Experts demystify your boiler service

Autumn is here, and there’s already a chill in the air overnight. Some of us may have already switched the heating on – but many Brits could face an issue if they haven’t completed their annual boiler service.

According to recent statistics from MyBuilder.com, the reliable way to hire tradespeople, 23 per cent of UK homeowners admitted to skipping their boiler services, due to financial reasons.

While the cost of living crisis has forced many of us to make difficult decisions regarding saving money, missing a boiler service is a false economy. Boilers work at their most efficient when they are running smoothly and correctly, so while skipping a service might not mean your heating breaks – it may be costing you money.

Regular HVAC tune ups are essential for maintaining optimal system performance and energy efficiency, ensuring that heating systems operate effectively throughout the colder months.

Your annual service might seem a bit redundant if your boiler appears to be working fine, but it actually checks many elements that you’d never be able to see yourself. It can prevent bigger problems occuring if there is a small issue with a part, and it also means that should an issue occur that leads to damage, you can prove you’ve paid your due diligence to your insurance provider.

Heating expert Jack Coles, from MyBuilder.com, said that having regular services for your boiler ensures the most efficient running of the unit, meaning you will save money on your heating bills.

“It might seem like a waste of money having your boiler serviced, but the reality is that skipping them will almost certainly result in your boiler breaking earlier. Not only that, but the yearly expense of running it will rise if it’s not working as it should.

“It’s similar to a car – just because it’s working doesn’t mean that there aren’t issues, and running a faulty boiler will result in broken parts, inefficient performance – and even major issues such as fires or leaks. It can even lead to your insurance being invalidated should there be an issue.

“It’s always worth getting a check for peace of mind – it may seem pointless, but actually a service checks many elements of boiler performance, and you should always feel free to ask your technician to explain what they’re doing.”

So what should a boiler service include? According to experts at MyBuilder.com, it should include the following.

1. Outer visual inspection

An engineer will start by conducting an outer visual inspection of the system. This may involve looking at the boiler’s hot water cylinder, its pipework and the controls. A gas engineer will also check whether the fuse rating for your boiler is correct. If the fuse is too high it could overheat and cause fires, as it will not break the electrical circuit if a fault means that too much current is passing through.

2. Firing up

If it isn’t already running, the engineer will start your boiler to make sure it fires up correctly, stays on and starts heating water effectively. A number of reasons could cause your boiler to not fire up including, low pressure, blockages in the system, faulty valves or frozen pipes.

3. Casing removal

Once the engineer has finished with the outer visual inspection, they will remove the boiler’s casing to carry out a thorough check of the insides.

The engineer will be looking at:

• The case seals

The case seals will be checked to ensure they are not damaged or failing. If there is an issue,  it could affect combustion which could  in turn affect efficiency – and potentially lead to a dangerous situation down the line.

• The burner

The burner very simply is the component that enables combustion in the boiler. If it is blocked or damaged it could affect combustion and thus efficiency/safety.

• The spark probe or electrode

The electrode sends a signal to the control circuit when a flame is detected; this is an important safety feature that ensures gas is only used when necessary, preventing waste and unsafe situations occurring. This helps to ensure that the boiler operates at maximum efficiency and provides consistent heating and hot water.

• The heat exchanger

The heat exchanger is the crucial component in which the system water is heated by the burner. The engineer will inspect its condition for signs of cracks or leaks. If this isn’t done, small leaks, which may dry up during use and not be spotted until it’s too late, could develop and cause much larger problems.

4. Flue check

This is the pipe that takes combustion gases to the exterior of your house. The engineer needs to check it is installed correctly and it is not damaged or blocked, preventing the safe evacuation of harmful gases. Blockages could cause dangerous gases to be released inside the property, presenting a danger to life. Any damage or blockages to your flue system can be very dangerous, as even good combustion produces carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that is completely odourless, tasteless and colourless. CO could be released inside your home if there are issues with the flue system, potentially resulting in deadly consequences. This is why you should have at least one CO alarm, as well as ensuring your regular servicing.

5. Combustion performance
The engineer will check the products of combustion and the rate at which it’s burning gas to analyse how the boiler is performing. Small adjustments may be made to keep it performing as defined by the manufacturers, this is to ensure safe and efficient operation. 

6. Additional checks

The engineer will make sure that the boiler functions and controls are working sufficiently. They will also check that the boiler is in an adequately ventilated area, and ensure that the boiler isn’t next to any flammable or combustible materials.

7. Issuing a report

The engineer should keep a record of every test that they run on the boiler, detailing the checks that have been carried out and any faults found. This report is a useful tool for the homeowner because it’ll let you know whether anything needs addressing. When boiler servicing in the future, this document will inform the future engineer about any previous issues and what to look out for this time around.