4,000 people a year end up in hospital due to CO poisoning. An annual service would reduce the chances of this happening, as any potential faults would be identified.


Failing to have an annual boiler service may even invalidate your insurance. Many insurance policies will require you to have an annual boiler service to validate any claims you may make. It’s worth noting, if you are a landlord, you are legally required to have a qualified Gas Safe or OFTEC engineer carry out an annual gas safety inspection on any rental properties you may have. As a Gas Safe and OFTEC registered company, our accredited engineers are fully trained to diagnose and repair oil fired and gas heating systems in compliance with current regulations.


When Should I get my Boiler Serviced?

We recommend that boilers are serviced at least every 12 months to ensure they are working safely and efficiently. Planning ahead and keeping up-to-date with maintenance and servicing could help prevent an unexpected breakdown during the cold weather, when you’ll need your heating the most.


Winter is the busiest time for our engineers dealing with breakdowns, you may find you have to wait longer for a service appointment. Emergency callout times may be affected by the rise in demand also. Your boiler may also be suffering from the extra strain during the colder periods, especially if it hasn’t been checked over by an engineer, potentially leaving you in the cold in the event of a boiler breakdown.


We recommend that summer/ early autumn is the best time to get your boiler serviced. Booking a service before your energy requirements start increasing for winter, will reduce the chance of a boiler breakdown when your home needs heating the most. Engineers are likely to be quieter during the summer and early autumn, which could make it easier to get a quicker appointment, at a time that suits you. During the service, our engineers will check your boiler for signs of leaks or corrosion. They will also check that each component is working in sound condition, detecting developing problems before they worsen, making sure your heating system is functioning effectively and safely.



How do I arrange an annual boiler service?

Our annual maintenance contracts and on-demand service keep your heating system safely operating all year round. Our engineers are based across Scotland, and are dedicated to providing our customers with a personal, local service.
Our maintenance contracts are managed by our boiler maintenance team, who take the hassle out of managing your boiler services by contacting you when you are due a service, to arrange an appointment to suit you. Taking the hassle out of managing your boiler services. The on-demand service will still enable you to take use of our boiler service package and breakdown services.


To book your annual boiler service, or to find out more information, contact our boiler maintenance team on 01343 557 435.


What time of year should I service my boiler? (2024)

FAQs

What time of year should I service my boiler? ›

When should you get your boiler serviced? Summer is the best time to book your service in. Not only will you be making sure you're set for winter when you'll need your boiler the most, but also engineers tend to be less busy during the warmer months of the year.

How often should a boiler system be serviced? ›

Typically, a steam boiler should receive servicing at least once per year. Any kind of safety failure with a boiler can have serious consequences, and so a yearly inspection will help to spot any safety issues that need to be addressed.

How much does it cost to have a boiler serviced? ›

The price of most boiler services fall between £80 and £100. But they can easily be cheaper (around £60) or more expensive (up to £180). As you might expect, a lot can affect the price of a boiler service, including: Type of boiler (combi, system or regular)

What happens if you don't service your boiler? ›

In a typical boiler, if you are carrying out no service or maintenance, then internal components can rust or corrode, leaks can occur, debris can accumulate, standing water in the condensate pipe can freeze in cold weather and mechanical failure can lead to gas problems, burners not working or gas being burnt ...

Do I need to get my boiler serviced annually? ›

You should have your boiler serviced at least once a year to ensure it functions correctly and does not have any water or gas leaks. Not sticking to an annual boiler service could affect your boiler's performance, you could experience a boiler breakdown, or you could even invalidate your warranty.

What time of year should I turn my heating off? ›

The switch off date

With typical temperatures consistently exceeding 14°C by March 22nd, this should be the date we can expect to turn our heating off, 10 days earlier than last year due to warmer temperatures.

Is a boiler service worth it? ›

Is a boiler service worth it? Although you may be put off by the upfront cost of a boiler service, it's a sure way to ensure that your boiler is running without issues. This is especially important during winter when we all rely on our boilers for heating and hot water.

What is the life expectancy of a boiler system? ›

Estimated lifespan

It's common that oil and gas boilers remain functional for 11 to 27 years. Electric systems tend to fail sooner. Natural gas has become the most common energy source for boilers in most parts of the nation.

What is the life expectancy of a boiler heating system? ›

The standard modern hot water boiler will last around 20 years, sometimes more. Older cast iron steam boilers can last longer, and may even reach 50 years—but this is rare, and you probably don't have a cast-iron steam boiler.

Can you service a boiler yourself? ›

It's not something you can do yourself at home, although there are things you can do to keep your boiler ticking over. As far as maintaining the boiler is concerned, here are a few tips to help you take proper care of your boiler on your own. Check the pilot light.

What is included in a boiler service? ›

What happens at a boiler service?
  • Correct gas pressure and flow.
  • Flue and combustion. ...
  • Electrical connections are clean and in good condition.
  • Fans and other key components are working efficiently.
  • Seals are intact.
  • Electrodes are in a good condition.
  • Safety devices are checked.
  • Condensate trap and pipe is not blocked.

Who pays for boiler service? ›

Landlords are responsible for the repairs to the boiler, heating, pipes, gas appliances, sanitary fittings, ventilation, and wiring. Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, the landlord is responsible for repairing and proper functioning of the supply of gas, water, electricity, and sanitation.

Who should service your boiler? ›

It's best to have your boiler serviced by a qualified heating engineer annually. As part of the service, they can inspect the appliance and ensure that it's running as it should be. This is a way of providing you with reassurance that your boiler is working efficiently and safely.

Should I turn heating off before boiler service? ›

It's also a good idea to switch your boiler off an hour or so before the engineer arrives. This will give the heating system time to cool down before the engineer arrives and starts work. Once the temperature has come down, you can check its pressure. Generally, you want a reading between 1.2 and 1.5 bar of pressure.

Can old boilers be serviced? ›

For some older boilers, the cost of repair may be significantly increased because replacement parts are no longer readily available. Look at the potential cost of repairing your boiler and assess if replacing it could actually be a more cost-effective solution.

How often a boiler needs to be checked during the winter? ›

Frequency of boiler checks

The frequency of these checks may vary depending on the type of boiler and local regulations, but in general it is recommended that they are carried out at least once a year. In the case of gas boilers, a check is mandatory every two years.

What maintenance does a boiler require? ›

Annual Maintenance

Disassemble and check LWCO and ALWCO for sludge, corrosion or electrical switch defects. Inspect fire side for soot or damage and water side for scale or corrosion & Clean the boiler inside and out. Hydro test boiler for leaks (tube joints and piping).

What is an annual boiler service? ›

An annual service will start with a visual check to ensure that the boiler and associated pipework is installed and positioned correctly. Your engineer will then check that your boiler is operating correctly and identify any initial problems. Then they will remove the boiler casing to look at its components.

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