annual boiler service - new boiler - options

happypie

So to keep my warranty valid for 10 years I have to get annual service done (even though my boiler is working perfectly with no issues whatsoever).
Anyway I was looking for options and I see that many reputed brands provide it for about 80 quids like HomeServe, SSE, British Gas and Vaillant who produced our boiler.
I wanted to know if there is any particular company stands out in terms of quality of work/service?
I was particularly interested in this British Gas plan for new boilers only:

Annual Boiler Service - £6.50 a month (£78 a year)

• Once a year we’ll come round to service your boiler to make sure it’s running safely and efficiently
• We test your flue to make sure your boiler isn’t leaking carbon monoxide
• We check your gas pressure to make sure it’s right and we inspect your boiler for any wear or leaks

 https://www.britishgas.co.uk/aem6/content/britishgas/home-services/boilers-and-heating/boiler-and-heating-cover.html#boiler-check-banner
But British Gas says it will take 20 minutes, whereas Which site says it should take minimum of 30 minutes. Am I thinking too much here?

Basically I am looking for a trusted company with whom I can sign contract for 5/10 years for annual service if they would do it cheaper than one off service.

Rosa_Damascena

BG Homecare is a big fat rip off, don't even go there. If its just an annual service you could probably find someone local to do it for around £50.

Jeepers_Creepers

Is this 10 year warranty for selected components like the main heat exchanger, or for the whole boiler? And is the warranty being offered by the boiler manufacturer?

If it's a manufacturer warranty, then I wouldn't be surprised if they insist the annual service is carried out by them - one of their 'authorised' GasSafes.

TELLIT01

Check local registered gas engineers to see how much they will charge for a boiler service.  You don't have to sign up to any form of contract.

theoretica

Who installed it?  Ask them for a quote.

JGB1955

We pay our installer £72 p.a. for an annual service on our Vaillant, thus keeping the 10 year warranty in place. 

Stratus

As this is a money saving site and you've asked for options, don't forget you could forget about the warranty, forego the annual service and effectively self insure. My current Intergas boiler has long since passed it's 5 year warrant period without an official service, saving over £400 on your BG plan above. It's not required any attention other than a rinse out of condensate trap each year. 

Rosa_Damascena

Stratus said:

As this is a money saving site and you've asked for options, don't forget you could forget about the warranty, forego the annual service and effectively self insure. My current Intergas boiler has long since passed it's 5 year warrant period without an official service, saving over £400 on your BG plan above. It's not required any attention other than a rinse out of condensate trap each year. 

This is a high risk strategy and could cost someone like me - who is clueless about at such things - dear if the boiler develops a problem. MSE Martin has long pointed out that it is this fear that keeps us shelling out so my concession is to have the boiler serviced annually and take any further labour costs on the chin.

Jeepers_Creepers

It's a toughie.

What does a boiler service involve? Sadly it doesn't appear to be anything like a car service which involves tangible things like an oil & filter change which are essential for the engine to have a good long life, so you neglect this at your peril. Instead it seems to involve taking a reading for gas pressure (hmm, same as last time), perhaps flue gas analysis (ditto), possibly clean out the condensate trap (wasn't done on mine, so it almost blocked up), and just seeing if the machine is working as it should. If it is, then that's just great - all is 'good', but no imminent fault has actually been anticipated or avoided. 

I've only had one carried out on my combi around 3 times in its 15 year life. The first guy - a GlowWorm specialist - remarked that he had the exact same boiler in his home, and he doesn't service his own every year. Another one took the front cover off and was generally having a look and prod until I asked him if he was going to clean out the burner chamber (which I knew was one part that did tend to fill with carp which then ends up in the condensate trap and which could cause long term issues). He hummed and hawed and said they didn't normally do this, but was kind enough to agree to it to keep me happy - and he hoovered out a nice amount of grit from the chamber.

Basically, I cannot think of any regular servicing which would have prevented the faults that have occurred to my combi - blocked P2P exchangers, broken top-up tap, sticking divertor valve, blown PCB, and finally a cracked hydroblock. All these faults happened and would have happened regardless of how many annual times a GasSafe spent prodding my innards. Ergo, I am personally convinced they are a complete waste of time and money.

Then there comes the other reason for having them done - to keep a warranty intact. A 10-year warranty is quite generous, but the circa-£800 you'd spend on this servicing over that time is not so kind. 

ElephantBoy57

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Then there comes the other reason for having them done - to keep a warranty intact. A 10-year warranty is quite generous, but the circa-£800 you'd spend on this servicing over that time is not so kind. 

My Greenstar Bosch is around four years old. I have had it serviced once.

I got an email from the man that serviced it, I tried to contact him and the email bounced back, no longer on facebook.

The next engineer missed two appointed times to service it. I will look for another local engineer, as I also need a new radiator valve.

If you have a lodger or need a gas safety cert, also a good reason to get it done.

happypie

Thanks guys.
Its 10 years warranty on boiler.
Actually I also think this boiler service business is rip off.
However boiler costed me 1600 pounds and installation another 700 pounds, so its quite a lot of money, which if I had to spend again in 5 years time then it would be very sad thing.
After 5 years or so I might not spend 100 pounds a year on service.

So looks like some people are suggesting local tradesman. I have not had good experience with local tradesman, so many cowboys around, finding good one is luck game. I would rather go with a company where they have a customer service department in case things go wrong.