When to have your boiler serviced

 This is a question we are often asked by potential customers.

So, when should you have your boiler / Range Cooker serviced?

Not always as easy to answer as one would think, especially when considering the number of different appliances currently installed in properties.

Before the start of Winter?

It has always been recognised as a procedure to undertake just before the start of the heating season.

It was customary to carry this out during September or October, but as time has advanced, so too have the seasons!

Nowadays, the Autumn months can be very pleasant.

In addition to when, there is also how often?

Some appliances require service once a year, others require a twice-yearly service, so let’s have a look at this.

Standard Gas and Oil Boilers:

These are the appliances that provide central heating (radiators) and if not a combination boiler, heat the hot water via an indirect cylinder.

These appliances require an inspection and service once a year.

External Oil Boilers:

If you own an external oil boiler, it is always advisable to have it inspected before the weather gets wet and windy. There is a lot of sensitive equipment and electrical circuits that do not react well with water.

If the service person is one of the “change the nozzle and run brigade” then it may not be an issue however, if the engineer will service the appliance in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, then rain will be a problem!

Oil & Gas Range Cookers:

Many range cookers require inspection and service twice a year.

Twin Pressure Jet Appliances:

Some models that contain twin pressure jet burners, one for the cooking side and the other for heating and hot water, the boiler side may only require service once a year.

The cooker side (depending upon use) may require attention twice a year, but this is not always the case, and both are often serviced only once a year.

Single Pressure Jet Appliances:

Range cookers with single pressure jet burner technology, should be inspected twice a year, as they do suffer with excessive heat damage to components and surfaces, because they must function to provide cooking, heating and hot water.

Vaporising Burners:

These are the burners that are continuously alight, burning in low fire and then increased to cook.

If these burners are alight throughout the year (not turned off during the summer), they require servicing twice a year (every 6-months).

If they are only used during the winter, servicing is recommended just prior to it required. This enables the burner to be cleaned out and lit by the engineer, whereupon it can be left working.

Some models of range cooker still functioning today, have a fan-assisted burner that provides central heating and a vaporising burner that provides cooking.

This appliance would have a combination of once-yearly service for the boiler side and twice-yearly service for the cooker side.

Oil and gas fired space heaters (Stoves) again only require a service once a year, as it is not customary to run them during the summer months.

If you have any questions about the function and servicing of your oil or gas boiler, range cooker or stove,

do not hesitate to contact us.