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Original poster

Should I get new boiler serviced?

23 replies

LongDecember · 20/12/2018 00:03

Bought a new boiler last year from a local company. Later on they sent me documentation about a 'payment plan' for a boiler service but I didn't take them up on it.

Recently I got a call from them saying my service is due and I needed to make an appointment if I want to keep my warranty. I said I'd think about it and get back to them.

I spoke to a relative who told me that they'd had their boiler for X years and never got it serviced, they have a carbon monoxide detector (as do I) and just put away a little each month to cover any costs that might arise (nothing yet).

I'm not even sure how much it would cost, I didn't ask. I also have had the boiler for longer than a year so wondered if I was already out of time and they didn't realise as it's nearly 2 years I've had it. Maybe it's ok for a year after purchase I'm not sure. I had my previous (ancient) boiler for nearly 10 years and just got people out to fix it when it had issues, never bothered getting it serviced. Then it died and I got the new one.

I'm sure the payment plan was about £10 a month. So I imagine paying it in one go would be more and at this time of the year money is tight.

What's the consensus, is a service a sensible/safe thing to get done or just a way of the company to make money from having a quick look at the boiler?

OP posts:

SassitudeandSparkle · 20/12/2018 00:08

We had a boiler installed last year, just had it serviced and it cost around £60. You could ask how much a service would cost as it will vary.

Chickencellar · 20/12/2018 07:59

Without a service every year the warranty will be void. Depends if that bothers you , if the boiler had a 2 year warranty then it's not an issue but if you had a 10 year one then it may be more of an issue.

Lucisky · 20/12/2018 10:51

We have ours serviced annually by a local company. Personally I would be worried by not having it checked every year, as it is good to pick up problems before something goes wrong at an inconvenient time. Also, if you have a relationship already with the local boiler man, he will be more inclined to come out to you in an emergency. You don't have to have a special service contract btw.
Also, if you sell your house, the fact that you can show you looked after your boiler is good. Our boiler (oil) was new in 2015, but it is always serviced around the installation anniversary. We would invalidate our warranty if we didn't.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 20/12/2018 10:58

I'm another who only gets someone out to fix it if we have a problem. £10 a month is ridiculous for boiler cover so I also wouldn't be paying that.

I'm also not convinced a boiler man would care if I had not used his services and needed an emergency call out. Such call outs are expensive so I would image he would come regardless of whether I had used his services.

I don't actually know many people who get a yearly check on their boilers the only ones I know are landlords.

Mayrhofen · 20/12/2018 11:13

I have mine serviced about every three years, the heating engineer that fitted mine (and does all our plumbing) said it doesn't need doing every year but he did find a bit of silt or sediment? in the bottom this year (whatever that means) so I definitely would get it done periodically but I would no way sign up to a tenner a month.

Mine (a Valiant) has had 3 services since 2010 when it was fitted. It has never needed any attention.

SoupDragon · 20/12/2018 11:13

I have my new boiler serviced every year as it gives me a extended warranty from the manufacturer.

mumsastudent · 20/12/2018 11:27

the boiler can develop a fault which means that there is an excess carbon monoxide - its a silent poison which you wont know about until as my sister use to say you wake up dead - actually it start with feeling a low level generalized unwell feeling headaches etc... its insidious. In hardwater areas the sediments build up will happen quicker & when you sell you could find your buyer demanding a lower price - why do you think rentals demand that you must have services????

mumsastudent · 20/12/2018 11:29

plus one of old boilers (good make!) was found to have a safety issue in its development/production - they corrected at servicing

DobbinsVeil · 20/12/2018 11:54

I think the usual recommendation is for the first service to be 2 years after installation.

As for whether it's worth getting it serviced vs saving for repairs. Some faults can occur because it hasn't been thoroughly serviced, others will just randomly develop. Depends how comfortable you are with that, really. I'd say having to replace a boiler after 10 years is on the early side, from the fascinating facts my heating engineer husband tells me anyway.

dementedpixie · 20/12/2018 11:57

I have a boiler cover plan so get it serviced every year. My boiler is about 20 years old and still works although isn't that efficient now

JellySlice · 20/12/2018 12:10

We have our boiler serviced every year as part of maintenance plan that also covers our plumbing.

We had an emergency call-out one Christmas Eve, and a full repair was completed within 3h of my phone call.

So IMO a maintenance plan with annual service is as important as household insurance, and I would never skimp on it - not even if the boiler was brand new.

Original poster

LongDecember · 28/12/2018 10:19

Thanks everyone. It's a 10 year warranty I have, I've made an appointment for them to service the boiler.

OP posts:

bilbodog · 28/12/2018 11:03

Ive always had gas appliances serviced every year but never bothered with a service plan.

FloorLamp · 28/12/2018 17:56

I've never understood why people don't get their boiler serviced!

Would you leave your car for years without a service?!

BiteyShark · 28/12/2018 18:01

I have never had a service plan but I always have my boiler serviced every year even from new.

I remember one engineer many years ago who used to service my then 20 year old boiler said to extend the life always have them serviced as a good clean really does keep them going for years.

As PP said would you not bother servicing your car and just waiting for it to break guaranteed to happen at the worse possible time

Original poster

LongDecember · 28/12/2018 18:24

I never had my (previous) car serviced, I'd just wing it. The one I have now I get serviced every year when they do the MOT.

OP posts:

johnd2 · 28/12/2018 21:49

Boiler is nothing to do with a car, i wouldn't go for a year without doing a poo but my boiler hasn't done one for the last 4 years?
Landlords have to do a gas safety certificate ie check it's not dangerous, servicing is optional.
Servicing is checking the safety but also cleaning various parts and checking the pressures. We had ours done once in 5 years or so and it just needed a good clean. The manufacturer actually recommends not cleaning the burner every service as you need a new special gasket to put it back together.

Lucisky · 29/12/2018 08:22

How you can create an analogy between defecation and a boiler I'll never know!

somewhereovertherain · 29/12/2018 08:23

We get ours done every year costs about £30+ vat. Can’t see why you wouldn’t.

BiteyShark · 29/12/2018 08:29

Our current boiler actually has a section in the back of the manual to record each yearly service. Clearly they expect it to happen yearly.

Personally I prefer to keep my essential items serviced so any issues can be rectified earlier, plus it's always worth knowing a good gas engineer rather than having to call an emergency one out.

Fairylea · 29/12/2018 08:35

I think it’s really important to get a boiler serviced every year. Carbon monoxide is a killer- even if you have an alarm why would you risk a small leak?! Most boiler servicing is about £60, it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.

For the record, I’m someone who doesn’t get their car serviced every time because I think the MOT is a good safety check in itself but boiler servicing is something else entirely. It literally is like the MOT for your boiler.

Greenbedsocks · 29/12/2018 08:46

I get mine done annually. It's just over 50 quid here.
I don't have boiler cover. I just pay for the service and put by a little every month for any emergencies - boiler or otherwise.
One thing to consider is most house insurance policies would be invalid without a boiler service. Read the small print on your house insurance. It maybe the only spent not covered would be water damage due to boiler fault but worth a read.

To me 5 ish a month to put by for a service once a year isn't too much to pay.

johnd2 · 31/12/2018 23:27

@Lucisky haha it was just cos people were conflating different things with servicing in the name, you can service your bowels every day too!
Point being by all means get your boiler serviced whenever you like, but don't get confused thinking it's similar to a car service as it's not much like. Car service is mostly about the oil change. Mot is just a snapshot that things are working on the day.
Boiler service is mostly an inspection of the flue and check for obvious problems elsewhere.

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