When was the last time your boiler was serviced?

Forget about whether the temperature is slightly higher than normal for the time of year, the winter months in the UK are still the time when we rely on our central heating systems the most. It’s also the time when it’s most likely that the boiler will break down due to the additional stress placed on the system. We don’t often need to put on our central heating during the warmer months, so it’s common for us to be unaware of any festering problems until we hit a cold snap. Many people find themselves in the same situation, so the first real cold period of a winter is a busy time for plumbers trying to deal with a large number of broken-down boilers. It can be very disheartening to return home after a hard day’s work only to discover that the boiler wont fire up, the radiators won’t get hot and you’re stuck in a freezing cold house with a plumber not able to come and look at it for another 48 hours. The odds of the emergency situation occurring can be drastically reduced by having your boiler serviced once a year. Calling out a plumber for boiler maintenance is not especially expensive and taking this kind of preventative measure can save you a lot of time, money and discomfort when compared to a complete boiler breakdown on a freezing cold night in the middle of winter. Everyone knows that having a regular full service on your car helps identify small issues and works to prevent a more expensive and inconvenient problem, and boilers should be thought of in exactly the same way. The components of a boiler and a heating system are subject to wear and tear just like the parts of a car and should be treated as such. Things like limescale, small insect and dirt build-up are common issues found with regular boiler usage, but are not a particularly serious problem if dealt with once per year. However, just like putting off visiting the dentist when you have toothache, these things will only get worse if left. A good time to have a boiler service is actually during the summer. Plumbers are less likely to be dealing with emergency situations and will be able to carry out the task more quickly with spare parts being more readily available. The summer months are also a time when you are not using your boiler so much and it will reduce the chances of a breakdown when you need it again during winter. If you haven’t had your boiler looked at in the last twelve months, then give your plumber a call and schedule in a visit before it’s too late! Article by Benjamin Clarke RELATED ARTICLES • A new boiler - to get or not to get? 26th Mar 2015  • How to maximise your heating systems energy efficiency 23rd Dec 2014  • What size boiler do I need? 26th Jun 2013   

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