
Why You Should Get Your Boiler Serviced. Dec 2022
Take a moment and consider your boiler at home. Day in, day out, it dutifully takes stone cold mains water and converts it into comforting, satisfying and importantly, essential, hot water for you to wash your hands, clean pots and pans, bathe in - and also heat your entire home. It’s a hard working servant within your household, however, easily taken for granted; as such it may well fall down your priority list. Neglect your boiler at your peril however: here’s our list of why you should get your boiler serviced.
Safety
When you consider the range of parts and systems within your boiler, then what could happen if any of them went wrong? The outcomes start to become a bit scary. At the ‘low’ end of the spectrum there’s simple hazards such as water leaks which could lead to black mould accumulation and growth, then at the opposite end, there’s the risk of a gas leak.
A gas leak could be in the form of unburned gas which is obviously highly flammable and if allowed to leak into the home presents a serious explosion risk. Another form of gas is carbon monoxide which is more likely to leak from your boiler. However simply inhaling it can lead to death - over a hundred people per year die from CO poisoning, in fact. So, the first reason why you should get your boiler serviced: ensuring the safety of you, and your family.
Catch Issues While They’re Small
There are two types of maintenance: preventative and reactive. Reactive maintenance is essentially where something goes wrong, and it needs to be repaired. So, in the case of your boiler, this could be when you discover that you’re no longer getting any hot water or heating, or you spot a leak around the boiler.
Preventative maintenance is as the name suggests, work carried out that prevents the big breakdowns from happening. It keeps your boiler and central heating nicely ticking over without any big issues and, crucially, enables you (via your professional service engineer) to identify and fix any problems before they become problematic and expensive.
Cheaper than Boiler Replacement
Let’s do the maths (it’s quite simple!) that explain why you should get your boiler serviced.
The average boiler service cost is in the region of £100 and should be carried out annually. The average cost of a new boiler on the other hand, is *very* roughly going to cost about £1200-1500 for a mid-range model combi boiler.
Having your boiler serviced keeps it in good condition and extends its’ lifespan. If a boiler is not looked after or serviced, it could need replacing in less than ten years. So, spending a hundred pounds a year actually works out cheaper than replacing it outright (imagine ignoring it for five years - you’ve saved £500, however, in year six you then need to spend £1200). When you also consider the costs of installation, and the inconvenience of the replacement process, the cost of an annual service is far lower than replacing the unit when something goes wrong.
Increased Efficiency
Over time, boilers can become less efficient due to deposits building up inside areas such as the combustion chamber. This can diminish the heat transfer, make the boiler harder to light and ultimately use more fuel. Using more fuel each time the boiler quickly starts to get expensive; having your boiler serviced cleans these deposits and will save you money.
Insurance Condition
If your boiler is insured (if it isn’t, it should be) you will be required to have your boiler serviced. Quite simply, if you don’t have your boiler serviced, your insurance will become void and you’re no longer covered. A pretty straightforward argument for why you should get your boiler serviced, right?
Legal Requirement for Landlords
If you’re a landlord, you’ll have a myriad of legal duties under various statutory instruments such as legislation and acts of parliament. One such act is the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. This act sets out responsibilities which are legally mandatory, meaning non-compliance can lead to fines, or prison time.
No doubt you’re now wondering what these duties are! In a nutshell, they are:
● To annually check all gas appliances and flues within the property
● Provide a record of these checks to the tenants
● Ensure that all gas pipework, appliances, flues and chimneys are maintained in a safe condition
When you have your boiler serviced, you’ll be provided with the relevant paperwork that you are required to have by law and ensures your ongoing legal compliance. If you’re looking for a reason why you should get your boiler serviced, this is arguably the most compelling.
Boiler Warranty
The last reason on our list of why you should get your boiler serviced, is similar to your insurance. Your boiler will be manufactured to high and stringent quality standards and be covered by a warranty that protects against defects. However, this will be dependent on you ensuring regular (usually annual) servicing is carried out by a professional gas engineer.
Failure to have your boiler serviced will void your warranty and leave you without the backing of the manufacturer to rectify any issues that may arise with your boiler within the warranty period.
Why You Should Get Your Boiler Serviced: The Obvious Choice
By now, you should be able to see that getting your boiler serviced is a no-brainer. If you’re a landlord, it also keeps you out of trouble with the law. If your boiler is insured or under warranty, you’ll be required to have it serviced to maintain the cover, and if you’re simply looking to save money and get the most bang for your buck (the most popular reason why you should get your boiler serviced) it will lower your utility bills and look after you into the future. So, what are you waiting for - give us a call to discuss boiler servicing today or book online. Also check out our service plans and spread the cost of your service and emergency breakdown cover across the year (from as little as £9 per month).