gas boiler service - a scam?

Ishindar

I get a lot of fliers in the door every year telling me i need to get my gas boiler serviced yearly. Is this for real ? i dont get it and feel its a scam...

a couple of years after i moved into my new house I had problems with my boiler cutting out so i got out the manual and checked out the system. Its very very basic the problem i was having was the heat exchanger was burnt out and leaking because the gas flow was never setup by the messers who installed the system and the gas flow was too high causing the heat to be be too intense, hence burning out the heat exchanger.
I replaced the heat exchanger and setup the gas flow and not a problem since.
After having a good look at the gas boiler system and being an engineer myself, I dont see what needs to be serviced?

Mr Magnolia

AFAIK all the 'engineer' does is check the connections and vacuum out any dust in the burner, I'd love to know if there's any other work involved?

You can make your own assumptions.

I look after my own burner.

10-10-20

As long as manufacturers recommend yearly service, then the service-engineers will offer to meet the manufacturers specifications!

Dades

I had my gas boiler serviced last November.
In April the console that controls the timing broke and had to be replaced. Last month the fan stopped working and had to be replaced (€190).

My boiler is not that old - so I'd be dubious of the worth of a service.

vallo

About 8 years after my gas boiler was installed, I finally got around to having it serviced. About 1 month after the "servicing" it broke down.
Since then I've had the whole house replumbed and moved the repaired boiler to a new position. It is working fine and I have no intention of paying for a yearly service. I did install a CO detector though.

John Mason

i get my gas boiler serviced by Bord Gais once a year. Is this not necessary?

10-10-20

irishbird wrote: »

i get my gas boiler serviced by Bord Gais once a year. Is this not necessary?

It's what I would call 'good guidance'.

I only service mine when I fell there is something wrong with it - reactive maintenance, rather than proactive!

f1_jb

I have to agree there's a lot of people out there who just don't service boilers properly but with the new RGI requirements from next year that may well change as if you don't have the proper qualifications and licence you could be fined and inprisoned which is already the law in the UK.

The day is coming where you will have no choice but to get your boiler serviced as a requirement for your house insurance, it's already happening in the UK with rented property and will happen here soon I think. Local authorities already have to have all the boilers under their charge serviced every year now.

Ishindar

so as i suspected, it is a scam. thks for the opinions!
I also have a gas alarm installed in my house which gives me more peace of mind than getting my boiler serviced

kinaldo

irishbird wrote: »

i get my gas boiler serviced by Bord Gais once a year. Is this not necessary?

I've been told my boiler is badly in need of a service. Apparently the flame doesn't look right and it needs a good clean out. Guy quoted me about €200, was wondering how much Bord Gais charge for it though?

2 stroke

A gas boiler should have a safety check annualy. No point getting the local coyboy to do it.

sugark

kinaldo wrote: »

I've been told my boiler is badly in need of a service. Apparently the flame doesn't look right and it needs a good clean out. Guy quoted me about €200, was wondering how much Bord Gais charge for it though?

€99 for Bord Gais to service it, according to their website (€160 for specialist products such as combination or condensing boilers). Looks like this is a special offer for a limited period though.

Ishindar

2 stroke wrote: »

A gas boiler should have a safety check annualy. No point getting the local coyboy to do it.

what do u base this comment on?

John Mason

kinaldo wrote: »

I've been told my boiler is badly in need of a service. Apparently the flame doesn't look right and it needs a good clean out. Guy quoted me about €200, was wondering how much Bord Gais charge for it though?

i cant remember what mine costs as i have taken out insurance on it as well, i pay for it on my gas bill. They phone me every year to say that the service is due.

i am all confused now and i am wondering about keeping it up now but my gas boiler is in my bedroom, so i am concerned about carbon monoxide and stuff, i have an alarm as well.

i

JamesM

A gas boiler should certainly be serviced every year.
Most boilers are in the house and while gas combustion does not leave as much deposit as oil, you can get a lot of dust building up in the wrong places - this can lead to incorrect flame adjustment. Also safety checks need to be carried out. What if the flame goes out, but a solenoid valve fails to shut off the gas, a plastic bag blowing in the wind partly blocks the outlet, then leaves build up against it and slowly block things off. Lots of things that most people will not notice, but a trained service engineer will see.
No one is saying that you should get in a "Cowboy" to do a serious job like that.
Jim.

Ishindar

JamesM wrote: »

A gas boiler should certainly be serviced every year.
Most boilers are in the house and while gas combustion does not leave as much deposit as oil, you can get a lot of dust building up in the wrong places - this can lead to incorrect flame adjustment. Also safety checks need to be carried out. What if the flame goes out, but a solenoid valve fails to shut off the gas, a plastic bag blowing in the wind partly blocks the outlet, then leaves build up against it and slowly block things off. Lots of things that most people will not notice, but a trained service engineer will see.
No one is saying that you should get in a "Cowboy" to do a serious job like that.
Jim.

this makes sense, although its a very simple task.

Vmaxer

I got My Gas Boiler serviced this Year only because the Pressure Vessel and pressure release valve needed replacing, when I was talking to the Engineer He told Me He feels Guilty charging €90 for a service to a Gas Bollier as He charges the same for a service to a Oil Boiler and in comparison He said that He could Service a Gas Boiler in His Sunday Suit and there's nothing to it, where as Oil Boilers Ya Defo earn Your Money...

In fairness the Job on My boiler took over 2 Hours as the Pressure release valve He brought was faulty out of the box and He had to go off and get another, I could see $$$$$ as time went on into the afternoon, but the Guy only charged me the €90 plus parts even though it took up most His afternoon.

Looking at what had to be done as far as servicing goes looks easy to Me, a Can of WD40 for the fan and a quick Hoover over the burner and around the Heat Exchanger seem to be about all they do. I've watched the last Guy and the Guy sent by Bord Gais and they both done the same. The Bord Gais Guy was in and out in under 10 Min's and a handy €90.

I've got My boiler serviced twice in 9 Years and it runs fine, next time I might give it a go Myself..

2 stroke

Ishindar wrote: »

what do u base this comment on?

Risk of fire or exposion is enough reason for me. I try not to put other peoples lives at risk.
I repair practicaly everything else myself but would prefer to have an unserviced gas boiler than one that had been cowboyed. Its not just a matter of removing dust but an expierenced eye can spot potential problems.

whosedaddy?

Thought the same the other day (my backboiler hadn't been serviced in 2 years).

So while sitting comfy on the floor next to fireplace watching TV - I had this loud bang right next to me in the boiler and fuse trips , lights out, heat out...

Put fuse back in - pilot not firing...

Got the gas guy in and yes, one of the cables had brittle insulation (through the heat) and made contact with the boiler chassis.

I wonder - would a regular service check for that stuff too? Or did he only find this cause he went looking for it? What ya think?

Spocker

Ishindar wrote: »

I replaced the heat exchanger and setup the gas flow and not a problem since.
After having a good look at the gas boiler system and being an engineer myself, I dont see what needs to be serviced?

Not everyone's an engineer or up to doing a service job themselves.

I paid Vokera to do my last one €90 for the peace of mind and at least they know what they are doing if something needs to be replaced.