Boiler Service - Herts Boilers
To make an enquiry or book a boiler service
We offer boiler services in St Albans, Harpenden, Radlett, Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and surrounding west Hertfordshire areas.
If you need a boiler repair, please call us to make a repair appointment. We don't charge for a boiler repair callout (assuming it is a first visit, and it is purely for diagnosis). We also treat boiler repair jobs as a matter of emergency, i.e., we will turn up quickly. A boiler service might not get your boiler repaired.
Standard efficiency boilers:
For standard efficiency boilers (SE and non condensing boilers) a service is pretty straightforward. We charge £70 all inclusive for a service.
These types of boilers were installed before 2005. Their efficiency rates are between 55% and 80%. As they are simple and reliable, a significant amount of them are still in operation. To be honest new modern boilers don't last that long!
We don't normally need to replace any seals on SE boilers during a service, and their combustion chambers are ready accessible.
Boiler service checking List - standard efficiency type
Back boilers:
A back boiler service will also involve in servicing its front fire, thus the combined price is £120.
Unlike some of our fellow gas engineers, we really love back boilers! They are simple and long lasting - as long as they get checked and serviced on a regular basis. They also service for much longer than modern new boilers, which tend to have a life span of about 10 to 15 years.
Back boilers do need serviced on a regular basis due to the nature of their operation. They are required to be clean off dust for a safe and efficient combustion operation, and flue spigot should also be checked along with chimney each time.
Floor standing storage boilers:
A boiler service for floor standing storage boilers the price is £120.
- Powermax (Range Powermax)
- Potterton Powermax HE
- Potterton Promax HE Store
- Worcester Highflow
- Glow worm Ultrapower
- Viessmann Vitodens 222-F
- Ideal istor
Some heat only floor standing boilers, eg Worcester Greenstar FS, Ideal Mexico HE and SE models, Potterton Kingfisher and FSB are not storage types, hence their service price is still £70 + VAT.
Modern high efficiency boilers:
Regarding modern high efficiency boilers (this type of boilers has pre-mix burners, and has mainly been installed from 2005) there are two types of boiler servicing.
Defined Scope: This should be done on an annual basis. It is generally a safety check, and also including some "top ups" and cleaning of hydraulic parts. The price is £70 (£84 inc. VAT). It comprises a limited procedure, focusing on a visual inspection, flue gas analysis, and the mandatory safety checks laid down in the Gas Safety Regulations (Reg 26.9).
A defined scope service will not include in-depth cleaning of the combustion chamber (main heat exchanger and burner) which is included in a full scope service.
Checking List - Defined Scope
Full Scope: This is a full strip-down service for modern condensing boilers. It is carried out according to the manufacturer requirements every couple of years, or for knowing evidence that a boiler's operation has been deteriorated. On a full strip-down service, we clean the pre-mixed burner, combustion chamber and main heat exchanger. This will normally require more labour and materials such as burner seals etc. Thus the price for this level of boiler service is subject to the boiler model, and is typically £120 (£144 inc. VAT, excluding seals or parts etc).
Checking List - Full Scope
The full scope service fee for a Worcester Greenstar i junior boiler, the most popular boiler installed, is about £135 all inclusive. On the other hand as an extreme example, a good full-scope service for a Range Powermax boiler costs a couple of hundred pounds!
Top tips to provide a good service
Boiler servicing checklist from Which?
FAQs about Boiler Service
What is the main difference between a "defined scope" and "full scope" service on a modern condensing boiler?
The only difference is the work on the combustion chamber. A full scope service entails opening and cleaning the burner, the combustion chamber and the main heat exchanger. The combustion door seal might also require replacement.
A hydraulic service is required on an annual basis which involves in the expansion vessel, auto air vent and pressure relief valve etc. A combustion chamber cleaning is only necessary once in a few years.
I have a boiler problem, can I book you for a boiler service to get this fault fixed?
Normally not, as you need book for a boiler repair call out. If you have a minor boiler problem, please do mention it with us while we service your boiler, so we can look into it particularly.
The common problems which a boiler service can fix:
- Low system pressure (filling loop)
- High system pressure (over filled)
- Frequently in need of topping up (expansion vessel, PRV and AAV)
- Some ignition problems (electrodes or condensate trap)
The most common problems which a boiler service can’t fix:
- Hot water temperature is temperamental (blockage at hot water heat exchanger)
- Can’t get both heating and hot water (diverter valve)
- Have hot water but no heating (RF room stat, or zone valve)
- Can't get hot water unless heating is on (diverter valve)
- Intermittent noises
What should and shouldn't a boiler service include?
As you generally request a boiler service when your boiler is still working, you might not notice a difference before and after a boiler service, and not know what a boiler service should and should not include. The rule is very simple - boiler engineers should carry out boiler service procedures according to manufacturers instructions. That is the min requirement, and we often go an extra mile.
What is the purpose of a boiler service?
To check and maintain the working status of a boiler. It is always good to have a regular boiler service, but a boiler service is not just a cleaning procedure using a hoover to get some dust out. It involves work on the following elements: (1) flue safety and integrity check; (2) the combustion chamber, which includes the heat exchanger, the main burner, the pilot injector, and fan cleaning; (3) check of burner pressure, gas rate etc, or combustion gas analysis for modern condensing boilers; (4) check and cleaning the condensate path and trap; and (5) the expansion vessel top up, plus PRV and AAV cleaning. The aim of a boiler service is to check and ensure the boiler is working as it should.
Why should I have my new boiler serviced?
In our opinion, modern boilers don't need a full strip down service in the first three years. So why do boiler manufacturers require annual boiler services to validate their warranties? If you read their service instructions, you will know any service within the first three years might just be a check not a boiler strip down to clean and re-adjust. For obvious reasons, boiler manufacturers will never say you don't need a boiler service.
Will a boiler service prolong the lifespan of my boiler?
On the one hand yes, on the other hand no. A boiler consists of many different parts. A typical boiler's life expectancy is about 15 years. Ideally all the parts on a boiler should work within first 15 years, then in the 16th year all the parts fail. In practice, this is impossible - one or more parts on a boiler will fail before it reaches its 15th year. Then you have a boiler breakdown. In most cases, these broken down parts, e.g. fans, pumps and PCBs, were not picked up and rectified in a previous service. If a boiler is beyond economical repair, then it has reached the end of its life.
Will a boiler service prevent a boiler breaking down in a near future?
It is always sad to get a call from a client reporting his or her boiler has broken down not long after we have serviced it. So, will a boiler service prevent a boiler breaking down in the future? Yes and no.
Boiler breakdowns are caused by failed parts which in turn are related to many factors - boiler quality, intensity of use, proper installation, regular maintenance and protection etc. A boiler service is mainly a safety check and for the maintenance of effective combustion performance, Plus some hydraulic cleaning. It is not involved in component replacements for precaution purpose. Theoretically, a boiler service has not much effect on preventing a boiler breakdown.
The most frequently replaced parts during boiler repairs are fans, PCBs (main circuit boards), pumps and diverter valves (if it is a combi boiler), but a boiler service will do very little for those which are unserviceable.
On the other hand, a boiler service will definitely result in positive outcomes for boiler operation, e.g., properly adjusted combustion, a clean flue way and condensation path, plus a re-pressured expansion vessel, non leaking AAV and PRV.
Do you add some inhibitor after a boiler service?
Normally no. As the water amount lost during a boiler service is only about 1% to 2% of the whole system.
Will you clean all magnetic filters while doing a boiler service?
A full striping down and cleaning of plastic magnetic filers is at our discretion. We will clean most of plastic filters during boiler services, but we might not to open a few if we can’t.
- There is an installation error so we can’t open a filter, eg, there isn’t an enough clearance at top of the filter.
- There is a risk to damage filter connection unions, if we apply excessive force to open a filter.
Will you offer a free recall if I have a boiler problem right after you serviced my boiler?
It is normally not. Being a competent boiler engineer, it is unlikely we have caused any harm to your boiler during a boiler service. But workmanship mistakes do happen and we might have put a boiler part back with minor leak after we serviced it, we will consider to come back free of charge as a recall on a weekday to have a check, providing it is within one month of your boiler service. The free recall is limited to one visit only. After one month we will still treat your new job as a matter of urgency, eg, we will come back asap, but it is likely a chargeable visit.
Filling loops, isolation valves and stop cocks are not serviceable, but we might use them during a boiler service or repair. If they develop minor leaking after our use, although the chance is rare but it does happen occasionally, as they are not new parts we fitted in and there was necessary to use them, we don’t give any warranty for them.
In a boiler service, we always clean the AAV - auto air vent. This is a little device inside a boiler to let air out and keep water in. After a good boiler service, a customer might experience a pressure loss shortly due to air escape. This pressure drop should be treated as normal if it is just once.
Boiler Servicing Enquiry / Booking
Please fill the form below for a boiler serving enquiry or booking. We will get back to you either by email or telephone in one working day.
All the boxes on the form need to be completed. The more we know about your boiler beforehand, the more we are prepared for your boiler service. For modern condensing boilers, if you book a full scope boiler service, we will need to get burner seals and suitable tools and relevant cleaners prepared.