Regularly servicing your boiler is vital to ensuring your appliance is working safely and efficiently.
Each year, you should have your boiler serviced by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. Even if it’s working without any obvious issues, keeping on top of servicing is the best way to ensure your boiler is working at an optimal level and to spot any potential issues early.
When is the best time to get a boiler serviced?
Boilers should be serviced annually. Ideally, you’ll want to have your boiler serviced before the autumn months when temperatures begin to drop, making the summer an ideal time for servicing.
Getting your boiler service done earlier in the year means your engineer can spot and hopefully fix any issues before the colder months set in. Autumn and winter also tend to be the busiest seasons for gas engineers, meaning there could be long waits if you leave it until then.
Why should you have your boiler serviced?
There are several reasons for getting your boiler regularly serviced:
- Health, safety and peace of mind
Most importantly, servicing ensures your boiler is working safely, protecting you and those around you. Faulty boilers can be incredibly dangerous and even fatal. During a service, engineers will check for potential leaks and issues, giving you priceless peace of mind.
- Catch issues early
Annual servicing is also an effective way for engineers to uncover issues early, fixing them before they become bigger, more expensive problems.
- Save on bills
Regular services can also help you save on energy bills as engineers will test how efficiently your boiler is performing, and whether that performance could be improved.
Is getting a boiler serviced a legal requirement?
Despite it not being a legal requirement for a homeowner to have their boiler serviced annually, it is highly recommended.
Landlords, however, are required by law to ensure boilers in their rented properties are serviced every single year.
Who can service a boiler?
Only qualified engineers with a valid and up-to-date registration with Gas Safe may legally carry out a boiler service, or indeed, any kind of gas work at all.
For homeowners, if you use an engineer who isn’t a member of the Gas Safe Register, your boiler warranty could be invalidated, as could your home insurance.
How do you book a boiler service?
Booking a boiler service is simple. You could try and book a service directly with the engineer who installed your boiler — their details can usually be found on the front of your boiler or in your boiler log book. You can also book a service with a gas company such as British Gas, EDF or OVO.
While it can be easy to overlook the importance of regular boiler servicing, this is an essential practice for keeping your home both safe and comfortable and should be treated as a necessity.