Boiler Service Guidance

The May / June 2025 issue of Registered Gas Engineer, from Gas Safe Register, includes an article entitled “A guide to annual boiler servicing”.

This article echoes the comments posted here in our blog and other sections of our website, regarding the installation, service and repair of Gas & Oil-fired boilers, range cookers and stoves.

In accordance with the Manufacturers instructions, is not just a phrase to fill in gaps in a line of text! It carries significant weight if you are undertaking work involving gas, oil, solid fuel and electrical heating and cooking appliances.

Let’s have a quick look at the main headings within the Gas Engineer article, which are listed below in black bullet points.

·         Have you got the instructions?

If you have not visited the appliance last year as part of any inspection or routine service or are unfamiliar with it, then the advice is clear!

Find out the exact make and model of the boiler before you attend to undertake any work, that way you are prepared if critical parts/seals are required, as it is not always feasible to go along and have a quick look, before you return at another time, to carry out a service.

If you are already fully conversant with the make and model of the appliance at a prospective customers property, you should already know what is required, if you must undertake a full strip down and service.

Appliance breakdowns will provide an opportunity to inspect the installation, and

you can plan the scope of works.

·         Safety First, Safety Last, Safety Always!

Ensure you have carried out your Risk Assessment which is ‘Suitable and Sufficient’, before you switch on any lights, touch any exposed conductive parts or turn any appliances on (more about this in another blog).

This applies to all Gas, Oil, Solid Fuel and Electric heating and cooking appliances!

Having completed your Risk Assessment;

·         Is the boiler working?

This may sound an odd question to ask, if you are attending for the purpose of conducting an inspection or routine service however, it is recommended to operate the boiler very briefly to check that it is working, especially before you start taking parts off.

The comment “it was working fine until you touched it” is all too familiar!

If the appliance does not work, you are now attending a breakdown!

Following the test-fire, the appliance can then cool down, whilst you undertake other tasks associated with the safety inspection and service.

·         Inspect it

Having successfully completed your Risk Assessment of the location, appliance, associated services and Safe Electrical Isolation testing and confirmation, then certainly have a look at the appliance and much more.

The appliance and its location, the flue system, ventilation, letby and tightness tests, safety devices, condensate removal (where applicable), fuel supplies (gas or oil), electrical protective equipment/devices, proximity to other services and boundaries, buildings and construction openings.

There is plenty to do whilst the appliance is cooling down.

We have attended many oil appliances which, following a preliminary inspection, were disconnected from their fuel and electricity supplies, because the appliances and/or their flue systems were IMMEDIATELY DANGEROUS!

·         “To Tightness test or not, that is the question”.

Letby and Tightness testing are essential components of any gas safety inspection and service.

The same question must be asked about the integrity of oil supply lines from the storage tank to the appliance.

Ensuring the emergency control valve at the gas meter can be accessed and operated in the case of an emergency and that it will completely shut of the gas to the installation, is of paramount importance.

Ensuring there are no leaks upon the gas installation, especially before you start work upon an appliance is essential. Confirm the status of the gas installation before you commence pulling the appliance apart and disturbing fittings etc.

There is not an Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) element in the ACS suit of gas training modules, so take a few minutes to confirm the integrity of the ECV and the gas installation before you move on to other tasks. It really is a no-brainer!

Any safety defects upon the ECV, meter or the downstream gas installation must be dealt with in accordance with the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure.

From a Health & Safety perspective, the following should be considered:-

If there is a leak;

·          how has it occurred,

·         is it a small leak,

·         does it have the potential to get worse,

·         how quickly is this likely to escalate and

·         what are the possible consequences

Further action can then be planned and carried out.

If all is well;

·         Clean it

Clean the boiler in accordance with the Manufacturer’s Instructions! 

If you cannot remember what the procedure is for a particular make and model of appliance, then follow the guidance provided in the Gas Engineer article and download a digital copy of the Installation, service and users’ instructions.

If you need to undertake a full strip and service, ensure new combustion seals gaskets/rubbers etc are obtained and fitted and tested before the appliance is handed back to the owner/occupier ready to be used.

·         Make sure it is safe

It goes without saying, to ensure the appliance and its installation is safe to be used by confirming the correctness of the following:-

•     Appliance and associated services correctly installed

•     Gas meter, enclosure and supply pipework

•     Case and other combustion seal integrity

•      Appliance electrical supply and effective system control/protection

•      System components are correct and operational

•      Meter working pressure and gas inlet pressure at appliance

•      Burner pressure (where applicable)

•      Burner flame picture (where visible)

•      Input rating of the appliance

•      Operation of appliance safety devices

•      CO alarms suitable, functional, in date and comply with current guidance

•    Operation of the flue and ventilation

•   Flue flow and combustion spillage tests (where applicable)

•   Combustion analysis

Any safety defects upon the installation must be brought to the attention of the owner/occupier and you must follow the guidance set out in the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedures (IGEM/G/11).

·         Record it

Complete the appropriate Landlord/Home Owner gas safety record documentation (and any other safety notifications as required).

Record any Not To Current Standards (NCS) situations upon your own company  documentation and advised the owner/occupier of any situations upon the appliance or its associated services, that have been rectified or require further work.

Where safe to do so, following completion of your work, leave the appliance and its associated system(s) operational and schedule the appliance for a safety inspection and service in 12 months’ time.