Regular boiler servicing can be easy to put off when everything appears to be working as it should. If the heating is coming on and the hot water is running, it can be tempting to assume that everything inside the boiler is working as it should.
However, as we head into the colder months, having reliable heating and hot water becomes even more important. A boiler fault during winter could leave you without heating or hot water when you need it most, which is why making sure your boiler has been serviced before the colder weather arrives can be particularly important.
A recent job attended by our PGS engineer Dom is a good example of why regular servicing can be well worth the cost.
Dom attended a job where he found a leak caused by overpressure after the boiler’s expansion vessel had failed. The boiler was approximately 11 years old and had missed three services.
Unfortunately, the boiler is now considered a write-off and will need to be replaced. The estimated cost of a new boiler, including installation, is around £4,500–£5,500.
The three missed services would have cost approximately £300 in total.
What happened?
The issue Dom identified was a failed expansion vessel, which had resulted in excessive pressure within the heating system and subsequently caused a leak.
An expansion vessel is an important component within a sealed heating system. As water heats, it naturally expands. The expansion vessel provides space for this expansion and helps the system maintain an appropriate pressure.
If the expansion vessel fails, the system can experience pressure problems. This can place additional strain on the heating system and, as demonstrated by this recent job, can contribute to further issues.
By the time Dom attended, the problem had progressed to the point where the boiler was considered a write-off.
Could servicing have made a difference?
Based on his professional assessment of the job, Dom believes the outcome could have been prevented with earlier servicing.
An earlier service could have provided an opportunity to inspect the boiler and identify an issue with the expansion vessel before it led to the overpressure and subsequent leak.
It is important to be clear that servicing cannot guarantee that a boiler will never develop a fault. Components can fail unexpectedly, and there is no way to predict or prevent every possible problem.
What servicing does provide is an opportunity for a qualified engineer to regularly assess the condition of the appliance and identify potential issues while they may still be manageable.
Why regular servicing matters
A boiler is made up of a number of components that work together every time the heating or hot water is used. Over time, those components can experience normal wear, particularly as the appliance gets older.
Regular servicing gives an engineer the opportunity to check how the boiler is operating and look for signs that something may not be working as it should.
This can include checking for issues such as:
- Pressure-related problems
- Components showing signs of wear or deterioration
- Unusual operation
- Problems affecting the boiler’s performance
- Potential safety concerns
A service can also provide an opportunity to identify smaller issues before they have the chance to develop into something more significant.
That doesn’t mean every fault will be caught during a service, or that every boiler problem can be prevented. Instead, it is about maintaining the appliance regularly rather than only looking at it once something has already gone wrong.
The importance of maintaining an older boiler
The boiler involved in this particular job was around 11 years old.
Age alone does not mean that a boiler needs to be replaced. A well-maintained boiler can continue to operate for many years, but regular servicing becomes increasingly useful as an appliance gets older and its components have had more time in use.
Keeping up with servicing also means that there is a record of the boiler’s condition over time. An engineer can identify developing issues and advise when something needs attention, rather than waiting for a more serious fault to occur.
For homeowners, that can make it easier to plan maintenance and avoid being caught completely unprepared when something does eventually need repairing or replacing.
A real example of why servicing is good value
This recent job is a practical example of the difference regular maintenance can make.
An approximately 11-year-old boiler had missed three services before a failed expansion vessel resulted in overpressure and a leak. The boiler is now a write-off and requires replacement.
Dom’s professional view is that an earlier service could have identified the problem with the expansion vessel before it progressed.
There is, of course, no guarantee that servicing would have prevented the boiler from eventually needing replacement. However, the situation highlights the value of giving a boiler regular professional attention and addressing potential problems as early as possible.
Rather than waiting until a boiler develops a major fault, regular servicing provides an opportunity to keep an eye on its condition and make sure any issues that are identified can be dealt with appropriately.
Is your boiler due a service?
As the colder months approach, it is worth checking when your boiler was last serviced. If you can’t remember, or you know it has been a few years since it was checked, it may be time to arrange one.
Having your boiler serviced before you rely on your heating and hot water more regularly can give you greater awareness of its condition and provide an opportunity to identify potential issues before they become a bigger problem.
A boiler fault can be inconvenient at any time, but being left without heating or hot water as the weather gets colder can be particularly disruptive. Regular servicing is an important part of looking after your heating system, particularly as the boiler gets older.
If your boiler is due a service, get in touch with the PGS team to arrange your next appointment.