Are you unsure if you need annual boiler servicing? All boilers should be inspected for wear and tear and proper operation at least once every 12 calendar months. This can help find issues with the boiler before it leaves you chilly on a cold winter night and keeps your warranty valid.
Reasons to Get Your Boiler Serviced
Getting your boiler serviced can prevent life-threatening situations, like gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Keep Your Heating Bills Manageable
Boilers that are not regularly maintained can use more water and gas than anticipated, which can lead to unexpectedly high bills. By keeping your boiler well-maintained, you are saving money on your winter heating bills.
Prevent Expensive Repairs
Unmaintained boilers can lead to expensive repairs that could exceed your maintenance budget. This is because small problems were not found in a timely manner when they could be repaired easily and affordably. Not to mention, boilers tend to break down at the worst possible times, like after normal business hours and on weekends and holidays, when labor prices are at their highest. To keep your repair bills affordable, it’s always advised to perform regular inspections and preventative maintenance.
Extend the Useful Life of Your Boiler
Boilers that are not properly maintained don’t last as long as those that receive all their inspections and regular maintenance. For example, you may have heard that the average lifespan of a boiler is between 15 and 20 years. However, if you don’t have it regularly serviced, inspected and repaired, you may experience problems in as little as three or four years and need to replace the boiler much sooner than you expected.
Keep the Boiler’s Warranty Valid
Many boiler warranties stipulate that you must schedule regular inspections and perform preventative maintenance in order to keep your warranty valid. This is because most warranties stipulate that they will cover defects in the parts, but not work that is required due to lack of maintenance. This also includes your home insurance.
Annual Gas Boiler Service
Gas boiler servicing always starts with a friendly, professional and experienced engineer entering your home or business and speaking with you about your boiler. If you’ve had any issues with your boiler, please tell them when they arrive. This helps them look for specific problems while they conduct your annual maintenance check.
Visual Inspection of the Boiler
Once at the boiler, the gas engineer will visually inspect the outside of the boiler for corrosion and signs of excessive wear and tear that could impact its function or make it unsafe to operate.
Gas and Water Pipes Check
The engineer will check all the gas pipes and water pipes to ensure they are in good condition and not leaking. If a leak is found, you will be informed so that it can be repaired before it causes a hazardous condition.
Condensation Trap Check
The condensation trap collects water. If it’s blocked, it could spill over and dripping water will damage the flooring, cupboard and the boiler itself. The engineer will check to make sure this trap is free and clear and in good condition.
Inspection of the Inside of the Boiler
Once the exterior of your boiler has been inspected, the engineer will carefully remove your boiler’s casing and inspect the interior, which includes the boiler’s burner, heat exchanger, spark probe and main injector. At this stage, the engineer is looking for excessive wear and tear, cracks and broken parts.
Visual Inspection of the Flue or Chimney
The flue of your boiler safely vents the exhaust gases to the outdoors. If it is clogged, it can cause hazardous gases, like carbon monoxide to enter your home or building. During this part of the inspection, the engineer is looking for cracks and blockages that could lead to hazardous or deadly situations.
Gas Flow Check
In order for your boiler to operate efficiently, the gas must flow at the proper pressure. Our engineer will check the gas pressure to ensure it is flowing within the operational parameters for your boiler.
Practical Check
Next, our engineer will start your boiler, inspect any gauges and examine its operation while it’s running. This test can find problems with the function of the boiler and help ensure proper operation.
Maintenance Report
Lastly, the engineer will fill out a detailed report outlining what was checked and the condition of the components. If any problems were found, they will be listed in the report. Additionally, if the boiler is not up to code or not safe to operate the boiler will be condemned.
Related Articles
- 4 Signs You Need a New Boiler
- How you Can Finally Take Control of Your Heating
- How to Keep Your Costs Down This Winter
- Preparing Your Home for Winter
- Heat Pump Funding – Have You Heard of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
