Servicing your boiler: what to know

Your boiler is one of the most important appliances in your home as it can provide you with both heat and hot water at your convenience.

Even if everything appears to be working correctly, it’s entirely possible that your boiler could be operating inefficiently, leading to loss of heating performance and long-term issues.

Making sure you get your boiler serviced annually can help it stay in top condition and, help to maintain its efficiency.

Most boiler manufacturers recommend that you get your boiler serviced once a year. We recommend having your boiler serviced in the summer so your boiler is ready and prepared for the cold, winter months.

The point of a boiler service is to make sure your boiler and heating system is still working efficiently and is safe. It's a requirement to have a certified gas-safe engineer to come and inspect your heating system. Upon arrival, your engineer will complete a full check of the boiler and its functions, making sure you can be safe in the knowledge you’re fully prepared for the cold, winter months.

If you don’t get your boiler serviced in line with your manufacturer's guidelines, your warranty could be impacted and it may even invalidate any home insurance. ; iIf you had to make a claim due to a problem with the boiler, such as a leak or flood, the service history could be used as information. Furthermore, if you’re a landlord of a property, you have a legal obligation to service any gas appliances as required by the manufacturer under The Landlord and Tenant Act (1985).

To check when your boiler has last had a service, use our free myVAILLANT web portal to register your details and to manage your service information.

1. Firstly, when they arrive they should present you with their Gas Safe ID card. If not, please make sure you ask to see it, looking at both the front and back of the card to ensure legitimacy.

2. Once they have entered your property, the engineer will begin a to risk assessment of the area, making sure all obstructions and breakables are clear of the work area. It may be a good idea to remove any breakables yourself before the engineer arrives.

3. The engineers should ask you if you have had any problems with the boiler in the last year. They will also check to see if there are any fault codes showing on your appliance (if applicable). Please be aware that if the boiler is not in good working order, then an annual service cannot be carried out and this may incur an additional call out fee.

4. When the annual service begins, the engineer will begin a visual inspection and carry out the checks required for an annual service.

5. Once the checks are done, the engineer will make sure that the boiler is operating correctly, and will reset all controls to their original settings.

6. They will then clear the work area, ensuring the work area is clean and tidy before leaving.

7. Lastly, they should make sure you are happy with the service and answer any question you have about the job.

Use of free online portal myVAILLANT Web to book and manage your boiler repair appointments online, register your Vaillant appliance. Click here for more information.

If your boiler is due a service, you can find your local heating engineer by clicking here. You’ll be able to pop in your postcode and see a list of your closest engineers. All of the engineers on our tool are members of our Vaillant Advance Loyalty scheme and have experience with Vaillant boilers.