What happens during a boiler service?

And is it really necessary every year?

You are advised to have your boiler serviced annually. This advice is consistently given by Gas Safe, boiler manufacturers, home and emergency cover insurers and heating engineers but, unlike an MOT for your car, it’s not a legal requirement. So, is it really as necessary as the industry would have you believe or is it just a revenue stream for heating firms?

Let’s start by taking a look at what exactly happens during a boiler service.This is a checklist of what we do at Plumbcare.com:

• Flue and emissions test – this checks for dangerous fumes that could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning
• Check gas installation pipes
• Check safety elements and controls
• Check that the boiler is burning an appropriate amount of gas at an efficient rate
• Assessment of any signs of wear and tear that could become issues
• Ventilation check
• Check flue flow
• Clean the appliance
• Empty and clean out central heating filter (if appropriate)

Why are these things important?

These measures do three things:

• Check that there is no present danger or signs that it could become dangerous
• Check efficiency and performance and for signs of things that could impact on performance in future
• Give it a good clean which improves both safety and performance

If boiler servicing is so important, why isn’t it compulsory?

There is no legal requirement as such to have your boiler serviced every year, however there are number of things that may obligate you to have it done: if you have boiler cover insurance then this cover usually requires you to have it serviced every year; and manufacturer warranties also demand it. If you sell your home, many prospective buyers will want a full service history. Plus, while it may not be a legal requirement for homeowners, it is for landlords who must have the gas appliances in rented properties serviced every year and provide their tenants with a Landlord’s Gas Safety Certificate. All of these requirements do reinforce how important it actually is.

Can boilers still be serviced during lockdown?

Plumbing and heating engineers have been designated as essential workers and are allowed, within lockdown guidelines, to continue to enter people’s homes to conduct repairs and maintenance. While some firms are choosing to focus on emergency repairs only, we are continuing to offer boiler servicing to any customer who wants it. We have adopted working protocols that allow us to meet government guidelines and have been doing this successfully since early April so they are well established.

We understand that some are still not comfortable with allowing people into your home, especially if you are shielding. We have put together some guidance on this here.

If you would like to book a boiler service, please call us on 0333 577 0151 or complete the enquiry form here.