Should you service your boiler in the summer or winter?
It is easy to overlook having your boiler serviced but failing to do so on an annual basis could have serious consequences much worse than the inconvenience and expense of a single service.
Even if your boiler has been working perfectly to the best of your knowledge, there could be some minor underlying issues that a service would identify that otherwise would develop into something much more serious.
Failing to have your boiler serviced could also invalidate the warranty that comes with it from the manufacturer, meaning that if the dreaded breakdown does come in the dead of winter, you will likely have to end up spending a fortune on emergency engineer call-outs, repairs, or even replacements.
Speaking of the dead of winter, there is a slight disagreement amongst many about the right time of year to have this essential service carried out.
For some, the summer, is preferable, as any issues can easily be sorted long before temperatures drop and demand rises, whilst others suggest that having the service right before the colder months begin will ensure the best chance of making it through without any issues.
Struggling to decide when to have your boiler serviced? Luckily, we are here to help. This guide will break down the pros and cons of both summer and winter boiler servicing to help your make the most informed decision possible.
Summer
During the summer months, it can be easy to forget about your boiler altogether as this is the time where demand is at its lowest. Many people don’t touch their home heating system for months at this time, but could this actually make it the perfect time to have your boiler serviced?
Some of the biggest potential reasons that this could be the case include:
Low activity
The biggest benefit to summer boiler installation is that it is unlikely to be in use at the time.
This makes it ideal for an engineer to come in, identify any issues, and resolve them, all before the boiler is required.
If minor, or even major work, is required, the effect on the lives of those living in the property will be minimal as they probably weren’t relying on the boiler anyway.
Flexibility
Due to the low demand of summer, it is often much easy to get an appointment for a boiler service.
In the winter, even if you are only looking for a routine service and there is nothing wrong with your boiler, engineers will be much busier dealing with emergency call-outs, meaning you might have to wait some time to get an appointment.
You may also be able to get a reduced rate for a boiler service at this time as in the winter, engineers will often charge ‘peak season rates”.
Winter
The winter is the time you use your boiler most, and continued smooth operation is critical to the safety and comfort of you and your loved ones.
Getting a boiler service in the winter, or just before the winter truly sets in, will give you peace of mind that it will work efficiently for the rest of the season.
Some of the benefits of a winter boiler service include:
Safety
Carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for 50 deaths and 4000 hospital visits every single year in the UK.
The majority of these are caused by faulty boilers and failing to have your boiler serviced this winter could make you more at risk.
During any service, the engineer will conduct several tests to identify any harmful gases that may be escaping from your boiler.
If none are found, or action is taken to resolve any leaks, you will have peace of mind that your home is safe from carbon monoxide throughout the winter months.
Reduce energy bills
In this current cost of living crisis, it is easy to think that boiler service Glasgow is an unnecessary cost that can be avoided.
However, this is actually an excellent investment to make as regular servicing improves the energy efficiency of your boiler and reduces the amount of gas you need to use to heat your home this winter.
Many engineers will also give you some excellent advice on the best way to run your boiler in the most energy efficient manner and further protect yourself from rising energy bills.
Protect your warranty
A final important reason to have your boiler serviced, be it in the summer or the winter, is to ensure you do not invalidate your warranty.
Most new boilers come with a warranty of around 10 years, but most are only valid if you have the boiler serviced on an annual basis.
Failing to do so could result in large repair or replacement bills if a breakdown occurs in the future.