Intergas Boiler Service & Maintenance
A central heating boiler by Intergas should be able to heat your home for 10-15 years, but only if it gets the regular care and maintenance it needs to stay in top condition.
A major part of this maintenance is an annual boiler service. Getting your boiler serviced annually by a Gas Safe engineer is a must to ensure it's working safely and to keep it running at its maximum efficiency, i.e. getting your heating bills stay as low as possible.
What is a boiler service?
A boiler service needs to be carried out by a qualified heating engineer who will visit your home to carry out several tests and checks on your boiler once a year. For gas boilers this need to be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer and in the case of oil it should need be an OFTEC registered engineer.
For gas boilers by Intergas, you need to find a Gas Safe registered engineer which means they are listed on the UK's official list of engineers legally allowed to work on gas appliances. You can check if an engineer is registered by visiting the Gas Safe Register website and you should always ask to see their Gas Safe ID card when they arrive to service your boiler.
If the engineer is doing a thorough job a boiler service should last at least 30 minutes but this may vary depending type of boiler you have and if they come across any issues or faults during the service.
Boiler service checklist
Once you've checked that the engineer is qualified to service your boiler they will run through some standard efficiency, safety and operational checks:
- The engineer will check the boiler over visually to ensure it doesn't have any corrosion or leaks and that the flame is burning blue as it should be.
- They will then take off the boiler casing to check and clean the parts on the inside such as the heat exchanger, burner, main injector, safety devices and spark probe.
- The engineer will make sure that the flue terminals are clear of obstruction and fitted safely and seals, water and gas pipework are intact.
- They will check the gas pressure and flow settings to ensure they're at the correct level.
- Finally, the boiler will be started up so the engineer can look for any operational faults with the boiler, temperature controls or potential issues for repair.
When the service is finished you'll receive a service report which will detail what they've done. If you don't understand anything on the report and would like clarification the engineer will be able to explain.
Why it’s important to service Your Intergas boiler
Safety
A boiler service gives the engineer the opportunity to identify safety issues such as a carbon monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide is an odourless and colourless gas which can quickly cause brain damage and, in some cases, death. If you're concerned that your boiler may not be working correctly, for example the flame is orange rather than blue, you should get in touch with a Gas Safe engineer even if your annual service is not yet due.
Keep heating bills down
An annual service will ensure all the components are in the best possible condition and deliver a higher level of efficiency for longer. As a boiler ages it can become less efficient which means it needs to use more fuel to heat your home which will cost you more money.
Prevent breakdowns
Minor faults in boilers can develop into a major breakdown if not dealt with as early as possible. A regular annual service means the engineer can identify a potential fault before it has time to cause damage leading to a hefty repair bill.
Warranty
Your Intergas boiler has a standard 12 month warranty which can be extended up to 2 – 10 years. This means any faults that develop in that time will be repaired free of charge. However, this warranty is only valid as long as you get the boiler serviced by a Gas Safe engineer every year.
Intergas Intelligent Servicing
The Intergas Eco RF, Xtreme and Xclusive ranges can now be embedded with RF technology that enables two-way communication between the boiler and installer, allowing the installer to track real-time performance and even prevent an issue from developing, all from their smart device. In addition, any Intergas boiler fitted with the technology only needs to be serviced after 1,700 hours of operation rather than annually.
This is an optional feature so if you can stick with an annual service if you’d prefer. However, landlords are legally required to arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to service the boiler annually so the technology doesn’t apply to the private rented sector.
Intergas boiler service costs
A professional boiler service is likely to cost between £60 – £120, but this vary depending on where you are in the country, which boiler model you have, how old it is and which engineer you hire to do the work.
You may be able to save money on the cost of a boiler service by getting it done during the summer as engineers tend to be less busy during this time and may be more competitive in their prices. This also means any faults can be dealt with before winter arrives which should give you peace of mind you won't be without the boiler when you need it most. If the engineer does find any faults you will need to pay for the repair on top of the service charge.
NEVER try to carry out a boiler service yourself. Always find a Gas Safe registered boiler engineer.
Boiler service plans
It is possible to pay for your boiler service plan over a year which involves smaller monthly payments. If you think you'll struggle to meet the one-off cost of a boiler service you may want to consider a boiler service plan.
However, these plans usually cost over £100 per year once you've added up all the payments so often sticking to the one-off boiler service payment makes more financial sense.
Boiler cover which includes servicing can be suitable options for owners of boilers which are 8 or more years old and no longer under a manufacturer's warranty. These provide many people with peace of mind that they are protected should the boiler break down and they won't have unexpected repair costs.
Boiler maintenance
There are a few things you can do yourself (in addition to the annual service) to keep the boiler working as effectively and efficiently as possible for as long as possible.
Check the pilot light
The pilot light flame should be blue, if it's orange or yellow then the boiler isn't burning all of the fuel and could cause serious harm to anyone in the building as their could be a carbon monoxide leak.
Insulate your pipes
During the winter, pipes can freeze and cause blockages which can then lead to a rise in boiler pressure, leaking or even cause the boiler to completely breakdown. To combat this, you can insulate the pipes using lagging such as mineral or glass wool, polyethylene or foam.
Monitor the Pressure
To make sure that the boiler pressure is where it should be, regularly check the pressure gauge. Boiler pressure that is too low may mean that the boiler might not be able to ignite and if it's too high it could cause damage to the system. If you find that your boiler's pressure isn't between 1-2 then you can adjust this by following the instructions in your manufacturer's manual.
Insulate your home
Your boiler can be running to its maximum efficiency but you won't feel the benefit unless you have a well insulated home. If heat is escaping through window seals, letterboxes, chimneys or other draughts your boiler is having to work harder to keep you warm.
Annual service
While there are lots of things you can do to help your boiler and central heating system run efficiently, an annual service is essential.
You can get a free quote from a local Gas Safe registered engineer right here on Boiler Guide. Let us know that you boiler needs a service and we’ll take a care of the rest. To do that, head to our short online form. Once you’re done, you’ll soon hear from a local heating engineer.
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