How often should you have gas appliances serviced/checked?

MimiJane

Over the years, we've tended to have our gas boiler, cooker, fires, etc. serviced once a year by a Corgi registered engineer. We've now replaced our gas fires with electric and are wondering if a two yearly check would suffice (not wanting to skimp on safety though!).

Out of interest, what do others do/recommend?

Steve_PS

I'm a CORGI registered service engineer. All servicings for boilers and fires are carried out annually.

espresso

Steve_PS wrote:

I'm a CORGI registered service engineer. All servicings for boilers and fires are carried out annually.

Well a Corgi registered service engineer would say that wouldn't they but it's only a legal requirement for landlords to have a gas safety check done annually.

:rolleyes:

masonic

espresso wrote:

Well a Corgi registered service engineer would say that wouldn't they but it's only a legal requirement for landlords to have a gas safety check done annually.

I would interpret the legal requirement for rental property to be a reasonable guide to what is sensible. Having said that, I'd probably let it slide, but I'd be damn sure to get some a CO detectors if I did.

Ken68

Skipped mine this year..all seem to be £50 for a service. One plumber said if I can't smell gas don't have it done.!!!How heating engineers can justify such a price for half an hours work is beyond me.
Will look around for a gas detector.

angeluk69_2

I have had mine done every year, to make sure that I don't have any huge repair bills, just like my car I also have it serviced evry year

MimiJane

Ken68 wrote:

Skipped mine this year..all seem to be £50 for a service. One plumber said if I can't smell gas don't have it done.!!!How heating engineers can justify such a price for half an hours work is beyond me.
Will look around for a gas detector.

We've had "natural gas" alarms fitted in two rooms, as well as the carbon monoxide ones as I have no sense of smell!

Ken68

Screwfix do CO alarms for £24 and detectors for £50, would have thought they were the same thing.

MimiJane

Natural gas detectors are different to CO detectors. You can get industrial units that detect both, but we found a small domestic NG detector, which we use alongside a CO one.

Ken68

Slightly off topic, Mimi, I use baby listeners placed near the smoke alarms , transmitters downstairs and receiver near the bed. Also one transmitter in the window facing out, with a little red light.. Can get 'em from boot sales about £2 a set.

johnofhertford

I used to have my boiler serviced annually (actually I had BG 3 star cover). I cancelled because I thought it was too expensive and about 18 months later my boiler packed in on a freezing night in December - the call out fee cost me a fortune. Given the nature of the fault it's very unlikely that it would have happened if I'd had it serviced.

I now have my boiler and gas fire serviced annually - but by a local plumber not by BG.