Boiler Servicing: What's Involved and How to Maintain Your Boiler Year-Round

There's nothing worse than flicking the heating switch on a cold October morning, only to hear silence where there should be the comforting hum of your boiler firing up. For many homeowners, this unwelcome surprise happens at the worst possible time. The good news? Most boiler breakdowns are preventable with the right combination of professional care and simple homeowner maintenance.

Annual checks are highly recommended to stave off boiler failures, but what does boiler servicing involve?

Understanding this and how you can look after your boiler between professional visits will keep your home warm and your heating system reliable. In this guide, M J Burt will walk you through exactly what happens during a professional boiler service and share practical tasks you can do yourself throughout the year.

What Happens During a Professional Boiler Service?

So, what does boiler servicing involve? A professional boiler service is far more comprehensive than many homeowners realise. When you book annual boiler maintenance, certified engineers conduct a thorough examination of your entire heating system, checking everything from gas pressure to flue emissions.

The process typically takes 30 to 45 minutes, depending on your boiler's condition, and only Gas Safe registered engineers are legally qualified to work on gas appliances. During the boiler service, your engineer will perform multiple tests (including flue gas analysis), clean essential components, and identify potential issues before they become expensive emergencies.

Think of it as an MOT for your boiler. Understanding this process helps you appreciate why this annual check matters. So, let’s dive in.

Visual Inspection and Component Cleaning

Every boiler service starts with a careful visual inspection. Our engineers examine the exterior and interior of your boiler, looking for signs of damage, corrosion, or wear that might affect performance or safety.

Next comes the detailed work. The engineer removes, inspects, and thoroughly cleans the main components, including the burner, heat exchanger, flue ways, and ignition pins. Over time, these parts accumulate dust, debris, and carbon deposits that reduce efficiency.

Where needed, components are adjusted to ensure optimal performance. This careful attention means your boiler runs more efficiently, uses less energy, and is less likely to break down unexpectedly.

Essential Safety Checks and Testing

Safety is at the heart of every boiler service, with your engineer testing all major components and safety devices to ensure they're functioning correctly. This includes checking electrical wiring connections, verifying that all seals are intact, and ensuring no gas leaks are present.

The boiler's location matters too, so your engineer will verify there's adequate ventilation around the unit and that no combustible materials are stored nearby. The boiler controls and pilot burner also receive careful assessment to confirm they're responding as they should.

One crucial element is the boiler pressure check, as incorrect pressure affects your heating's performance and can place excessive strain on your boiler.

Gas Pressure and Flue Analysis

Getting the gas pressure right is essential for your heating system to function properly, so our engineers use specialist equipment to ensure your boiler operates within the manufacturer's specified parameters and prevents unnecessary strain on its components.

Flue gas analysis is another critical safety check. Using a flue gas analyser, your engineer tests that the flue isn't blocked and that your boiler is burning the correct mixture of gas and air.

Understanding this means recognising that if your flue becomes blocked, combustion gases can return to your home, potentially causing fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. That's why we recommend fitting at least one carbon monoxide detector in every home.

Your Complete Service Report

Transparency is important when it comes to your home's safety. Throughout your boiler service, your engineer keeps detailed records of all the tests and checks they carry out. This includes noting the boiler pressure, heat input, gas flow rates, and the condition of various components.

You'll receive a copy of this comprehensive report to keep for future reference, with this documentation serving several purposes. First, it gives you peace of mind that your boiler has been thoroughly checked. Second, it provides a baseline for comparison at your next service, helping to spot any developing issues early.

If problems arise before your next service is due, this report can be invaluable. It helps any engineer (whether from our team or elsewhere) understand your boiler's recent history and current condition.

Maintaining Your Boiler Between Services

Professional annual boiler maintenance is essential, but it's not the whole story. Your boiler benefits from a bit of attention throughout the year, not just during its annual service. Think of it as the difference between seeing your dentist twice a year and brushing your teeth daily. Both matter.

The good news is that looking after your boiler between professional visits doesn't require technical knowledge or special tools. A few simple tasks (more on these below), performed regularly, can significantly reduce the likelihood of winter breakdowns and keep your heating system running efficiently.

These straightforward maintenance habits complement professional servicing and help you spot potential problems early, often before they leave you without heating.

Regular attention to your boiler also means you're more likely to notice if something doesn't sound or feel quite right.

Simple Tasks to Keep Your Boiler Running Smoothly

Here are those simple yet essential maintenance tasks you can handle yourself to keep your boiler running smoothly throughout the year:

• Run Your Heating Periodically: It might seem odd to fire up the heating in July, but running your system for 10 to 30 minutes every couple of months during the warmer season keeps everything ticking over and quickly highlights any problems well before winter arrives.
• Monitor and Adjust Boiler Pressure: Check your pressure gauge regularly, as it should read between 1 and 1.5 bar. A boiler pressure check takes less than a minute and can save you from an unpleasant surprise when you need your heating most.
• Bleed Your Radiators Annually: Air gets trapped in radiators over time, leading to cold spots and reduced efficiency. Don't forget to check your carbon monoxide detector batteries at the same time.
• Test Your Boiler Before Winter: Give your boiler a test run in October or November to ensure everything is working smoothly, giving you plenty of time to arrange repairs if needed.

When Should You Book Your Next Boiler Service?

We recommend scheduling your boiler service once a year, ideally before the heating season begins. Booking in late summer or early autumn means any issues can be addressed before you're relying on your heating daily, and you'll avoid competing with the rush of emergency callouts that arrive once the cold weather sets in.

Don't wait for your annual boiler maintenance if you notice warning signs. Here are key symptoms that indicate you should book a boiler service immediately:

• Strange noises like banging, whistling, or gurgling often signal limescale build-up or failing components
• Cold spots on radiators suggest your system needs balancing or has circulation issues
• Rising energy bills despite similar usage indicate your boiler is losing efficiency
• Visible leaks or pressure loss require immediate professional attention

Addressing problems early helps you avoid complete breakdowns and saves money on major repairs.

Expert Boiler Servicing in Poole and Bournemouth

At M J Burt Property Maintenance, we've been keeping homes across Poole, Bournemouth, and the surrounding areas warm since 1988. You might be asking yourself, “What does boiler servicing involve?”, but our Gas Safe registered engineers know everything there is to know and deliver top-quality boiler installations, servicing, and repairs with friendly, responsive service.

We provide comprehensive annual servicing and emergency repairs to keep your boiler running safely and efficiently. Ready to book? Call us on 01202 721955 or use our contact form today.