Why Is Boiler Servicing Important?

Your boiler is essential in supplying warmth and hot water to your home but is often overlooked. It’s easy to do, as most of us don’t think about our boiler when it’s working as it should and only when it breaks down. That is why it’s recommended that an annual boiler service takes place to make sure your boiler is prepared to handle the effects of the year ahead.

Additionally, if you’re a landlord, it’s a legal requirement to arrange an annual gas safety check to make sure all the gas appliances on the property are working as they should be with no risk to tenants or neighbours.

Here at Heatworks UK, our team are boiler servicing experts and are on hand to help you understand the importance of having your boiler annually serviced.

We’ve worked hard to put together all our reasons why boiler servicing is so necessary.

Advantages of Annual Boiler Servicing

There are many reasons to have your boiler annually serviced, both for personal peace of mind and landlords’ legal requirements. Some of the advantages to annually having your boiler serviced include:

Winter Preparation: It’s no surprise that winter is challenging for many households. However, a broken or faulty boiler can add to those issues. Properly servicing your boiler in the run-up to winter ensures that everything is operating as it should be so that you can rest assured that you’ll have hot water in your home throughout the winter and that any issues found can be resolved before the cold weather sets in. You and your family will be kept safe and warm even during the coldest days and nights winter can throw at you.

Boiler Warranty: Many boiler manufacturers have an annual servicing as a part of the warranty clause, meaning that to keep your boiler under warranty, you need to have a certified gas safe engineer perform a service on your boiler at least once a year. If you do not do this and it is a condition of your warranty, the manufacturer will no longer be liable for replacements or repairs needed on your boiler. This could cost you dearly for replacing or repairing a boiler that is no longer protected under warranty.

Low Energy Costs: By having your boiler annually serviced, your safe gas engineer can ensure that your boiler is running safely and efficiently. A boiler that is working as it should is cheaper to run than one that is damaged or faulty, saving you money on your energy bills for the year. A servicing will also pick up problems, and your safe gas engineer can recommend ways to proceed, including whether it is time to repair or replace your boiler to keep your energy costs low.

Longer Life: A boiler servicing is similar to having an annual checkup at your doctor. A few observations are made or tests undertaken to ensure that everything is working as it should be and any issues found can be treated accordingly. A boiler service aims to make sure your boiler is healthy and working accordingly. Having this done annually ensures your boiler remains in good working condition for the year ahead. In turn, this ultimately extends the lifespan of your boiler.

What Is Checked During a Boiler Service?

A few things will be inspected during your annual boiler service to ensure that your boiler runs as reliably as possible. Visual inspections will include checking for external damage, accessibility for repair, signs of overheating, condition of electrics, water leaks, and signs of poor installation, to name a few. This visual inspection ensures that your boiler meets current recommended standards and any problems that can be identified with a visual inspection are found early and dealt with accordingly.

Next, a series of tests designed to check the boiler’s efficiency will be in line with manufacturers’ guidance and standards. These tests typically involve removing the boiler casing to check the main components – including the burner, main injector, spark sensor probe, and heat exchanger. The boiler will also be ignited and run to identify operating faults, the gas rate, boiler tightness and a flue gas analysis will also be carried out.

How Long Does a Service Take to Complete?

Performing boiler servicing doesn’t take long, so you won’t have to worry about sacrificing your day. A typical boiler service will take 30-40 minutes, depending on the type of boiler you have and the manufacturer. In that time, a safe gas engineer will be able to identify any problems with your boiler that need to be addressed and provide a certificate to say a servicing has taken place – not only so that you know when your next one will be due, but also for proof of servicing to keep the manufacturer’s warranty in place.