A thorough service includes a flue gas analysis and an inspection of safety devices.
You know the boiler needs its annual visit. What should actually happen while the engineer is there? This walkthrough makes the checks easier to understand — and the visit easier to prepare for.
Three things to know.
- Keep your boiler paperwork ready for the engineer to update
- Clear the space around the boiler for easy access
- Book your service in late summer to avoid the winter rush
What a thorough service covers
A typical service by a Gas Safe registered engineer includes:
- Visual check of the boiler, flue and surrounding area for safe clearances.
- Flue gas analysis to confirm the boiler is burning cleanly.
- Checking gas pressure and burner operation.
- Inspecting and cleaning the condensate trap.
- Testing safety devices and controls.
- Checking system pressure and the expansion vessel.
- Recording results and noting anything that needs attention.
How to prepare
Clear the cupboard around the boiler, make sure the loft hatch is accessible if the flue goes through the roof, and have your boiler's paperwork handy so the engineer can update the service record.
Good timing
Late summer and early autumn is ideal — any issue is found before the first cold snap, when engineers across Birmingham are at their busiest.
For appliance-specific steps, follow your boiler or product manual. Work inside a gas boiler must be left to a Gas Safe registered engineer.