Most boiler manufacturers provide a lengthy warranty – but often, this warranty will only protect boilers that have been serviced at regular intervals. This is because manufacturers understand the risks associated with leaving a boiler unserviced. Minor problems can develop, which, over months and years, can degrade the performance of the device. In some cases, the boiler might break down completely!
Let’s take a closer look at some of the key reasons a boiler should be serviced.
Energy savings
Boilers that are regularly serviced tend to operate more efficiently than those that are only sporadically serviced. By paying for a service, therefore, you could be reducing your heating bills over the course of the coming year.
Reduced risk of breakdowns
During winter, boilers across the country come under strain. A few of them break down. This is a problem, since there might not be enough Gas Safe engineers available for your broken boiler to be addressed quickly – which means that you’ll need to wait in a freezing property until the problem is addressed. Or, you’ll need to rely on electric, portable heaters – which might be more expensive to run.
Gas leaks
Boilers work by channelling gas into a container, where it can be burned. Water is thereby heated before being channelled to the radiators around your home.
But what if the pipework that carried gas into your boiler suffers wear and tear? What if it becomes damaged? You might develop a gas leak. In some cases, this leak can be so small as to be imperceptible – even to a smoke alarm. But your engineer will notice the difference.
As such, a service can save you the money you would have spent on wasted gas, while safeguarding your health at the same time. Gas leaks should be treated seriously – if you can smell it, it can kill you.
Naturally, electric boilers don’t present this kind of risk. If you’re due an upgrade, therefore, it’s worth considering the switch.
Longevity
A boiler is like any other complex machine. It will, over time, need to be tuned and calibrated if it’s going to provide you with the best possible performance for as long as possible. By paying for an annual service, you’re pushing back the time at which you’ll need to pay for an entirely new boiler. As such, this is another way of saving yourself money in the long run.
The Law
If you’re a landlord, then looking after the boilers in your properties is a legal responsibility. The boiler service should be conducted at the same time as a gas safety check. Communicate this to your tenants, and make sure that they’re aware of your intention to send an engineer over. In most cases, they’ll understand the situation, and be willing to accommodate your request.
