An annual service of your oil boiler will help keep it working as efficiently as possible, save you money on your winter heating bills and help prevent unexpected costly repairs.
The service will also check that the boiler is working properly, minimising the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. This is caused when the oil in your boiler isn't burnt properly. The signs of carbon monoxide poisoning are hard to spot and are easily confused with tiredness or a cold.
Signs your boiler needs servicing
An oil boiler should produce very few emissions. Signs that it may need servicing include:
- Black smoke or a build-up of soot – this prevents the boiler from burning oil efficiently
- A yellow or brown staining around or on the boiler
- A pilot light that frequently blows out
- Increased condensation inside windows
- A yellow rather than blue flame (apart from flueless fires)
What happens during a boiler service?
During an oil boiler service, the engineer will:
- Clean the burner/injector(s)
- Clean the pilot/injector
- Clean the flue-ways, including the draught diverter and heat exchanger
- Clean and adjust the ignition components
- Clean flame supervision components
- Clean, lubricate and adjust controls
- Check all disturbed connections
- Check all boiler seals and joints
- Check there are no obvious signs of damage to the wiring
- Re-set the burner operating pressure to that on the data label/plate
- Test open-flued boilers for spillage
- Re-check the flame supervision device operation
Important information regarding our DIY help and advice
We try to make the advice on our website (www.HomeServe.com) as useful and reliable as possible. However, the purpose of this advice section of the website is to provide homeowners and private landlords with general guidance and useful tips only. It doesn't necessarily deal with every important topic or cover every aspect of the topics with which it deals and might not be relevant or appropriate in all circumstances. It is not designed to provide professional advice or financial advice and should not be relied on as such. Click here to read the disclaimer in full.