Does My Boiler Need Servicing?

The boiler in the home has to be properly maintained in order to continue working properly. Regular servicing of the boiler can help to keep it working at its optimum level. It is therefore helpful if you can identify when a service is needed, although it is recommended that your boiler is serviced at least once a year.

Early signs to look for

Firstly you may notice that you aren’t getting as much hot water as normal or it runs out too soon. In addition when the boiler is part of the home’s heating system you may notice that the home in not as warm as it once was during the winter months. These two factors should make you question whether or not you should call a service technician to come check your boiler for you.

Simple checks you can do

In order to be sure if your boiler needs servicing there are some things that can be checked by yourself. These items must be checked as accurately as possible and kept track of regularly. Little things like how much fuel a boiler is using and any temperature changes it has undergone can often help to determine if a boiler needs servicing.

A few of the things that you need to keep daily records of to know whether or not the boiler needs servicing are listed here. Each one should be checked and written down to ensure that you have a visible record of each – these can then be used for future comparisons of each function.

• The level of water in the boiler must be watched to ensure that it does not reach a level inadequate for use.
• The low water cut-off should also be tested.
• The combustion on a boiler must be visually inspected.
• Both the operating pressure and temperature of the boiler should be checked.
• The pressure and temperature of feed water should be checked.
• The feed water pump operation should be checked on the boiler.
• The temperature of the flue gas should be checked on the boiler.
• The boiler’s gas pressure should be checked.
• Both the boiler and the burner’s general operation should be checked.

These checks may sound complicated, however, the manufacturer’s literature will normally explain how they can be carried out safely and cleanly.

Other things to check

If you notice a decrease in efficiency of the boiler it is probably time to have it cleaned. There are also additional sections of the central heating system that have to be maintained regularly. The vents, flow of combustion air, the piping that supplies the gas or oil, the filtration system and the quality of the water piping all need to be maintained on an ongoing basis to ensure the proper functioning of the boiler. The electrical portions of the boiler need to be maintained by a certified electrician or gas engineer though.

Conclusion

If you start to notice changes in the efficiency of your boiler then it is a good indicator that you should schedule a boiler service. Unfortunately very few people check their boilers until it is too late and then they find themselves paying for costly repairs or even a new boiler.