How Important Is Boiler Maintenance?

A boiler is one of the most essential parts of any home, especially when living with others at the property (e.g. family or housemates). With that said, maintaining your boiler is the most important part of its upkeep, this usually comes in the form of regular services and catching spotting potential issues that may spiral into something more if left neglected. Here is an explanation of how important boiler maintenance is and some ways in which you can prevent any long-term damage to your boiler.

Having your boiler regularly maintained will ensure that it is working effectively as a Gas Safe registered engineer will confirm on their arrival for a service. When you boiler is serviced an engineer will let you know whether you need to replace any parts or not, this may seem expensive at the time however it would save money in the long term as this could be a preventative for further failures and even possibly a breakdown resulting in further expenditure in paying for other parts as well. Maintenance will also help reduce the cost of energy bills as a regular check-up will ensure that your boiler is working in a fully efficient manner.

Gas leaks are uncommon however, to reduce the possibility of your boiler leaking harmful gasses it’s essential to keep up to date with its maintenance. A boiler that has not been installed correctly or maintained well can start to leak carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas often known as the silent killer. According to government statistics, each year in the UK, around 4,000 people go to A&E with carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning due to leaking boilers, 200 people are hospitalised and on average, 50 adults and children die. More information on how to properly equip yourself in case a carbon monoxide leak was to occur can be found on our previous article ‘Everything You Need to Know About Carbon Monoxide’.

As previously mentioned, a boiler service is a major factor in its maintenance and should be performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Keeping your boiler serviced annually will help you save money on repairs and save you from any health risks that could arise from a possible gas leak from a faulty boiler. When performing a service an engineer will look out for various defects or faults using several different techniques such as:

• Visual inspection– your engineer will check that the boiler still meets current standards and requirements and look for any corrosion or leaks. They will also visually check the flame in your boiler.
• Removal of the boiler casing– they will then check the components to ensure everything is working correctly and then clean the inside of the boiler. These checks should include the heat exchanger, burner, main injector and spark probe.
• Flue check– the engineer will ensure there are no obstructions in the flue terminals and that the flue is safely fitted.
• Gas pressure check– this will ensure your boiler is working at the correct pressure.
• Boiler fired up– this allows the engineer to check for any working faults.

If you’re a landlord, it’s important to know that a boiler service should be included in your annual CP12 which is a legal requirement before and during a tenant’s residence at your property. The required checks include boilers, but they also cover other gas appliances such as stoves and fireplaces. If you’re a tenant it’s worth noting that landlords are not responsible for safety checks on gas appliances owned by you, or any flues that solely connect to your own gas appliances. More information regarding this can be found on our FAQ page and our article on ‘5 Reasons You Should Get Your Boiler Serviced’.

While your boiler is serviced, a Gas Safe registered engineer will notify you of any defective parts no matter how important they. It’s best advised to allow the engineer to complete a repair or purchase a new part to fix the defect as soon as possible. This is to prevent the issue from becoming dangerous and expensive. Replacing broken boilers can be very costly, so if you want to save yourself a significant amount of money, it is recommended that you have your boiler maintained on a regular basis.

We have now established how important boiler maintenance is to the lifespan of your home system. Here are some of the main points we mentioned during this article you should take away:

• Regular Servicing is essential in the upkeep of a boiler
• Staying alert to any defects that may affect the health of your boiler in the long term
• If you’re a landlord you are contracted, by law, to acquire a Gas safety certificate each year
• Maintenance not only helps the health of the boiler, but can prevent any damage to yours
• Regular upkeep of a boiler will result in the boiler working more efficiently thus creating less bills and saving your money.