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What is a boiler service, exactly?

 

Many people are a bit puzzled by boiler servicing. Puzzled about what it is, why it should be done, and what happens if it is not carried out regularly. There is a suspicion that very little is done really during a boiler service and it's a work creation scheme dreamed up by lazy gas engineers. This isn't true (mostly!), so here are some proper answers...

 

What it is...

It's checking, cleaning, testing and pre-emptive fault-spotting, really, with the emphasis on testing all the different functions of an appliance for correct and safe operation.

Unfortunately, different companies have widely differing ideas about what should be done to service a boiler. At one extreme some (bigger) companies have their engineers do no more than put a probe in the flue outlet to analyse the contents of the flue gasses, and if all is well, announce the boiler is working correctly and start writing out the invoice. Beware these companies.

 

Their short-cutting can often be spotted by looking carefully at the wording of their offering. When you ask for a "boiler service" you will be offered an "annual safety check" instead, misleading you into thinking you are getting a full annual service.

At the other extreme there are gas installers who check the gas pipework, ventilation, clearances etc then take everything to pieces, clean and reassemble, and spend ages testing the operation of every single aspect of the boiler functions for safe and correct operation. It's no wonder that boiler service prices vary widely is it? (I fall firmly in the second camp, by the way.) The first method is an outrageous short-cut and does nothing to confirm the boiler is actually safe to use. 

Why it should be done...

When a boiler or gas appliance appears to be working well, there 'could' be hidden faults. These will be revealed by a proper service. A good example would be the device which turns the gas off if the pilot light blows out. If this fails to work when needed you could have gas leaking into your house, but how do you know if yours still works? This will be tested during the service procedure. Below is the full service procedure if you want to know in complete detail what a proper service comprises. 

What happens if not carried out regularly...
Well, in most cases, everything will be fine, but you won't know for sure. The whole gas installation is examined and tested for correct installation and operation. A wide variety of things go wrong with gas installations and the gas regulations exist to make sure installations are safe. Proper servicing, in summary, makes sure your installation is safe.

How often should servicing be done?
It's very much up to you. How often do you want your system to be inspected and confirmed safe? Most manufacturers recommend annually. This is much more important once a boiler is a few years old than when it is brand new in my opinion, and more important if the boiler has an open flue (vertical, chimney-style) rather than a balanced flue (horizontally, through the wall).

My view is that open flue appliances should be done every year. This is because it's mostly open flue appliances that cause carbon monoxide deaths. It is so easy for combustion products to get into the house when something goes wrong with the flue (or the ventilation), and frequent servicing helps identify fueling problems early.

Balanced flue appliances are less critical. Manufacturers still say once a year but many gas fitters privately think bi-annually is adequate, mainly because flue problems are rarer and usually less serious. And also because they draw clean fresh air from outside. This means the burner airways don't get accumulations of carpet fibers, pet hairs etc (called 'lint' in the trade) in them, and cleaning needs to be done less often.

Boiler servicing in detail...
This is what is done, or should be done to service a boiler properly, in detail...

There is a laid down procedure in the manufacturers instruction book for every boiler, but for when the instructions are lost or missing there is a default service procedure set out is the CORGI 'bible' for gas engineers, "Essential Gas Safety". Here it is, re-written and abridged by me with the jargon removed where possible so you can understand what is (or should be!) being done for your money...

Preliminary examination:

Check with customer whether there are any problems with the system. 
Check the appliance location is suitable for the type of appliance. 
Check the appliance for any damage before starting work on it. 
Check for correct operation of the appliance, including consumer controls and the safety devices. 
Check the flame for correct burning. 
Check the electrical wiring complies with electrical regulations. 
Check for correct clearances from combustible materials. 
Examine gas supply pipework for correct installation and clearances. 
Check for correct ventilation to the room containing the appliance.

Full service procedure:
Remove main burners, clean and inspect for damage. 
Clean and inspect gas injector(s). 
Dismantle and clean pilot assembly and gas injector. 
Reassemble burners and pilot assembly. 
Check condition of ignition leads and electrode. 
Clean the heat exchanger. 
Refit burner assemblies and check seals.
Test disturbed gas joints for leaks. 
Check appliance case and seals (where appliance is room-sealed) for damage and correct assembly. 
Check and adjust pilot flame. 
Check operation of thermocouple (flame supervision device). 
Measure gas pressure and flow rate, and adjust if necessary. 
Inspect/test flue for faults/correct operation. 
Inspect flue terminal for correct location and protection. 
Check system bypass valve (if fitted) is correctly adjusted.
Check sealed system (if fitted) is at correct pressure. 
Advice user to have the system checked at least every twelve months or as specified my manufacturer. 
Advise user of any defects found in writing. 
Apply the Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure if necessary.

 

Manufacturers' instructions often have many more steps to follow. A proper boiler service takes at least an hour, nearly always more. A gas fire, although appearing to be a simpler appliance, usually takes around the same amount of time because the flue/chimney system needs especially thorough checking.

 

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