Once a year, for every type of system
Gas, oil and LPG boilers and air source heat pumps should all be serviced every 12 months. That is what the manufacturers recommend, and on most new boilers and heat pumps an annual service is a condition of the manufacturer warranty. Miss one and you could find a claim turned down when you need it most.
Why a yearly service matters
- ✓Safety: a service checks the boiler is burning properly and clearing its fumes, which protects you from carbon monoxide
- ✓Reliability: worn parts get spotted and replaced before they fail on a cold morning
- ✓Efficiency: a clean, well set up boiler uses less fuel for the same heat
- ✓Warranty: most manufacturers require a yearly service to keep the warranty valid
- ✓Lifespan: boilers that are looked after every year last longer
Gas boilers
A gas boiler service should be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. It includes a visual check, a look inside at the burner and heat exchanger, a flue gas analysis to check combustion, and tests on the safety devices and controls. You should be left with a written record of what was checked. See exactly what my gas boiler service includes.
Oil boilers
Oil boilers need their yearly service even more than gas ones. Oil burns less cleanly, so soot builds up inside, and the nozzle and fuel filter wear out. On an oil service I replace the nozzle and filter as standard, clean the combustion chamber and check the combustion with an analyser. The engineer should be OFTEC qualified and give you a service record.
It is also worth checking your oil tank while I am there. Tanks over 15 to 20 years old, or with any cracks, bulges or weeping, are worth keeping an eye on. Read more about oil boiler servicing.
LPG boilers
LPG boilers are serviced in much the same way as gas boilers, but the gas behaves differently and the boiler is set up differently, so the engineer needs to be Gas Safe registered specifically for LPG. Not every gas engineer is, which is why some customers in villages east of Boston have struggled to find someone. I am. Read more about LPG boiler servicing.
Air source heat pumps
Heat pumps have fewer moving parts than a boiler, but they still need a yearly check to stay efficient. A service covers the outdoor unit and its fan, the refrigerant circuit, filters, system pressure and flow temperatures. A heat pump that is slightly out of adjustment can quietly cost you money for months without you noticing. Read more about heat pump servicing.
When is the best time to book?
Late summer and early autumn are ideal. The boiler gets checked before it starts working hard, and engineers are less busy than in the first cold week of the year, when everyone's heating gets switched on at once and breakdowns pile up.
If your oil or LPG tank is due a top-up, it is also a good idea to have the service done before winter, so any fuel supply issues are caught early.
On one of my service plans I keep your service date on file and get in touch when you are due. Plan customers also get priority slots if anything goes wrong in winter.
Signs you should not wait for the next service
Get the boiler looked at straight away if you notice any of these:
- ✓A yellow or orange flame instead of a blue one
- ✓Soot, staining or a burning smell around the boiler
- ✓Your carbon monoxide alarm going off
- ✓The boiler locking out regularly or making new noises
- ✓Pressure that keeps dropping
Covering Boston and South Lincolnshire
I service gas, oil and LPG boilers and air source heat pumps in Boston and across: