At Ideal Heating, we recommend booking a boiler service regularly so you know it’s working safely and efficiently. That way you can rest assured your central heating system is running smoothly and won’t give you an unpleasant surprise when your next energy bill arrives.
Whether you’re booking a service for the first time or just interested to learn more about what happens at your boiler service, this checklist has all the information you need. You’ll find out what you should expect to happen on the day, some technical information on what your engineer will look at, and a few handy questions that it could be useful to ask them.
How Often Should You Service Your Boiler?
Arranging to have your boiler serviced at least once a year is the best way to make sure your central heating is operating safely and efficiently. It can also be important to organise an annual service so that your boiler’s warranty is protected, which will be a big help if you do experience any issues further down the road.
How Long Does it Take to Service a Boiler?
A boiler service shouldn’t take longer than 45 minutes to an hour, depending on whether any repairs are needed that can be fixed there and then. When you book a service for your boiler, most engineers will be happy to agree a date and time to carry out the work. That means you should be able to arrange for your boiler service to be completed at a time that suits you.
What to Expect When the Engineer Arrives
When your engineer arrives they’ll introduce themselves, check that you were expecting the service, and show you their Gas Safe ID card. They’ll also ask you a few quick questions about your boiler before the service, such as whether you’ve been having any problems with it or if you’re aware of any existing issues. Your engineer will also do their best to keep your property tidy by putting down sheets to protect any surfaces from dust or damage.
If you have a system boiler or heat only boiler that’s part of a sealed heating system, your engineer will check for any signs that the pressure relief valve is leaking water, which could indicate there’s a problem that needs investigating. A Gas Safe engineer will always carry out their work carefully and make sure you and your home are not placed at any risk during the service.
What Happens During a Boiler Service?
The Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) has created a quick and simple 14-point guide which maps out exactly what’s involved in a boiler service. We’ve summarised those tasks for you below, so you can have a better idea of what to expect on the day.
During your boiler service, the engineer will:
- Keep a copy of the manufacturers’ instructions for your boiler to hand.
- Test the boiler by switching it on briefly and making sure it’s working properly, then isolate your heating system electrically using test equipment. They’ll also check whether the fuse rating for your boiler is correct.
- Take a close look at the boiler’s internal and external parts, which will involve removing its case. They’ll be checking for any signs that something is wrong, such as evidence of corrosion or water leaks.
- Clean the boiler and its parts if necessary, in line with the manufacturers’ instructions.
- Make sure that combustion analysis test-points are properly secured after conducting checks, as well as checking the effectiveness of any boiler case seals.
- Safely reinstate the electrical supply (see step 2), then either check your boiler’s gas burner pressure or conduct a gas-rate check — in some cases they may need to carry out both of these tests.
- Take a look at the boiler’s flames if they’re visible, before carrying out a flue gas analysis test to help measure your boiler’s efficiency.
- Make sure that the boiler is properly ventilated
- Fully inspect the boiler flue.
- Carry out flow and spillage tests on the boiler’s flue to make sure it’s working as it should, depending on whether your boiler is open-flued.
- Check that neither the boiler or its connecting pipework are leaking gas.
- Make sure any boiler safety devices are working properly. If they find any safety defects they’ll share full details of the fault with you and fix them where possible, always acting in accordance with the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP).
- Talk you through the next steps of repairing your boiler If they can’t resolve any problems they find, explaining which options are available to correct the faults.
- Complete the Benchmark service record, recording all of the relevant information from the service. They’ll also share any routine documentation with you, as well as any other information you request.
Completing Final Checks During a Boiler Service
When your service is complete, there are a few final checks that an engineer can do to make sure your boiler is in perfect working order. They will check the system controls, central heating and hot water are all functioning properly and check for any signs of problems like corrosion and air in your radiators.
Your hot water storage cylinder will be checked for leaks, correct insulation, and problems caused by a faulty installation. The engineer will also check and clean any debris from your heating system filter if you have one.
If you have a sealed heating system, they will check that the final system pressure matches the manufacturers’ instructions. After completing the service, they’ll make sure that all of your boiler and thermostat settings are left as they found them.
Are There Any Next Steps After Your Boiler Service?
If you’re at home when the service is completed, the engineer will share their findings with you and ask if you have any questions. If they’ve found any issues that need fixing, they’ll give you a full explanation of what the problem is, what work needs doing, and whether these repairs are covered under your warranty.
If you need to pay for the repair, they will provide you with a quote which you’ll be able to compare elsewhere if you wish. If you decide to arrange for them to return to complete the work, the engineer will find a suitable time and date for you, and source the parts and materials for the work in line with the boiler manufacturers’ instructions.
How To Find an Engineer for Your Boiler Service
If your next question is how to book a boiler service, we’ve got you covered. You can find a local installer in your area using Ideal Heating’s ‘Find an Installer’ tool. Alternatively, give us a call on 01482 498660 or get in touch online by visiting our Contact Us page.
If you have any questions or concerns about having your boiler serviced during the Coronavirus pandemic, we’ve got extra resources about that too. You’ll find lots of useful guidance by taking a look at our recent blog Covid-19: Boiler Installations & Maintenance.
Do you have any more questions about what a boiler service involves? Get in touch with us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook and we’ll be able to point you in the right direction to get your queries answered.
