Booking a boiler service

attila_

Hello I want to book a service for our Worcester boiler (I've been bad not serviced it since we moved I'm 4 years ago!). British gas are doing an offer of £49.99 for a service but when you look at what's involved it's just visual checks.

Seems a bit of a rip off to me but is it just this type of service that's needed? Is there anywhere else I can try?

Cheers

Southend1

That's basically what a service is in my experience. They may stick a Hoover in to get some of the bits out. My boilers manual says the fan should be cleaned and lubricated but I doubt it's ever been done. I'm using British gas this year after some bad experiences with local "engineers"... last year the one I had round took the cover off, stuck the Hoover in, put the cover back on. All over in 2 minutes, then tried to charge me a tenner more than the price he quoted on the phone.

Ectophile

I pay a local Registered Gas Installer (the guy who installed the boiler) £75 for a service.

It's still essentially just an inspection, but it takes rather more than 2 minutes. There's all the flue gas analysis to make sure it's burning properly.

BuntyB

Boiler service involves visual inspection of the flue, any seals, signs of corrosion and any other defects. Testing of flame failure devices, flue gas analysis, burner pressure or gas rate to ensure correct performance.

All of which is designed to keep you and those around you safe

Bit of a rip off eh?

Sleep well

Southend1

BuntyB wrote: »

Boiler service involves visual inspection of the flue, any seals, signs of corrosion and any other defects. Testing of flame failure devices, flue gas analysis, burner pressure or gas rate to ensure correct performance.

All of which is designed to keep you and those around you safe

Bit of a rip off eh?

Sleep well

I think a proper boiler service is money well spent. But I have only ever experienced one engineer who did any of the above checks. I have however come across many who will just give it a quick Hoover and charge £60-70 for 2 minutes "work". I wish it was easier to find a decent gas engineer! As I said, I'm going to try British gas this year and see whether they do a decent service.

Thomas_Crown

BuntyB wrote: »

Boiler service involves visual inspection of the flue, any seals, signs of corrosion and any other defects. Testing of flame failure devices, flue gas analysis, burner pressure or gas rate to ensure correct performance.

All of which is designed to keep you and those around you safe

Bit of a rip off eh?

Sleep well

Maybe your post should begin ''A boiler service SHOULD involve........''

jonesjw

With so little work involved, why would anyone pay for a boiler service every year?

Also, at least when you have your CAR serviced, the oil is changed, which is necessary for the engine to last.
However, it seems servicing has no benefit for boiler life.

ic

I do it as a condition of my boiler's five year warranty - if it weren't serviced and something went wrong, the warranty wouldn't stand. My previous boiler lived for five years without servicing after I moved in. I figured that was £300 saved towards my new boiler.

trf1960

My hubby charges £70 for a service and says it takes him around an hour to do it properly. It makes me laugh what I read here because quite often hubby says a customer will question what he is doing as a previous engineer that they may have had hardly spent 30 minutes just 'hoovering' as you say. One customer even asked him why he was taking the boiler cover off as his previous 'engineer' told him it wasn't necessary. Some just wave a gas analyser over the flame and call it a full service.

By the way, a service will also highlight any possible problems or faults with a boiler that could otherwise appear at a later stage (and usually when you least need it). It's best to look at a boiler service the same as you do your own car service. Please re-read BuntyB's comments. Granted it is probably not strictly necessary to have your boiler serviced within the first few years of installation but regardless, manufacturers will expect this in the event a fault occurs within the guarantee period.

And why people think it a good idea to pay for a service contract is beyond me. Why not just open up a 'rainy day savings account' somewhere, set up a standing order for a certain amount and make interest on your money rather than giving it to some multi-national company.

[Deleted User]

One bloke took the cover off my water heater, blew a bit of dust out and put the cover back on.

Another I asked to check my boiler for CO leaks. He looked at me as if I had two heads and said "what do you want me to do that for?" When I told him, he just said that he didn't have anything to check it with, and asked if I wanted him to check for gas leaks instead.

I used to have the water heater serviced regularly, but it didn't stop it exploding each time the gas valve actuator got clogged with limescale. That went on for about 16 years until they fixed it within 24 hours after I threatened them with legal action. Now I don't bother getting either the water heater or the boiler serviced.

southcoastrgi

as some of you don't believe in getting your boiler serviced & that this it's a waste of money might want to look HERE