Is your boiler service really an optional extra?
1 February 2023
It’s undeniable that there’s a cost-of-living crisis, and everyone is looking for ways to save money and make what they have to spend go further. However, there are corners that, for safety’s sake, we recommend shouldn’t be cut.
Research carried out recently by the Gas Safe Register* found that 33% of people were thinking of missing their annual gas boiler service. Baxi carried out similar research last July** that showed at least 18% of the people we asked would consider foregoing their boiler service in order to save money. Money has undoubtedly got tighter over the last six months or so!
The worrying thing is, though, that while nine in 10 of the 2,000 homeowners surveyed told Gas Safe that they were confident they could spot the signs that the gas appliances in their homes were unsafe, the reality is that only four of them (yes – four out of 2,000) passed the nine-step Gas Safety Challenge! Why not try it for yourself?
The Gas Safety Challenge Questions
- As a homeowner, can you say with certainty you’ve had your gas appliances, such as your gas boiler, serviced and safety checked in the last twelve months?
- When you turn on your gas hob, the flame should burn a certain colour to indicate it is in working order and safe to use. What colour should the flame be when you turn on your gas hob?
- A boiler flue is a pipe that carries exhaust gases, produced by a boiler, outside the home and releases it safely into the atmosphere. Has your flue been checked in the last 12 months for blockages or other problems? Blockages could include plants growing around or into the flue, or something stuffed inside the flue.
- In an emergency, you may need to turn off the gas supply to your home. Do you know where to turn off your gas in an emergency?
- As a homeowner with gas appliances in your home, do you have a working carbon monoxide detector alarm in your home?
- There are various signs and symptoms that may indicate there’s an issue with your gas appliances, and that they may be unsafe. Select the ones you think are true signs and symptoms of unsafe gas in your home:
- Carbon monoxide alarm beeping
- lazy yellow flames on your gas hob
- dark sooty marks around an appliance
- boiler sounding different to usual or making unexpected noises
- fault codes appearing on your boiler
- pilot lights that keep going out
- smell of rotten eggs in your home.
- There are warning signs that you may be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. Select the ones you think are true warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Breathlessness
- Collapse and loss of consciousness.
- Are you confident your gas boiler is currently in safe working order, with no error codes or fault messages on the control panel?
- Thinking about where your boiler is stored, do you keep other household items in your boiler cupboard?
Find the answers on the Gas Safe Register website. How did you do?
Why having your boiler serviced is important
Having your boiler serviced is like getting an MOT for your car. When you’re driving, it’s good to know that your brakes work properly, your exhaust fumes are within legal limits and that your car is running safely and reliably.
It’s the same with your boiler! When a Gas Safe engineer checks over your boiler, they are making sure it is working properly and safely. They will also check the length of the flue and the flue terminal, to make sure there are no signs of carbon monoxide, which is a colourless, odourless, and very dangerous gas.
As well as the important safety aspect, an annual service will keep your boiler working efficiently and reliably – costing you less on your energy bills and expensive repairs – and is also a requirement of your boiler warranty.
Whether you choose to have your boiler serviced by Baxi Customer Support or you find your local Gas Safe Registered engineer, please don’t cut corners when it comes to gas safety.
* Experts find mismatch between consumer confidence in spotting unsafe gas and real-world behaviour - Gas Safe Register
** Baxi’s Cost of living crisis homeowner survey, July 2022