WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP MY BOILER IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION AND PROLONG ITS LIFESPAN?

Becoming familiar with how your boiler works is advisable for getting the best out of it. For example, learn how to control your combi boiler temperature settings to ensure you only use the energy you need. Or, if you have a separate system or conventional boiler and hot water tank or cylinder, remember to check your programmer is set correctly and that the storage cylinder thermostat is turned up. You can also keep an eye on individual components so that you don’t get caught out, for example, if the boiler thermostat is not working.

The most useful thing you can do to extend the life of your boiler is to have your appliance serviced by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer once a year. If this is your first boiler you might ask, “what is a boiler service?” and this is a fair question as there are two types of maintenance checks – namely a safety inspection and a service – and not everyone is clear about the differences between these two key tasks that will deliver maximum boiler protection.

In a safety inspection the engineer will typically carry out a visual inspection of any gas appliances (e.g. boiler/gas hob/gas fire), check that the air supply is adequate, that the flue is functional and that the boiler is burning gas correctly and efficiently, and that any safety devices are operating correctly. You could think of it as like an MOT for your car; it simply proves that is passes a safety inspection on that day.

A boiler service is more thorough as the engineer will not only carry out safety tests but will also check internal components for wear and carry out cleaning and adjustments where necessary.