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Essential Boiler Servicing: Northampton & Wellingborough
Importance of boiler servicing
It is advisable to have your boiler serviced every year. Regular maintenance keeps your family safe, preserves efficiency and helps protect your manufacturer's warranty. A well-maintained boiler runs reliably and uses less fuel, while a neglected appliance can develop faults that are costly and stressful to resolve. The service must be carried out by a Gas Safe Registered engineer — always check the engineer's ID and make sure their qualifications are in date before any work begins.
Why annual servicing matters
Having your central heating boiler serviced properly is essential for your safety and to make sure it is working efficiently. If your boiler is under a manufacturer's warranty, one of the requirements is to have it serviced every 12 months — otherwise your warranty will be void, which could lead to unnecessary costs. Regular checks also reduce the risk of carbon monoxide leaks, hidden gas or water leaks, and sudden breakdowns during cold weather.
What a professional boiler service includes
On arrival the engineer will try to get familiar with the appliance and ask a few questions about its history and any problems you have had lately. They will do some visual checks and then carry out the checks advised by the manufacturer. Every boiler has set manufacturer instructions when it comes to servicing. Typical tasks include:
- Testing for safety and performance, including checks for water and gas leaks
- Dismantling, cleaning and reassembling components where required — some old conventional boilers need the burner, heat exchanger and fan cleaned
- Carrying out a gas flue analysis on newer boilers, which tells the engineer if further investigation is needed
- Cleaning any filters and condensate traps
- Testing samples of the central heating water and topping up inhibitor levels where needed
- Checking water expansion tanks in the loft and reporting back any issues
- Filling in a report at the end of the visit, leaving a copy with you, and completing the benchmark book where there is one
Any findings will be reported back to you, the customer or homeowner, and recorded in the service paperwork provided at the end of the visit.
The risk of delaying a service
Boilers are just like cars — they work hard and care has to be taken. For example, a new customer bought a house just over 2 years ago where the boiler was over 12 years old, and it had not been serviced. The insulation board in the heat exchanger got damaged and this caused the boiler more damage. This happened in the week leading up to Christmas, and a new boiler had to be fitted — a stressful process for the homeowner that regular servicing could perhaps have delayed or avoided the extra expense of.
Choosing the right engineer
Only a Gas Safe Registered engineer should service gas boilers. Before they start, ask to see their Gas Safe ID and confirm their qualifications are in date. A registered engineer will be familiar with manufacturer procedures and able to complete the paperwork needed to keep your warranty valid.
Repair or replace?
A service often reveals whether a boiler needs a straightforward repair or whether it would be more sensible to replace the unit. If repairs are needed, see our boiler repairs service. If a replacement is recommended, you can read about our boiler installation service.
Boiler servicing available in Northampton, Wellingborough and surrounding areas
So don't leave it too late. If you're based in Northampton, Wellingborough or the surrounding areas, we'll be more than happy to help. Call us or fill in a form request on our website.
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