Why you should get your boiler serviced
Why getting your boiler serviced could save your life!
You may wonder why you should bother paying all that money to have your boiler serviced, especially if it's is only a year or two old.
Well, here are five good reasons why it's absolutely vital that you do:
1. First and foremost, IT KEEPS YOU SAFE.
According to a recent awareness campaign by projectshout.com, over 200 people are seriously ill with suspected carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning every year in the UK resulting in around 50 deaths. Young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with heart problems are most at risk.
Carbon monoxide is called the silent killer - and for a good reason. You can't see it, smell it or taste it as it's invisible to human senses and can only be identified by a CO monitor. It's a gas that's produced when a fuel isn't burned properly and can come from your fire, your cooker, or your boiler as well as other sources such as blocked chimneys, portable heaters, even BBQ's! Mains gas, LPG, oil and solid fuel boilers are all capable of producing CO if not regularly maintained.
To ensure that your household appliances are safe and not leaking this noxious gas you need a qualified heating engineer to check your devices on at least an annual basis. Never try and do this yourself. Your gas engineer must, by law, be registered with Gas Safe (previously known as Corgi), the official gas registration body for the UK. The Gas Safe Register ensures that those applying for, and holding, registration are appropriately qualified as gas safety competent.
Always check both sides of your gas engineer's license to make sure they have the correct ID and make sure it's not expired. Ideally ensure they're listed on the GasSafe Register before you book them and check that they're qualified to work on the type of boiler you have, especially if you have LPG.
Here is a list of the things that your gas engineer should be doing when servicing your boiler:
A visual check to ensure your boiler still meets current standards
Fire up the boiler to identify any faults
Casing removed to check all main components including heat exchanger, spark/sensor probe, main injector, heat exchanger
Ensure the flue terminals are not obstructed and the internal flue components are sealed properly
Flue gas analysis to check that there is no build up of carbon monoxide in the appliance
Gas valve adjusted to check that the burner is combusting properly and efficiently
Clean the inside casing surfaces and boiler parts if necessary
Check gas tightness to ensure there are no leaks
Replace the boiler casing and check it's properly sealed
Provide a service report that shows all the necessary checks have been made
2. It minimises the risk of your boiler breaking down
Regular checks and maintenance of your boiler will ensure it runs properly. A qualified gas engineer will notice issues straight away so that it will be less likely to break down. Just one small problem with a boiler could eventually lead to having to buy a brand new appliance if not dealt with early. Having an annual service will pick up on any issues.
3. It keeps your boiler efficient and saves money on your fuel bills
Annual checks by a qualified heating engineer will ensure that your boiler is running efficiently and is using less energy. A boiler works pretty hard during its lifetime and, like a car, parts can wear out. Keep your appliance in tip top condition and it should be keeping you warm, as cost effectively as possible for many years.
4. It keeps your boiler under warranty
Your new boiler should come with a warranty. However did you realise that if you don't have your boiler serviced regularly it's possible that warranty won't be worth the paper it's written on.
5. If you're a landlord, then it's the law!
If you have tenants then you have a duty of care to keep them safe. One of your many obligations is that you have your tenants' appliances serviced annually and have a certificate to prove it.
So what are you waiting for? Don't leave it until it's too late.
I'm a Gas Safe registered engineer in Chichester with over 20 years experience and a bundle of qualifications. I cover the Chichester and Bognor areas and only charge £78 to service a boiler. Why not give me a call?
Adam Carter
07717 572957