You can't salt a snail without breaking a few eggs. That's what my Grandad used to say before the end. It begs the question, does your boiler need salting to avoid it breaking? Get ready for some honesty.
A new boiler costs a wedge - we should know, we sell them. And do our mighty best to keep our margin lower than the temperature of a room warmed by a heat pump.
This makes avoiding a new boiler installation the ideal scenario for most people.
But does servicing your current boiler carry any benefit? Or is it a juicy way for heating companies to top up their profits and slide into your home like P Diddy into literally everyone’s pants 👖
The cost of a boiler service delivers two main wins:
It’s likely to keep the boiler running longer, and you’ll know it’s safe whilst you’re using it.
It keeps your boiler manufacturer warranty valid (if you haven’t let it lapse already).
Boiler warranties are a funny one.
The reality is, manufacturers know that most people cannot be arsed having it done - which gives them an awesome get out for anything that ever goes wrong with your boiler.
But, if you have (and do) have it done every year since your installation - they’re compelled to put its faults right within the warranty period - regularly up to 10 years. It’s kind of like rearing a child. If said child commits no crimes, it remains in your care. If it goes on a killing spree and is incarcerated, it’s somebody else’s problem. 🚓
Skip to how much they actually bloody cost. 😮💨
Whilst we’ll continue to breakdown boiler servicing costs in painful detail to justify the articles very existence, you would do well to take one of two points away now:
We offer boiler servicing right here, for £99. 👈 👈
They’re pretty much always around £90 - £150. So, read on at the cost of your own time.
Average Boiler Service Costs In The UK:
The table below indicates the average annual boiler service costs for different types of boilers - yep, you just read that. 🤪
It’s mind numbingly boring, likely irrelevant to you and can only possibly exist to serve Google algorithms or out of favour journalists given tasks by managers attempting constructive dismissal.
Boiler Type | Duration | Material Costs | Labour Costs |
Annual service on standard combi boiler | 1-1.5 hours | £4-£6 | £100-£130 |
Annual service on LPG boiler | 1.5-2 hours | £4-£6 | £100-£130 |
Annual service on oil boiler | 1.5-2 hours | £4-£6 | £110-£150 |
Test and issue a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate | 1.5-2 hours | £0 | £100-£150 |
Table last updated: 29th Oct 2024.
The average UK cost for boiler servicing depends on the type of boiler you have, where you live and (sometimes) how much money an engineer thinks he can do you for. 🤑
Generally though, it’s £90-£150.
This is a one-off charge offered by most registered Gas Safe engineers, which typically takes no more than 2 hours to complete. 1 hour of work, 1 hour of using your bog. 🧻
Depending on how close your nearest McDonalds is, a boiler service could take up to an hour longer.
👆Your boiler engineer after ‘nipping our for lunch’.
A boiler and heating cover plan costs between £100 and £200 (per year) on average, and the one-off fee for an annual service may work out cheaper.
*No, it will absolutely work out cheaper but British Gas director yachts don’t pay for themselves. 🛥️
However, it's important to factor in the other benefits of a boiler cover plan.
In theory, boiler cover plans offer the service itself within the cost and emergency call-out cover.
In reality… if your boiler breaks in winter, guess what? So did everybody else’s.
Enjoy the long wait.
If push came to shove and shove came to buying a new boiler, get a cost for fitting it + rapid installation, right here.
Tip: Get your boiler serviced from year one this time, and stay covered.
How much does a gas boiler service cost?
An annual gas boiler servicing costs between £90 to £150 (including VAT) on average.
During your boilers service, a registered Gas Safe engineer will carry out a complete audit of your boiler, ensuring that everything is in working order, checking for any faults and if necessary cleaning essential components.
They will also ensure the boiler is safe to use, carrying out the relevant safety tests including carbon monoxide gas test and checking the water pressure.
How much does a combi boiler service cost?
The good news is that combi boilers are often much more accessible to service than other types of gas and oil boilers.
This is due to them having fewer parts and generally being easier to access, making serving a relatively quick process. They’re like Gen Z teens getting therapy.
The average cost of a combi boiler service is between £90 and £150 (including VAT), although the work can cost as little as £65 with market offers.
How much does an oil boiler service cost?
The average cost of an oil boiler service is between £100 and £300 depending on a variety of factors. Ideally (definitely), your service should be carried out by an OFTEC-qualified engineer and just like a gas combi boiler should be conducted annually.
Although this may seem expensive on an annual basis, it's important to consider the energy efficiency savings you will be making and therefore the long-term financial savings on your heating bills.
Furthermore, if oil leaks into your land - it’ll be dug up quicker than dirt on a newly appointed Prime Minister.
How much does a commercial boiler service cost?
Commercial boilers need serving just like residential boilers.
If they’re unsafe, they’re likely making more people unsafe and if they aren’t working, you have an office or factory full of people moaning so much they’ll generate their own heat eventually.
For a commercial boiler of 40kW or under, on average you will pay similar to domestic boilers (£90-£150).
For boilers bigger than this, expect several hundreds of pounds. 😭
Why should you have your boiler serviced?
All the technical and boring reasons are listed below (they’re super great).
But fundamentally, you should have it serviced to make sure it doesn’t break in winter and to ensure if it does break - it’s the boiler manufacturer forking out for its repair work. 🛠️
Other, more nerdy reasons: 🤓
To keep your boiler manufacturer's warranty or guarantee valid
To reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning
To reduce the risk of boiler breakdowns and expensive repairs down the line
To ensure your boiler is working at its optimum and with maximum efficiency
To extend your boiler's lifespan as much as possible
Whilst these are great reasons for an annual (and planned boiler service), a boiler service out of the blue is sometimes a good tactic if you’re experiencing any little faults with your boiler or your heating bill increased suddenly.
Although, the latter will more than likely be your energy company panicking before the dividend payouts are due. Especially if said energy company pretends to be all about ‘green’ solutions and won’t shut up about electric cars that are being charged by burning more coal and setting fire to landfills.
What are the legal obligations of boiler servicing?
As long as you are not a landlord, there are no legal responsibilities to have your boiler serviced. However, bear in mind that without an annual service, any boiler manufacturer's warranties will definitely be invalidated and the manufacturer will let out an evil laugh that you won’t even get to hear. 👹
Regardless, having your boiler serviced still has a lot of benefits, it ensures it's safe to use, reduces the risk of a breakdown and helps you save on fuel bills - which your energy supplier will take to like The Grinch to Christmas.
It's also important to remember that the individual carrying out the servicing must hold the correct and recognised credentials.
Fortunately, most of the UK’s unqualified gas fitters are now fitness influencers, residing in Dubai.
They must be gas registered as Gas Safe (formerly CORGI registered) if they are servicing a gas boiler or be an OFTEC registered engineer if servicing an oil boiler.
How often should you have your boiler serviced?
If you own your property, then the boiler should ideally be serviced every 12 months.
The best time to have your boiler serviced is during the warmer months of the year.
Not only will this ensure your boiler is all set for winter i.e. where it will see the most action, but there will be less of a wait time as it's typically a quieter time for engineers.
If you're a landlord, then your tenant's boiler in your rental property must be serviced every 12 months. This is a legal obligation.
What maintenance does a boiler require?
During a boiler service, your engineer will do important safety and maintenance checks, concentrating on the internal components.
However, there are some things you are able to do to help maintain your boiler in addition to servicing, this includes the following:
Run basic boiler checks
As well as checking for any obvious damage, such as leaks and holes in pipework, you can simply turn your boiler and radiators on to check if they are all heating up.
If they aren't you may have a problem.
Bleed your radiators
Bleeding radiators is the process of releasing air pockets from a radiator, which in turn, will make it easier for your heating system to do its job.
You can bleed your radiators through the following steps:
Turn off the heating and give your radiators sufficient time to cool down.
Place a towel beneath the bleed valve of the first radiator you want to bleed. Then position a jug atop the towel, again directly below the bleed valve. These hold the purpose of catching excess water.
Fit the bleed key into the radiator and gradually turn it anti-clockwise.
As air escapes, you’ll notice a hissing sound coming from your radiator. As soon as water begins to exit the bleed valve, it’s time to close it, by turning the bleed key clockwise and back to its original position. You may need to pay attention to how far you turn it in the first place, in order to turn the bleed key back to the position it started in.
Repeat the four steps described above with every radiator on your property.
Once you are satisfied, turn your heating back on. Now, evaluate each radiator and ensure that they are heating up the right way. If not, either you made an error with that specific radiator, or another issue is at play.
Consider a Powerflush
A power flush is essentially a deep, intense cleanse of your heating system and type of boiler, which aims to improve the quality of your system’s water by removing sludge, rust and other random bits of crud.
These troublesome residues can cause issues if left to fester in your system - and let's be honest, festering crud is never a good thing.
In fact, poor-quality heating water is one of the leading causes of boiler breakdowns in the UK.
If you do think you have boiler issues, here are DIY checks you can conduct before calling an engineer.
FAQs
Here are some of the most common questions we receive with regard to boiler servicing:
How is a boiler serviced?
A boiler is first visually inspected for any obvious signs of wear and tear, damage or dirt. The exact way the boiler is serviced will depend on the type of boiler e.g. gas, oil or electric.
The boiler casing is then removed to check the internal components, checking that nothing is damaged and that everything is in working order. They will also carry out key safety checks, such as checking for gas leaks.
It's essential that a registered gas-safe engineer carries out a gas boiler service and that the casing is not removed by anyone else.
Related reading:
Is a boiler service worth it?
Although you may be put off by the upfront cost of a boiler service, it's a sure way to ensure that your boiler is running without issues.
This is especially important during winter when we all rely on our boilers for heating and hot water.
A service will also ensure your boiler is operating safely and without any dangerous gas leaks. It will also ensure it's running at its optimum efficiency so that you don't see any sharp rise in your gas bill.
Like pet snakes, boilers are more demanding than you might think at first. On the upside, a well-maintained boiler will never bite you.
Probably most important is the fact that it will keep your boiler warranty valid, which means any boiler repairs, emergency call-outs and replacement parts will be covered.
Should I get a boiler cover plan or a boiler service?
This is all a matter of personal preference, but every boiler owner should get their boiler serviced, even if they have a cover plan.
The good news is that most leading boiler cover plans include an annual boiler service as part of the package, but it's worth checking if this is the case before signing up.
The difference between the two is that a boiler cover plan means you are covered in the event that your boiler breakdown and needs to be repaired e.g. an engineer will come out to fix the issue at the earliest opportunity.
While a boiler service is simply a one-time checkover of your boiler by a qualified engineer.
What's the difference between a standard boiler service and a boiler manufacturer's service?
Standard service is simply a normal, everyday service carried out by your local Gas-safe engineer.
They will carry out all the essential safety checks and ensure your boiler is in proper working order, as well as deal with any faults they discover.
A boiler manufacturer service, as the name implies is conducted by an engineer from that specific manufacturer.
They will also carry out the routine servicing tasks, yet because they are more familiar with that exact boiler brand and model, they are better able to understand how the system works.
In many ways, this means that a boiler service provided by the manufacturer will arguably be better since they are specialists, rather than generalists dealing with many different models every day.
Book a service or new boiler 💨
If you need your boiler serviced quickly, book yours today and Heatable could be servicing your boiler as quickly as tomorrow.
If you’re aiming to get the best deal on a new boiler soon, consider getting a quote from us, here’s why:
Gas Safe installation within 24 hours.
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Flexible payment options, including interest-free finance.
Up to 12-year guarantee on selected boilers.
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