What time of year should you service your boiler?
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By Emma Golledge, Marketing Associate @ Gleaner Oils
YOUR household heating system, boiler and storage tank are an important part of your winter preparations.
Almost a fifth of UK homes were found to be left without heating after a boiler breakdown, according to a 2017 study by uSwitch. Most breakdowns are caused by small preventable things that would cost little to repair.
Why do I need to service my boiler?
An annual boiler service is an important and often overlooked part of household maintenance. An efficient heating system helps to reduce running costs and unnecessarily high energy bills over the colder months. Making sure your central heating is working at peak efficiency means you get a warmer home per unit of energy you're paying for.
Regular boiler servicing can 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 4000 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, as many insurance policies will require you to have an annual boiler service as part of the terms and conditions.
It is 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 boilers are serviced at least once every 12 months to ensure they are 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.
Ensuring your boiler is serviced before the start of the cold weather and busy winter period would be advisable. Winter is the busiest time for heating engineers dealing with breakdowns, and you may find you have to wait longer for a service appointment.
Emergency callout times may be affected by the rise in demand too, potentially leaving you without heating or hot water in the event of a boiler breakdown.
Booking a boiler service before the start of the colder weather, when you will be most reliant on it to heat your home, will ensure it is in good working order and able to take the additional strain of winter safely.
During a routine boiler service, the engineer will check your boiler for signs of leaks or corrosion. They will also check that the components are in sound working order, detecting problems before they worsen and making sure your heating system is functioning effectively and safely.
How do I book an annual boiler service?
Gleaner Ltd is a Gas Safe and OFTEC registered company, whose engineers are fully trained to diagnose and repair oil fired and gas heating systems in compliance with current regulations.
Both oil and gas boiler services can be booked with a Gleaner engineer at an appointment to suit you. A weekend and holiday breakdown service is also available.
Boiler servicing can be provided through a maintenance contract or as required. A boiler maintenance contract with Gleaner ensures your annual service is managed by our in-house staff who will let you know when it is due. Alternatively you may request a service outwith a maintenance contract by contacting our team to book an appointment.
To book a boiler service or for an emergency breakdown callout, contact Gleaner's boiler maintenance department on 01343 557435.
