Vokèra Boiler Service & Maintenance
A well maintained Vokèra boiler could keep your home warm for as long as 10-15 years.
A large part of ensuring your boiler gets the care it needs is arranging an annual service where a Gas Safe engineer will ensure the unit is operating safely and efficiently.
What is a boiler service?
A service of a boiler involves a fully-qualified heating engineer testing the boiler to ensure that it's operating safely and efficiently. They'll also look the boiler over inside and out for signs of any issues or faults. A boiler should undergo a service every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas boilers or an OFTEC engineer for oil boilers.
All Vokèra boilers are powered by gas meaning that you need to hire a Gas Safe engineer for the service. To check if an engineer is Gas Safe registered, you can find out online via the Gas Safe website but you should also ask to see their Gas Safe ID card when they arrive at your home too.
From start to finish, a boiler service will last 30 minutes, give or take, but this will vary depending on the model of boiler and whether the engineer comes across any issues.
Boiler service checklist
Once you're happy for the engineer to begin the boiler service, they'll carry out a range of tests and inspections on the unit:
- To start, they will visually inspect the boiler to ensure that the pilot light is burning blue and check for any signs of corrosion or leaking.
- When happy to move on, the engineer will remove the outer casing to inspect and clean part on the inside such as the heat exchanger.
- Next, it's a case of making sure that the flue terminals aren't being obstructed and that the water and gas pipes are all intact.
- Check that the gas pressure and flow settings are all at the necessary levels.
- Towards the end of the service, the engineer will fire up the boiler to see how it performs in operation. This will help to bring any faults with the components or temperature controls to their attention.
Once the engineer has finished the service, you'll be handed a boiler service report which highlights all of the tests and checks they performed. If you're unsure about anything from the service, don't hesitate to ask any questions at this point.
Why is it important to service your Vokèra boiler?
Safety
A carbon monoxide leak is the main threat to your home from a boiler, this odourless and colourless gas could prove lethal and even lead to death. You should have a carbon monoxide alarm installed near the boiler to detect a leak but a boiler service could help to spot the potential for a leak before it happens.
Keep heating bills low
The higher the efficiency of a boiler, the less fuel they'll waste, helping to keep your heating bills nice and low. However, over time boilers slowly lose their efficiency which can lead to your heating bills going up. By arranging a boiler service, the engineer will make sure that boiler components are working to the best of their ability – keeping your heating bills lower for longer.
Prevent breakdowns
Rather than staring in the face of a hefty repair bill further down the line, an engineer will be able to spot a fault before it has chance to develop.
Warranty
The standard warranty of a Vokèra boiler is 12 months but depending on the model you have installed, the length could range anywhere between a year right yup to 7. Keeping your Vokera warranty valid, the boiler requires a service once every year for the full length of the warranty.
How much does a Vokèra boiler service cost?
A typical boiler service will end up costing between £60 and £120 but there are many things that can have an impact on this price:
- Your location
- Type of boiler being serviced
- When the boiler was installed
- The engineer performing the boiler service
If you're looking to save as much money as possible on the boiler service, we recommend booking it during the summer when heating engineers are more likely to have less work on. Having a boiler service at this time of year also brings the benefit of giving you the peace of mind that your boiler is ready for the cold winter months.
You should NEVER service a boiler yourself – instead, contact a Gas Safe registered boiler engineer.
Boiler service plans
If your boiler is due an annual service but you don't want to make a one-off payment then it might be worth considering a boiler service plan, or boiler cover. Taking out one of these plans means that your boiler will be serviced and is also covered against any repairs for a 12 month period, in exchange for 12 monthly payments.
However, by the end of the 12 month period it's likely that you will have paid out over £100 and you could arrange a boiler service for much less so it probably makes more financial sense to pay the one-off fee. Should your boiler be 8 years old or more and no longer warranty, a boiler service plan is well worth considering for that extra peace of mind.
In the unlikely event that your Vokèra boiler breaks down, they can offer a one-off repair followed by complete cover with their Repair & Care Maintenance Plans.
Boiler maintenance
While an annual boiler service is a vital part of maintaining the safety and efficiency of the boiler in your home, there are several checks you can make yourself:
Insulate your pipes
As the temperature drops during the winter, pipes become susceptible to freezing, causing blockages which could then lead to the increased pressure, a leak or a full on boiler breakdown. With the right insulation, the pipes will be better protected from the cold weather.
Monitor the pressure
Checking the boiler pressure is really important and doesn't even take much time. Take a look at the built-in pressure gauge on your boiler and if the needle is below 1 the pressure is too low, if it's above 2, then it's too high. You don't need an engineer to adjust the boiler pressure, you can do it yourself using the manual that came with your boiler.
Insulate your home as much as possible
A poorly insulated home not only makes your home harder to heat up but will also increase your energy bills.
Annual servicing
So, there's plenty you can do to make sure that your boiler is operating safely and to ensure that your boiler is working efficiently but all of this is no replacement for an annual boiler service.
Get the best deal on your next Vokèra boiler service by completing our online form, and get your free quote from a trusted engineer in your area.
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