Plumbers in Borehamwood

Should I bother serving my boiler or repairing a boiler?
Abbotts Maintenance Boiler servicing & repair is essential since the colder climate requires frequent use of boilers during the winter months and sometimes, even during the summers. Using a faulty boiler is not only dangerous, but can significantly contribute to increased utility bills.

A boiler that is not functioning to standards specified by the manufacturer can cause gas leaks that are dangerous for both the occupant as well as neighbours. There is also the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be prevented by regular servicing of your boiler.

Why does a boiler need repair or servicing?
As with any other appliance, regular use of a boiler will lead to decreased efficiency and deterioration over a period of time. This occurs for two main reasons: as the boiler is used, excessive soot, which is a by-product of the combustion process, can coat the inside components of the boiler leading to reduced efficiency, and the air-to-fuel ratio, which needs to be maintained for optimum performance, changes over a period of time due to component wear and tear. Boiler repairs & servicing is particularly important, since the boiler is being used daily almost throughout the year.

Abbotts Maintenance entails a service that will come to your home, clean the soot from your boiler and ensure that the air-to-fuel ratio is readjusted to optimise efficient running of your appliance. This will prolong the life of your boiler and will reduce the risk of expensive repairs in the long run.

Another critical reason to carry out proper maintenance on your boiler, is to prevent exposure to carbon monoxide, which, when inhaled over a period of time can lead to illness and even death. Incomplete combustion of fuels such as oil or gas in infrequently serviced boilers can lead to the production of carbon monoxide.

This gas is odourless and colourless and therefore hard to detect. Regular servicing can alert you to the presence of carbon monoxide and help keep you and your family safe.

Who will service my boiler and what qualifications should I check for?
At Abbotts Maintenance boiler repairs are carried out by a service engineer or technician who is specifically qualified to work on your particular type of boiler. All qualified service technicians should be Gas Safe Registered, all our engineers are. This is a certification that ensures that the engineer has been adequately trained to service your appliance from both a legal as well as a safety stand point.

Every Gas Safe registered engineer will have a Gas Safe identification card that will specify the company name and contact details, the engineers license number, whether he is qualified to work on domestic or commercial applications and his area of expertise – gas, LPG or oil boilers and other appliances.

There are several online services that allow you to check the credentials of the technician prior to permitting him to work on your boiler. Even though a registered technician might be more expensive, it is well worth the additional expense to ensure that the repair is carried out in a safe and professional manner, thereby preventing more problems in the future.

When and how often should I get my boiler serviced?
Abbotts Maintenance recommend servicing your boiler annually to ensure that it is running smoothly and to carry out any repairs that might be required in a timely manner.

By doing this potential problems can be detected early and repaired before they lead to bigger problems. It is recommended that regular servicing be carried out in the summer months, when boiler engineers are readily available so that the boiler is functioning well during the cold winter months when you will need to use it regularly.

Make sure you ask your technician for any safety tips; most technicians will also give you advice on how to maintain your boiler for superior performance and longevity.

What will the boiler engineer do when he arrives for the service?
The first task a technician will perform is a visual check to ensure that the running, fixing and positioning of the boiler complies with laws relating to installation, building codes, electrical, water and gas regulations laid out in the current legislation.

Next, the technician will fire up the unit to ensure that it is running properly and check for any faults before he opens the casing. Once the casing is opened, your service technician will check all the components of the boiler including the electrical parts, pipes, joints and interior surfaces for damage. He will also clean the inside surfaces of the boiler and readjust the air-to-fuel ratio to optimum values. If there are any faults, he will inform you of additional costs to repair or replace any parts.

Before replacing the boiler casing, he will carry out tests to ensure that there are no gas leaks. The entire process should take between 30-60 minutes, at the end of which you should receive a service report stating what checks and servicing the technician has performed.