Why Service Your Boiler? Benefits & How Often to Service It
Servicing your boiler is one of the simplest ways to keep your heating system running safely, efficiently and reliably all year round. Yet it’s something many homeowners delay until a fault appears – often leading to unexpected costs or inconvenient breakdowns. (And no-one wants a Christmas Eve boiler emergency!)
In this guide, we explain why boilers need servicing, how often a boiler should be serviced, what a service includes and the benefits for your home, safety and your wallet.
For expert support, visit our Boiler Servicing page or explore our Boiler Cover Care Plans for year-round protection.
At a glance: Why service your boiler?
- Keeps your boiler running safely and reduces carbon monoxide risk
- Helps maintain efficiency and lower energy bills
- Prevents unexpected breakdowns
- Protects your manufacturer warranty
- Is a requirement for some home insurance policies
- Extends your boiler’s lifespan
- Identifies minor issues before they become costly repairs
- Peace of mind
Why is it important to get a boiler serviced?
The short answer is safety, efficiency and reliability.
A boiler is a hardworking appliance with moving parts, gas combustion and heat-exchange components. Over time, these parts can wear, become obstructed or shift out of calibration. When this happens, your boiler may still run – but it won’t run safely or effectively.
Here’s why an annual service is essential:
1. Safety first: reducing carbon monoxide risks
Faulty or poorly maintained boilers can leak carbon monoxide – an odourless, colourless gas that is extremely dangerous. During a boiler service, a Gas Safe engineer checks combustion, ventilation, seals and flue condition to ensure everything is operating safely.
2. Save money: Protecting boiler efficiency
A service helps keep your boiler running at its optimal efficiency. This means your home heats faster, your boiler uses less energy and your heating bills stay under control. Even small issues (like blocked condensate traps or dirty burners) can increase fuel use.
Customer Story: A customer called us to service their boiler. We noticed the boiler wasn’t burning correctly – it was using too much gas. So, our engineer adjusted the gas valve pressure and burner setting, reducing how much gas was used. It saved the customer an estimated 30% on their gas bill.
3. Reliability: Preventing breakdowns before they happen
Most boiler breakdowns are preventable. A service identifies worn components early and reduces strain on your boiler throughout the year. It’s a small investment that avoids larger repair costs and the inconvenience of having no heating or hot water.
For urgent issues, you can always use our Boiler Breakdown service.
4. Protecting your warranty
Many manufacturers require annual servicing to keep your boiler warranty valid. Miss a service and you could lose your right to free repairs or replacement parts. Likewise, some home insurance providers require yearly servicing in order for your insurance to remain valid for any heating claims.
5. Extending the life of your boiler
Regular servicing helps your boiler last longer. With proper care, a modern boiler can run effectively for 12–15 years, delaying the need for a new boiler replacement.
Annual Boiler Service – What’s Included
- Visual inspection
- Component cleaning
- Gas pressure and flue test
- Safety device check
- Efficiency assessment
- Report & recommendations
How often should a boiler be serviced?
You should get your boiler serviced once a year.
This applies to gas, LPG, oil and hybrid boiler systems. An annual service keeps your system compliant with manufacturer requirements and ensures any developing issues are picked up early.
Many customers choose a yearly appointment at the end of summer or early autumn – right before the heavy heating season. This ensures your home is ready for the colder winter weather to come.
As a Care Plan Customer you get an annual Boiler Service & Safety Check, advice on maintenance and efficiencies; and should you experience any faults (plan dependent) you can expect a qualified engineer to arrive the same day, diagnose and repair the fault, all within the cost of your Plan.
Plans start from just 0.41p per day or £12.50 per month. https://customheat.co.uk/boiler-cover-care-plans/
What happens if there is something wrong?
If an engineer identifies a fault during your service, they will explain the issue clearly and recommend the most cost-effective solution. Minor repairs can often be completed on the same visit. More complex issues may require parts replacement or further diagnostics.
If your boiler is beyond economical repair, we’ll discuss replacement options. Our guide on How to Choose a Boiler is a great place to start.
FAQs about your boiler service
Still have questions about why boilers need servicing? Our experts are on hand…
What is a boiler service and what does it include?
A service is a full health check of your boiler performed by a qualified engineer. Depending on the type of boiler you have, it might include:
- Visual inspection
- Testing the flue and combustion
- Cleaning key components
- Checking gas pressure
- Inspecting seals and safety devices
- Assessing boiler controls
- Identifying wear, leaks or potential faults
For a full breakdown of what you get, see What Does a Boiler Service Include?
Do you have to get your boiler serviced every year?
No law requires it for private homeowners, but it is a manufacturer requirement for many warranties. For landlords, however, annual gas safety checks are a legal obligation under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations.
Just bear in mind that a boiler service does not involve repairing a fault and is not the equivalent to a homeowner’s or landlord’s gas safety check.
How often should a boiler be cleaned?
Most cleaning is performed as part of an annual service. Boilers do not usually require additional cleaning unless they are older, used heavily or have visible performance issues.
Is boiler service worth it?
Yes! A service costs significantly less than the price of a breakdown repair or premature boiler replacement. It’s one of the most cost-effective home maintenance tasks. Not only that, ignoring your boiler for too long can be dangerous. Carbon Monoxide poisoning can have severe health risks so it’s always worth getting a service for peace of mind.
What happens if you don’t service your boiler?
You may experience:
- Reduced efficiency and higher energy bills
- Higher risk of breakdown
- Increased carbon monoxide risk
- Void manufacturer warranty
- Shorter boiler lifespan
What can I do myself?
While the technical work should always be left to a Gas Safe engineer, homeowners can:
- Bleed radiators
- Check boiler pressure
- Keep the area around the boiler clear
- Test carbon monoxide alarms
- Report unusual noises, smells or performance issues early
These small upkeep tasks help keep your boiler in top condition, reducing the need for repairs.
Who can service my boiler?
Only a Gas Safe registered engineer (or OFTEC engineer for oil boilers) can legally service your boiler. Custom Heat’s team includes fully accredited, highly experienced engineers ready to help.
Book a Boiler Service at a time that suits you.
