Whether it’s the car’s service, a tax return or house insurance renewal, there are plenty of annual tasks on our to-do lists. But for many people, an annual boiler service just doesn’t feature.
It might not be that surprising. When everything’s working as it should be, it’s quite easy to forget about your boiler. But once a fault occurs and you’re left with no hot water or heating, boilers suddenly become very important.
The cost of boiler repairs isn’t an insignificant amount, ranging from £150 for minor repairs to £400 for bigger jobs, and can prove to be an unwelcome addition to already stretched monthly budgets.
An annual boiler service will make sure that everything is ticking along nicely and can help avoid breakdowns and costly repairs. So, just like your car receives an annual service, it’s a good idea to make sure your boiler gets a yearly once-over too. Here we look at the benefits of servicing your boiler.
The benefits of an annual service
Regular services make sure that your boiler is working as it should, meaning you’re less likely to have to deal with a breakdown and pay out for expensive emergency repairs. More importantly, it will also pick up potentially dangerous faults such as carbon monoxide leaks.
If your boiler isn’t working effectively, it can cause your energy bills to increase. An annual service will ensure that your boiler is as energy-efficient as possible.
It also prolongs the life of your boiler by spotting and fixing potential faults before they happen and preventing a more serious – and expensive – fault further down the line.
It’s best to arrange your annual service in the summer, so that you know your system is in good working order in time for the colder months.
What is boiler cover?
Boiler cover, or a boiler care plan, is an insurance policy you take out for your boiler. Most boiler care plans include an annual service, and call outs and labour charges if your boiler breaks down or develops a fault.
The service will be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer and will involve various tests on your boiler, and your heating appliances too if you’ve chosen that level of cover. These may include boiler control checks, such as thermostats; gas and pressure flow tests; inspection of the inside of the boiler; and flue and combustion checks among others.
The older your boiler, the more important it is to have adequate boiler care cover. Shop around to find a policy that offers a higher number of call outs and repairs in the monthly or annual cost.
Why might you not need boiler cover?
You may already have boiler and heating cover as part of your home insurance. Make sure to check your policy before you decide to take out separate boiler care insurance.
If you have a new boiler, which is still under warranty, you may not think you need to take out boiler cover. But in fact, by not getting your boiler serviced annually, you could invalidate your warranty.