Boiler services are essential for keeping your boiler and your central heating system functioning properly but some people worry about how much a service could end up costing. In this guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about boiler services and put your mind at rest about how much you could end up spending.
Avoiding getting an annual service for your boiler is a bit like dodging your annual check-up at the doctors. You are just storing up problems from further down the line.
But it is understandable why some people are wary of a boiler service. There is a perception that anything to do with a boiler is expensive and there are times when people feel they just can’t afford this type of thing.
So, let us reassure you that a boiler service doesn’t have to cost the earth. It is possible your service could uncover a problem that might wind up being expensive to fix but the chances are that if you don’t address this type of problem early, you could end up having to spend even more on a whole new boiler.
Boiler Service Cost (Full Guide)
In this short guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about boiler services and how much they are likely to cost.
How Much Does A Boiler Service Cost?
Let’s begin with the key fact. The likely cost of a boiler service is between £70 and £90. This price covers the time of your qualified engineer who is carrying out the service and all the regular cleaning and maintenance that is involved in a service.
How Often Should A Boiler Be Serviced?
It is highly advisable to get your boiler serviced every 12 months. This is the safety recommendation with almost every boiler and many boiler manufacturers will refuse to honour their warranty unless your boiler has been serviced by a Gas Safe Engineer annually.
Check the terms and conditions of your warranty carefully because sometimes a manufacturer will require their own engineer to carry out the service. If this isn’t the case and you can use a national or local company, you should always be sure to get a receipt and keep it somewhere safe so you can prove your service has been done.
Most Gas Safe heating engineers will be happy to provide a receipt which should include a description of what they have done.
Why Can The Cost Of A Boiler Service Vary?
There are a number of different variables that can affect the price of a boiler service.
A boiler service package will include a full inspection as well as flue gas tests. The price will not cover the cost of fixing any problems that the service identifies though. If there are any issues, the cost of parts and labour to fix it will be on top of your service fee.
One that people often overlook is location. Service costs will vary depending on where in the UK you live.
Another is what is bundled in with your service package. If you are just getting the boiler serviced, it will cost less than if you are having your gas hob or gas fire serviced too. All gas appliances should have an annual service and it will usually be cheaper to get them all done in one go.
Another factor is the type of company you use. A national company like British Gas is likely to charge more than a local engineer.
Does An Annual Or A One-Off Boiler Service Cost More?
There are two different models of service you can opt for. One is an annual service plan which will allow you to spread payments and use the same company to service your boiler and any other gas appliances you may have once a year.
The other is to book a one-off service with a qualified gas engineer. If you choose this option it is important to remember to book in a new service every year.
An annual service plan will usually work out costing you less overall. And the option to spread payments over the year is ideal for people operating on a budget too.
Where Can You Find A Gas Engineer To Carry Out Your Boiler Service?
The most cost-effective way to get your boiler serviced is to find a local boiler engineer to do the job.
You can find a local Gas Safe engineer on the Gas Safe Register. This is a register of all Gas Safe qualified engineers in the UK which can be searched by location.
No-one who is not on this list is qualified to carry out a boiler service and every Gas Safe engineer should be able to provide you with their Gas Safe number that you can check against this register.
What’s Included In A Boiler Service?
It is a good idea to check with your chosen gas engineer to find out what is included in your boiler service before you sign up. If the price seems a lot lower than average, it is quite possible that they will be skipping some things you would expect them to carry out.
Once the service is complete, your engineer should be willing to provide you with details of the work they have done. If you are a landlord, they should also provide you with a Gas Safety Certificate. This is a document all rental properties need to have by law.
The sort of information you should be able to get from your gas engineer includes:
- Your engineer’s name, company name, address, and Gas Safe number;
- Details of all gas appliances checked;
- Details about flue and flue gas tests and results;
- Any issues found during the service and advice on what to do next;
- Details of any issues that may cause immediate safety concerns.
Some, but not all, boilers will also include a quick inspection of all the main components inside your boiler, a check of your central heating system for any leaks, and a boiler pressure test.
Components Inspection
If your boiler engineer is willing to carry out a components inspection, it is something well worth doing.
They will be able to identify any deterioration in any major components that could cost you a lot of money to repair if they break down completely. This includes things like:
- Heat exchanger
- Central Heating Pump
- Fan
- Gas valve
Spotting issues with components like these early can allow you engineer to carry out a fix that will save you needing to replace the whole unit in the future.
Do Boiler Service Cost Vary Depending On What Brand Boiler You Have?
In general, all boilers take a similar amount of time to service and the same process is followed for all of them. You, therefore, shouldn’t be paying any more because you own a certain brand or model.
But some of the big boiler manufacturers have a dedicated service team and may even make it a requirement of their warranty that you use them. These specialist engineers can sometimes cost more than a regular local heating engineer.
You can find details of local service engineers for some of the top boiler brands below:
- Worcester Bosch Boiler Service Engineers
- Viessmann Boiler Service Engineers
- Baxi Boiler Service Engineers
- Vaillant Boiler Service Engineers
Things To Protect Your Boiler Between Services?
An annual boiler service is one way of keeping your boiler in great shape but there are various other things you can also do to help keep your boiler in tip-top shape. These include:
- Hot Flush – Your heating engineer will dose the system with chemicals, and then flush them through to clear out any debris or sludge build-ups that can occur. Sludge is a major cause of problems in boilers and central heating systems and this is a good way of avoiding these problems.
- Magnetic System Filter – Fitting a magnetic system filter helps to stop metal debris from your system gathering up and causing a sludge build-up. Your engineer should clean this filter as part of your annual service.
- Scale Reducer – If you live in a hard water area, it is a very good idea to get a scale reducer fitting to prevent limescale build-ups.
Where To Get A New Boiler
If your boiler service is finding a lot of issues that need to be fixed, it might mean it’s time to invest in a new boiler.
If your boiler is old and out of warranty, it is likely to make more sense to invest in an entirely new boiler rather than spend large sums patching up your old one. New boilers are more energy-efficient too so they will save you money on your utility bills. They also come with a long warranty meaning no worries about maintenance costs for some time.
We always recommend you get several quotes before buying a new boiler and we strongly advise that one of those quotes comes from WARMZILLA.
WARMZILLA is an online boiler installation company that offers super-low prices on a wide range of boilers from all the biggest manufacturers. They have plenty of exclusive special offers available too such as extended warranties.
In our experience, WARMZILLA offers the most competitive prices around and we recommend you fill in the short form on their website to get a fixed-price quote and see how much you can save.
Summary
It is highly advisable to get a boiler service carried out at least once a year. Many boiler warranties will insist upon this. But some people are wary about the costs involved.
In this guide, we have told you what a boiler service should cost and the work that should be carried out. We have made some suggestions on how to keep your boiler in top shape and also showed you where to find a good boiler engineer.
If your boiler is costing a lot to maintain, you might want to consider getting a new one. We have recommended getting a quote from WARMZILLA if you do.
Do you have any questions about boiler services that we haven’t covered in this guide? Do you have any boiler service tips or advice that we haven’t covered in this guide?
Our readers always value the input of others in guides like this, so please do share your thoughts today using the comment box below. We always try our best to respond to every one.