Servicing your boiler is one of those tasks that you really need to keep on top of, as missing out can be dangerous and costly. But how often should you do it?
All boiler manufacturers seem to agree that no longer than one year should pass between services, and at Duffy Heating, we’ve seen enough lucky escapes to know that’s right.
Twelve months is a good duration because it lets your boiler go through a whole four-season cycle.
It might go for weeks without being turned on in the summer, and weeks of barely being off in winter. All these conditions put their own stresses and demands on the boiler, so a checkup will get you ready for the next year.
Also, a year is just a good time beauce it’s easier to remember when you last had it done – but put it in your calendar anyway!
So now we know you should have it done annually, the next question is why? There are five reasons: wear and tear, safety, efficiency, legal reasons and your warranty. Let’s go through them one by one.
Wear and tear
First, there’s just the fact that your boiler is a mechanical device, and wherever you have moving parts, you’re bound to get wear and tear. Boilers have at least one pump, but possibly more, and they can lose their effectiveness if they start wearing out.
Also, limescale can build up in the pipework and heat exchanger, which can have an adverse effect on heating and efficiency.
Safety
By far the most important reason to have a safety check is to keep your boiler safe. Boilers are built to an incredibly high standard, and only fail rarely, but no type of machine is completely immune from damage. With a gas boiler, there are a number of risks:
- Carbon monoxide. If the gas isn’t burning properly and/or the flue is blocked, this deadly gas can build up in the home and can be a real danger. It has no smell and it’s invisible, so you don’t even know it’s coming from the boiler.
- Gas. A gas leak and a spark (for example from a light switch) can cause explosions and fires. It is essential the boiler is checked for leaks.
- Electrical faults. As well as making the boiler hazardous to touch, an electrical fault could also cause a spark and an explosion. Mixed with water, that’s a dangerous combination.
- Water. Whether boiling hot or cold, water poses its own risks to health through scalds, leaks, dampness and electrical faults.
- General faults. High or low pressure, poor flow and general state of disrepair can all cause damage and burst pipes.
Efficiency
You want your boiler to be as efficient as possible, both for your own pocket and for the environment. Keeping it serviced means it’ll be running at maximum efficiency.
Legal
Particularly important if you’re a landlord, you will be legally obliged to have the boilers in your properties serviced annually to protect the safety of your tenants. Failure to do so could result in fines or even prison, so make sure it’s done on time.
Warranty
Is it worth the risk?
We think you’ll agree that missing your annual service might save you a few euros today, but it could be much, much costlier down the line.
If you’re in the Dublin area, why not get in touch and arrange for one of our engineers to give your boiler the once over. It could be the cheapest call you ever make.
Published: 30 July 2021
