Key reasons to have your boiler serviced this winter

Boiler servicing is something that many people overlook or forget about, and with the cost of living ever rising, it is all too easy to put off this task.

However, it really is vital to have your boiler serviced on an annual basis to protect the safety of all those who live in the property, avoid expensive repair bills further down the line, and ensure you do not invalidate your warranty.

Here are some of the most important reasons that this winter is the perfect time to have your boiler serviced:

Protect the safety of your family

A boiler breakdown during the winter months is a nightmare in itself, but a lack of warmth is only one of the potential issues that poorly maintained gas appliances can cause.

Improper installation, or degradation of a gas boiler over time can lead to the leaking of harmful gasses, most concerningly carbon monoxide.

According to research conducted by the UK Department of Health, 4,000 people end up in hospital every single year with carbon monoxide poisoning, more often than not as a result of a faulty gas boiler.

A pre-winter boiler service will not only ensure that your home remains warm throughout the freezing temperatures of the months to come, but the engineer who carries out the service will also perform an emissions check.

This check will identify if there are any carbon emissions or other harmful gasses leaking from the boiler that could pose a threat to the safety of you or your loved ones.

Reduce your heating bills

In an attempt to save money at what is a difficult time for homeowners across the UK, many people choose to put off having their boiler serviced.

However, although there is an upfront cost involved in getting a service, around £60-80, you will probably find that you actually end up saving money in the long run.

Not only will it reduce the likelihood of a sudden breakdown and subsequent expensive repair costs (an emergency engineer call out is a lot more expensive than a pre-arranged service), but it will also ensure that your boiler is running in the most efficient way possible.

The more efficient the boiler, the less gas that will be used, and the less you will pay.

With energy prices at an all-time high, the value of each and every particle of gas has never been higher.

During the service, your engineer may also be able to give you some advice on the best approach to using your boiler in an energy efficient manner, saving you even more money.

Avoid expensive repairs

The main reason for having your boiler serviced is to reduce the chance of it breaking down.

Breakdowns are, for obvious reasons, the biggest issue during the winter months, so having a service carried out before the temperatures fall for real will ensure your best chance of faultless operation when needed most.

You might think that because your boiler hasn’t been used much during the summer that not much can really have gone wrong but there may well be hidden problems that will only present themselves during times of high demand.

By the time that happens, you could be in the middle of a snowstorm!

If you have noticed any issues with your boiler, no matter how minor, it is better to get it checked out now.

It might be that a small tweak now could avoid a major issue later, an issue that could cost you hundreds to resolve.

A service is much cheaper than any form of major Glasgow boiler repair, and far far cheaper than a new boiler altogether.

Legal reasons

It is highly recommended that everyone has their boiler serviced on an annual basis but if you own your own home this is not a legal requirement.

However, if you are a landlord, it is a legal requirement that you have any boilers and other gas appliances in your rental properties serviced.

Failing to do so could result in very serious legal consequences, especially if there is an incident involving carbon monoxide.

When selecting an engineer to service your boiler, rental or otherwise, it is essential to choose one who is registered to carry out gas appliance services.

Avoid voiding your warranty

If you have a reasonably new boiler, the chances are that it is still covered by the guarantee or warranty issued by the installer.

Many such warranties are only valid, however, if you have your boiler serviced every single year.

This is due to the fact that there is a much higher risk of something going wrong with a boiler that is not serviced on a regular basis.

If you have not had your boiler serviced in the past few months, it is a good idea to get this done before the winter to make sure that you are not at risk of invalidating your policy.

Failing to do this could leave you with a huge repair bill should your boiler turn out to be faulty in the future.