Boiler service cost explained
When there’s an issue with your boiler and it breaks down, it’s a horrible feeling. No heating and no hot water for showers – it’s never nice and it’s a hassle we all want to avoid.
The simplest way to avoid anything going wrong with your boiler is to make sure you carry out a boiler service annually.
Having a qualified heating engineer carry out your boiler service will ensure that your boiler is running at optimum efficiency and that any possible issues have been caught and rectified early, before they’ve had chance to develop.
In this short article we’ll take a look at the problems we usually see that lead to a boiler service, talk about how often you should service your boiler, find out how much a boiler service is likely to cost and answer some frequently asked questions around boiler servicing to help you make an informed decision.
Let’s get started!
What problems require my boiler to be serviced (or repaired)?
There are often a range of issues that you might be experiencing that can lead to you needing your boiler to be serviced (and possibly repaired as a result).
Generally speaking we usually see the following main issues:
- the hot water isn’t on
- the thermostat isn’t responding
- the boiler switches off randomly
- radiators are stone cold or only tepid
- and sometimes energy bills may be increasing without logic, so the efficiency of the boiler is questioned
How often should I service my boiler?
Heating engineers and boiler manufacturers always recommend getting your boiler serviced once a year (every 12 months) – even if you aren’t experiencing any of the issues above!
Having a regular yearly boiler service will make sure that your boiler is in tip-top working order, running efficiently and correctly and quite possibly save your boiler from experiencing an issue later that year that may lead to nasty repair charges, or even a total boiler replacement.
When a new boiler can cost upwards of £1,500, the price of a boiler service is well worth it!
How much goes a boiler service cost?
Boiler servicing costs vary depending on who you commission to do the work and also what type of boiler you have.
There are two main types of boiler:
Conventional boilers
These use a storage tank with cast iron heat exchangers inside, which heat up the water. You typically find these kinds of boilers in a loft.
Combination (or Combi) boilers
These boilers access water directly from the mains, which means there’s no need for a storage tank. Combi boilers are often smaller and can therefore be placed inside kitchen cabinets
Larger boiler servicing companies with multiple engineers will often charge much higher fees that smaller heating engineers (like us), so do consider calling a few boiler servicing specialists and obtaining quotes.
Generally speaking you should expect to pay around £60 – £120 for your standard one-off boiler service, with any recommendations or repairs being additional fees on top of that.
We always recommend that you budget for the cost of your boiler service just as you would your car insurance and your home insurance.
See our FAQs section below as sometimes boiler repair work can be covered on your home insurance policy.
Boiler Service FAQs
Let’s look at some of the most common questions we get asked around boiler service cost.
Why should I bother getting my boiler serviced?
- Pick up on issues before they become bigger problems
- Keeps your family safe
- You could save money on your energy bills
- If you’re a landlord it’s a legal requirement
What should I ask my boiler engineer for at the end of the service?
Make sure they are happy there are no leaks and that the pressure is normal.
At the end of the servicing ask for a Gas Safety Certificate which should include the engineer’s name, company name and address, and show their Gas Safe number. Any problems will need to be detailed on that document and the engineer will need to make you verbally aware of any concerns they have also.
Can the cost of my boiler repair be covered under my home insurance?
Some home insurance policies do now pay for repairs, minus the excess. We would recommend always checking your home insurance policy to see if you’re covered for boiler repair work as you may save yourself some money.
Do you need a boiler service quote?
At Max Shutler Plumbing & Heating we carry out boiler service work all over Dorset and Hampshire, most specifically in Verwood and Ringwood.
So if you’re looking for an experienced heating engineer in Verwood or Ringwood to ensure that your boiler is in tip-top working order, give Max a call on 07545 198220 , or use the contact form on our website.
