Boiler services are rather straightforward affairs but that doesn’t mean they should entail a quick once-over of your boiler and heating system. A good service needs to take a close look at your boiler, ensuring every component looks and functions as it should for guaranteed safety and continuous good running of your heating system.
What does a boiler service include, and how do you know you’re getting your money’s worth when booking one?
What does servicing a boiler include?
Boiler services are thorough jobs and include a good close look at the boiler both outside and inside to ensure everything is working as it should. Servicing a boiler as a whole package includes the boiler service itself, followed by a report and any recommendations the engineer might have regarding the boiler.
This might be a soft recommendation such as keeping the pressure higher or lower, or it may be a more serious judgement such as the need for a repair making itself apparent.
Bear in mind that the goal of a service is to keep your boiler in good condition and reveal the presence of any problems that are causing (or might soon cause) issues with your boiler. The engineer is highly unlikely to turn the service into a repair then and there during your visit, and if you want the same engineer to do the repairs you will need to book a separate repair visit with its own charges involved.
We would recommend that you get your boiler serviced annually to keep it in the best condition.
What do engineers do when they service a boiler?
An experienced gas engineer will already have a mental checklist of what needs to be done to your boiler when they turn up, and it will involve:
Visual inspection
First, the engineer will take a look at the boiler and its parts with a close visual inspection. A trained eye can often pick up problems such as corrosion straight away. Discolouration and rust can give an engineer a good idea of where any leaks are stemming from, allowing them to focus their attention where needed.
The engineer will also inspect the flame to ensure it’s burning correctly at the right colour and intensity.
Component inspection
The engineer will need to remove the case to really get into the inner workings of the boiler. This is easily done with the right tools and knowhow, and once the case has been taken off and put to one side, your gas engineer can inspect the working parts more closely.
This includes electrical connections, the heat exchanger, fans, seals, and other integral parts and points of weakness that can degrade over time in a busy boiler. Some of these parts may be removed and given a gentle cleaning to keep them in top shape.
Flue and gas releases
Inspection of the flue is another important part of the boiler service. The engineer follows the route of your flue until they are satisfied there are no blockages or obstructions to the safe release of combustion gases.
The flue terminal (the end of the pipe once it leads outside) may also be looked at to ensure it has nothing obstructing it.
Gas and pressure
The pressure of the system will be inspected to make sure it sits at a healthy level for the property and that the gas is flowing correctly. This is done with the help of a special gauge that the engineer connects to the boiler and receives a pressure reading from.
Controls and function
Perhaps most simply but equally as important, the engineer will check that the controls are working correctly and that the electronics are yielding the correct responses when used. This eliminates any communication errors between the boiler and a wireless thermostat, and ensures the boiler’s PCB is working as intended.
How long does a boiler service take?
Despite the in-depth work involved in a boiler service, they typically take 30 – 45 minutes at most, barring any unusual circumstances or complications with getting to the boiler’s components.
Any issues highlighted in a boiler service won’t be fixed there and then, but a separate visit can be arranged in which an engineer will dedicate more time to seeing the problem resolved.
Book your annual service today
Phone Bumblebee Plumbing & Heating to get your annual service booked in. We’re the service of choice for many of our customers and our work speaks for itself. Our Gas Safe team will ensure a swift and thorough boiler service that won’t break the bank.
Call our friendly office team on 01925 568281 or email us today.
