A service is recommended once a year to get the best from your boiler and ensure that guarantees and warranties from the manufacturer are upheld. When you know the cost is coming, it can be tempting to seek out a cheap boiler service above all else.
Boiler services shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg, but going for the absolute cheapest option may not always be in your best interests.
What is the average price for a boiler service?
On average, boiler service prices fall anywhere between £80 and £120. Like with all things, you can expect to pay on the more expensive side if you’re located in London.
Many care plans for boilers involve an annual service bundled in with the cost, and these are usually paid in instalments of around £10 to £15 every month. Over the course of a year that works out more expensive than a one-off service, but the added benefits might make a care plan an overall better-value option.
And, of course, what starts as putting aside the cost of a service may end up leading into repairs if a major problem with your boiler’s function is uncovered.
How often should you service a boiler?
A boiler should be serviced once a year, even if your boiler has only recently been installed. This is generally best practice, because a year of regular use means several opportunities for faults to appear. However, in some cases you may need an annual service to uphold your side of an agreement with the manufacturer.
Some boiler manufacturers will include a generous warranty of seven, 10, or even 12 years, but this will be subject to an annual service from a qualified engineer.
You can’t get just anybody to check your boiler, and trying to pass off an inspection from somebody who isn’t on the Gas Safe Register is likely to be more trouble than it’s worth, even accounting for savings.
Is boiler servicing worth it?
The cost of an annual service often pales in comparison to the cost of a repair if you neglect your boiler.
With a valuable guarantee at stake, a cheap boiler service isn’t your greatest priority.
Besides the financial worth, it’s also good peace of mind to have your boiler checked by a professional who can give you the thumbs up before the cold months start demanding extra work from your heating system.
If the worst should happen in the middle of winter and your boiler breaks down completely, a missed service will be all the more painful. Gas engineers are never busier, nor in greater demand, than this time of year, so you’ll likely struggle to get somebody to your home without paying considerably more in emergency callout fees.
What happens if you don’t service your boiler?
Nothing necessarily happens as a result of not servicing your boiler (unless you have an aforementioned warranty with your manufacturer that hinges on an annual service being done). There’s no legal comeback for not having your boiler serviced, and it’s ultimately at your discretion as to whether you book yours every year or not.
However, if you choose to forgo an annual boiler service only to suffer a fault later, that will feel more like your ‘fault’ than if something occurs despite following best practices.
Be advised that landlords are obligated to ensure boilers are safe and in good working condition for their tenants. While private homeowners are free to choose whether or not they get their boiler serviced, landlords are obligated to have boilers serviced annually.
Considering this is to ensure the health and safety of others, a thorough inspection should always win over a cheap boiler service in this context.
Where to find a cheap boiler service
If you’re looking to pay less for a boiler service, it’s still possible to get an honest job without paying over the odds.
Local plumbers will almost always be cheaper than those from national companies like British Gas, and can often be more flexible in their pricing and what they offer you.
Bumblebee Plumbing & Heating offers award-winning work for all customers, giving your boiler an annual service that won’t break the bank and will leave your heating system in top condition ready for the winter months.
To learn more about our services and to get yourself booked in, give us a call on 01925 568281 or contact us today.
