Most homes rely on a boiler for central heating and hot water. The basic principle of how a boiler works is similar for most types. Fuel enters a combustion chamber and is then ignited. The energy is transferred to a heat exchanger, which then pumps hot water into radiators in various rooms or sends it to water outlets as needed.
These systems make it possible for you to enjoy hot showers in the morning and make even the coldest winter days tolerable. However, boilers undergo extensive wear due to their constant use throughout the year, especially during the colder months, which is why it’s important to service your boiler annually to keep them in good working condition.
Here’s why you should service your boiler every year.
Keeps You and Your Family Safe
Servicing a boiler regularly not only keeps it in excellent condition, but ensures it is working safely. A faulty boiler with a gas leak is incredibly dangerous. Left unattended, a leak can set off a house fire or even lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Having a qualified Gas Safe engineer service the boiler every year also means you can rest assured the boiler is safe and no gas or carbon monoxide is leaking. For any gas fuel to burn safely, it must be mixed with the correct amount of oxygen.
For natural gas that is piped to our homes, we need one part gas to two parts oxygen for safe combustion. With normal combustion, the harmless waste gases, carbon dioxide, and water vapour produced are removed from the house by the flue of the boiler.
However, if there is a build-up of dust, dirt or soot in the boiler, the delivery of insufficient gas or oxygen may cause incomplete combustion and produce the highly toxic carbon monoxide gas, which is also highly explosive when combined with gas fuel.
A regular service will ensure that the supply of gas and oxygen is maintained at the correct levels, and any dust, dirt or soot in the system is removed.
Reduces Your Energy Bills
Running an inefficient boiler is likely causing you to spend more on your energy bills. It may not be noticeable at first but the additional changes can really add up over the long run. Not only that but a boiler in poor condition will leave you with lukewarm radiators or no hot water from the tap.
Annual servicing ensures that your boiler is running efficiently. This, in turn, saves you money on your energy bills, as a more efficient boiler costs less to run.
While there are some tasks you can perform yourself to improve the efficiency of your boiler, like dusting the outer housing and topping up the pressure, there are others that are best left to a professional.
These include bleeding the radiators to clear out cold spots and power flushing the system to dislodge any build-ups of sludge and debris.
A certified Gas Safe engineer will perform a host of checks on your boiler to ensure it runs efficiently. Fixing any minor problems before they escalate into much larger ones can save you money on future costly repairs, instead of having to buy a replacement boiler.
Keeps Your Boiler Warranty Valid
New boilers come with a warranty or guarantee from the manufacturer. That means the manufacturer will repair the boiler free of charge if there is a genuine fault. The warranty period typically varies from 2 to 10 years, depending on which manufacturer you buy from.
One thing to note though is that all manufacturers have strict conditions for the warranty to remain valid. The conditions vary for each manufacturer but all will require you to service the boiler annually to meet the requirements.
Once the warranty is finished, it’s still advisable to have the boiler serviced every year to ensure it’s running as efficiently as possible. A boiler that isn’t working to full efficiency is sure to be costing you money on your fuel bill, so it’s likely that the cost of a service will be quickly offset.
We highly recommend an annual boiler service for every home, to keep your boiler in tip-top condition. The peace of mind that comes with the knowledge that your boiler is safe and efficient is always well worth the price of a service.
If your boiler is due for an annual service, it’s important to plan ahead. Summer is often the best time to book a service. If there’s a problem, you won’t be left in the cold while it gets fixed. Service your boiler to ensure it’s running as efficiently as possible before winter rolls around.
For more information on boiler servicing, call Range Heating on 07872 105 094.
