Your boiler plays a central role in your home and not having an annual service can impact its performance, make your home unsafe and increase your energy expenses. Gas boiler services are regularly overlooked leaving you at risk of damaging your boiler whilst having a negative impact on the environment.
How often should you get your boiler serviced? We recommend annual checks on your boiler to make sure that it is running properly, and any problems are identified and resolved early. By regularly servicing your boiler you will ensure that it is working both safely and efficiently.
In this blog, we will look at how getting your gas boiler serviced annually can have benefits on both your home and your wallet.
Keep Your Energy Expenses Low
As part of your annual gas boiler service, your Gas Safe registered engineer will check that your boiler is running efficiently, which can save you money over time. Improving your boiler’s efficiency and having a regular service can prevent soot from accumulating, thereby enabling the boiler to run smoothly, which reduces fuel consumption. This will allow you to keep energy costs low, whilst reducing environmental impact and your carbon footprint.
Keep Your Boiler Under Warranty
Not having your gas boiler serviced annually could invalidate your warranty and could stop you from receiving any benefits that come with it. Many manufacturer guarantees require you to book a Gas Safe registered engineer every year. This allows them to check for any issues and prevents boiler breakdown, helping to keep you warm all year round.
Including the Ideal Heating Vogue Max System, boilers come with great warranties of between 10 to 12 years, which demonstrates the importance of protecting your boiler. By making sure you follow the usual protocols for keeping your warranty valid, you will also keep your home safe and your costs down.
Save Money on Unwanted Repairs
Regular checks and maintenance on your gas boiler can improve the reliability of your heating system and minimise any future repairs. An annual inspection can help fix any issues right away, so your boiler is less likely to break down later on.
One of the most important ways to look after your boiler is to get it serviced every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Regular checks can discover issues that, if left unresolved, could turn into more significant problems which could be costly to repair and may even lead to you needing a boiler replacement.
Prepare Your Home for Winter
It is highly recommended that your gas boiler service is conducted before the colder months arrive. There is nothing worse than putting the heating on at the start of Autumn to discover it is faulty or, worse, completely broken.
Preparing your home for winter and keeping your boiler healthy ensures you and your family are kept safe and can also help reduce costs as you won't be paying for increased fuel usage due to an undiscovered fault. A Gas Safe registered engineer will carry out essential checks to help make sure your boiler keeps going no matter what the weather.
Extend the Lifespan of Your Boiler
A well-maintained and healthy gas boiler will most likely have a longer lifespan than a boiler that hasn't been serviced, which can result in significant savings. Regular maintenance and professional Gas Safe registered inspections will not only keep your boiler running smoothly and efficiently but, as mentioned earlier, can also help to identify and rectify minor issues which could improve the lifespan of your boiler.
However, if your boiler is getting close to the average lifespan of 15 years, then it won’t be operating as efficiently as it did when it was brand new. Newer model gas boilers have an abundance of features that can help improve efficiency, which often makes them more economical. This can make newer boilers cheaper to run whilst also helping to lower your carbon footprint. However, even a brand new boiler needs an annual service, so you must remember to book this in every year to fulfil any legal requirements.
Are You a Landlord or Tenant? Fulfil Your Legal Requirements
If you are a business owner or a landlord, then an annual Gas Safety Record is a legal requirement. The law requires you to present your tenant with a gas safety certificate every 12 months, which are provided by a Gas Saferegistered engineer once they have completed any inspections or repairs.
If you’re a tenant renting a property, it’s your landlord’s responsibility to ensure these checks are arranged every 12 months to check that gas appliances in the property are operating safely and effectively.
Keep Your Family and Friends Safe
The most significant advantage of having an annual gas boiler service is ensuring your home is a safer place as a damaged and faulty boiler could potentially lead to dangerous fires or gas leaks. A faulty boiler can also increase the risk of releasing carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas, yet as it’s clear and odourless it’s particularly dangerous. Preventing the release of carbon monoxide and being able to spot the symptoms of CO poisoning could save a life. Having your boiler serviced annually will help to catch any faults early, potentially protecting your home and family from carbon monoxide poisoning.
You’ll find further advice on boiler care and gas safety in our FAQs, as well as guides on the Ideal Heating blog.
