What Time of Year Should I Service my Boiler?


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


Why do I need to service my boiler?

An annual boiler service is a crucial part of home ownership, ensuring that you get the very best from your heating system. An efficient heating system helps to reduce running costs and unnecessarily high energy bills over the colder months. Making sure that your central heating is working at peak efficiency means that you get a warmer home per unit of energy you’re paying for. 


Regular boiler servicing can help to 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. 



When should I get my boiler serviced?

It is recommended that your boiler is serviced at least every 12 months to make sure that it is 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 heating engineers who will be busy dealing with breakdowns, so you may find you’ll 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’d recommend that summer or 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. 


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