Many people won’t be thinking about their heating during the summer, but those in the trade say this could be one of the best times of year to get a boiler checked.
Luke Stanyer, City Plumbing ambassador and owner of Blue Bulldog Plumbing and Heating, says: “An engineer is far more likely to have availability in the summer. During the colder months, we tend to be booked out with breakdowns and emergencies, so we need to prioritise customers who need repairs.
“Secondly, if there are any problems during your service, you are far less likely to miss your boiler during the warmer months compared to when you are relying on it every day.
“Between April and September is the time to get your boiler serviced. Make sure it’s done every year at the same time, and by the same engineer. The same engineer will remember the property and boiler, and know that every 3-5 years, the service will require a full strip-down service.”
Roz Kane from City Plumbing agrees: “A lot of people stop thinking about their boiler once the weather improves, but this is actually one of the quieter times of year to get it serviced.
“Boilers should be serviced once every 12 months, and while there is no right or wrong time to do it, our data shows that June is often an easier time to arrange a check before demand increases.”
City Plumbing’s own trade data suggests January is one of the busiest times for repairs and call outs, with searches for boiler spare parts through its SparesFinder tool both reaching their highest levels as demand increases.
Regular servicing can also help keep boilers working efficiently and flag early warning signs before they become more serious.
Luke added: “Regular services help your boiler work at its best if they are done on a yearly basis. Engineers can clean elements, check for leaks and make sure it is working at the right capacity.
“A service can also detect early warning signs and faults such as corrosion, leaks or damage. That means problems can be fixed earlier. If left to develop, they can damage the boiler or the system and become much harder to put right.”
An annual service can also be important for keeping some boiler warranties valid, as many manufacturers require a yearly check by a Gas Safe engineer. It may also be required under some home insurance policies, although homeowners are advised to check the details of their own cover.
“Prevention is better than cure,” concluded Luke. “Getting your boiler serviced regularly can address small issues before they become bigger problems.”
