What does a boiler service actually include?

ChasingtheWelshdream

Thanks all.

Bendy: It is a Vailant boiler and is unfortunately too old for their service plan.

Tellit01: Thanks for the heads up on British Gas customer service!

I hadn't seen that link Essex Exile, will have a nosey.

As I say, this is not a question of whether the service is actually worth it, it's how to get the best value on what is (I know) an expensive option for doing so. Our relative gets very anxious about the boiler every year (even though it has never had any issues), and just wants one number to ring knowing someone will come out regardless. Without internet access, they would like us to sort and administer it. 

If something does go wrong with it, we'll be making sure they are not pressured into anything.

[Deleted User]

Perhaps check with the local approved Valiant and see what they can do, our Worcester Bocsh is serviced by the approved agent (there are a few in my locale) and cheap with it. They are good honest local family form and been around for years. But part of the trick is finding the right people I suppose.

Bendy_House

half_empty said:

Our plumber reckoned our sandy trap on the first service was probably due to leftovers in the casting. Not sure about subsequent services but the bowl they use to drain and check has a few bits in it but nothing like the first service.
I don't know how these things are bolted together so have to accept his commentary.

Good theory, and very plausible. I've only had the trap blocked once, and that was some years ago.

ChasingtheWelshdream

half_empty said:

 But part of the trick is finding the right people I suppose.

This is exactly why they want a plan now. The guy they had used is no longer responding and they are getting so stressed trying to get someone else (they are probably focussing on broken boilers this time of year), and are very scared of getting ripped off as they are elderly and live alone with no-one to make personal recommendations. Although we could easily track someone down from here, they have seen an advert for British Gas and have decided they just want a big well-known company in charge.

It is one of those situations where we are going along with their wishes, rather than projecting our opinions. 

Having looked at USwitch (thanks again), it looks like there are a few options that won't be as extortionate as HomeServe, so we'll be looking at customer service ratings! 

Thanks all. :-)

Section62

ChasingtheWelshdream said:

As I say, this is not a question of whether the service is actually worth it, it's how to get the best value on what is (I know) an expensive option for doing so. Our relative gets very anxious about the boiler every year (even though it has never had any issues), and just wants one number to ring knowing someone will come out regardless.

I think high up on your list should be finding an organisation which doesn't have a reputation for using their service visits to create identify faults which are beyond economic repair and therefore necessitate a replacement boiler. ("and here's a quote we've already prepared for you")

I wouldn't suggest all organisations are like that, but there are rumours circulating about some of them, and to my mind there are too many anecdotal reports of this MO for the rumours to be totally without foundation.

I completely understand where your relative is coming from, and the reassurance of a service plan is certainly inviting.

However, I do think you (both) need to factor in the risk of the first visit resulting in the boiler being condemned and them facing the cost of replacement.  The issue isn't necessarily just the cost of a plan vs ad-hoc maintenance - the potential cost-risk is of a replacement boiler (which an ad-hoc service engineer quite possibly would have been happy to repair)

[Deleted User]

ChasingtheWelshdream said:

half_empty said:

 But part of the trick is finding the right people I suppose.

This is exactly why they want a plan now. The guy they had used is no longer responding and they are getting so stressed trying to get someone else (they are probably focussing on broken boilers this time of year), and are very scared of getting ripped off as they are elderly and live alone with no-one to make personal recommendations. Although we could easily track someone down from here, they have seen an advert for British Gas and have decided they just want a big well-known company in charge.

It is one of those situations where we are going along with their wishes, rather than projecting our opinions. 

Having looked at USwitch (thanks again), it looks like there are a few options that won't be as extortionate as HomeServe, so we'll be looking at customer service ratings! 

Thanks all. :-)

Check home insurance as well, we get a certain level of cover, but as our boiler is under warranty for a good few years, insurance will say go with that warranty repair but if the boiler is under a certain age and serviced outside that warranty, I get a certain level of emergency cover (conversation with the form directly on the issue). Small print really needs to be understood here though and I expect some firms are better than others and offer different levels of cover.

We are lucky with our plumber though. They are snowed under with requests but also look after the long term customers. Its like builder and fitters etc. worth their weight when you get a good one.

ChasingtheWelshdream

Thanks both. 

Section62: I completely agree and this is my concern, and something we have in the back of our mind. It's the same with their electrics. They are convinced something is wrong (it isn't) and want to get an electrician in to give them a certificate. We know that any inspection will flag up that it is not up to current standards (surprise - most aren't) and will just cause them to panic. 

As I say, this isn't a choice we would make ourselves, but we are at least confident the boiler is fine at the moment. If we lived closer things wouldn't be an issue. Sadly there is a long and complicated history over their anxiety with their home, but at this point in time, they are of sound mind so we just need to do as they ask with a very watchful eye on things. At least with the internet we are able to compare options which they are unable to do. If we didn't help, they would (I guarantee), just ring up British Gas and pay through the nose for it.

Half_empty: We managed to slash their home insurance this year. Took an age to convince them that being a 'loyal' customer for 30 years means nothing when they are paying (I kid you not) nearly 10x the going rate. Absolutely scandalous! But they do have emergency cover included which has reassured them somewhat. Looking through the T&Cs, it doesn't do much more than emergency temporary repairs but gives them peace of mind.

coffeehound

grumbler said:

coffeehound said:

Is the incoming air not filtered on modern boilers?

What for?
.......

To keep the gas path, combustion chamber and HX clean?  Apparently not!

NQManchester

I signed up for boiler cover with Homeserve with a free service. The guy told me our boiler needed replacing because it needed some parts changing that would be more economical to get a new one… got a local plumber out who said that was nonsense and changed a small part for about £60 and it was still going strong four years later when we moved. 

Wouldn’t go with British Gas because they have been treating their staff abysmally.

I know they don’t want to go with someone local but some will get in touch when your next service is due so it’s not any more hassle really.

in_my_wellies

Back in the day my father was a commissioning engineer, he had spent his life designing, installing boilers in mega factories. Then he retired and got a 'little job' servicing boilers in peoples homes. It lasted three weeks!

The boss told him he was too thorough, mending too many and taking too long. The boss said, 'he should take off the front, shine a torch inside, wipe with an oily rag, replace the front leaving a few oily marks so the customer knew he had been' If the customer was watching he was to unscrew a couple of simple bits, clean them and put them back. He should never mend anything but tell the customer it was unsafe and to phone the boss who would sell them a new one

They parted company, surprised he lasted three weeks.