✔ A standard boiler service tends to cost between £70 and £100
✔ An engineer may charge you for repairs during a boiler service
✔ Get quotes for a new boiler from qualified installers, by filling in the form above
A broken boiler is never fun — you’re stuck with icy showers, inactive radiators, and a house that feels like the North Pole. You might even have to start researching new boiler costs.
To make sure you don’t end up in this situation, it’s a good idea to have your boiler regularly serviced.
That’s the same whatever type of boiler you have, whether that’s a combi, system, or conventional boiler.
We recommend you have your boiler serviced at least once a year to make sure everything is working properly.
You should do this even if your boiler seems to be working fine, because they’re complicated pieces of kit that could have hidden issues.
Getting regular checks will highlight any problems before they become dangerous, or lead to expensive repairs.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about boiler services, including typical costs, top providers, and what you need to look out for.
You could also get started on finding a new boiler by filling in this form. All you need to do is enter a few details and our trusted installers will get in touch with bespoke quotes for you to compare.
How much does a boiler service cost?
A boiler service will cost anywhere between £70 and £100, but the cost can go up to £400 or so if you need repairs, or if the type of boiler is more difficult to service — a biomass boiler for example.
The cost of a boiler service will depend on who carries out the service, how much you get checked, and what, if any, repairs need to be made.
You’ll pay for your boiler service in one of two ways — either by paying a one-off fee, or by taking out boiler cover that includes servicing.
One-off boiler service costs
The average cost of a single boiler service is £80, with large national firms tending to charge 25 to 50% more than local businesses.
Gas boiler service costs
Expect to pay between £70 and 100 to service your gas boiler. Getting a gas boiler service is usually cheaper than an oil boiler, because burning gas produces less ash and soot than burning oil.
Here’s what some of the largest boiler companies charge for a gas boiler service:
Prices sourced from company websites.
Oil boiler service costs
The average cost of servicing an oil boiler is between £80 and £140. It’s more expensive to service than a gas boiler because of the increased residue that builds up from burning oil.
How much you pay will depend on where you live — servicing an oil boiler in southeast England will cost more because of the higher cost of living, for example.
Oil boilers should be serviced annually — like gas boilers — and you’ll find that most, if not all oil boiler warranties have this as a requirement.
Electric combi boiler service costs
Servicing an electric combi boiler costs around £62–£98, which is slightly cheaper than servicing a gas boiler because there are less things that can go wrong.
The majority of warranties for electric combi boilers will still make annual services a necessity though.
Biomass boiler service costs
A biomass boiler service is by far the most expensive of the different boiler types, costing £180–£450 each time.
It costs more because biomass boilers have a lot of moving parts that are all essential to keeping it running optimally. There’s the hopper, for example, which automatically feeds biomass pellets into the boiler.
Biomass boilers accumulate a lot of residue from burning material too, similar to oil boilers.
Boiler cover costs
Getting boiler cover will protect you should your boiler break — most boiler cover includes free boiler servicing too. You’ll need to pay for your boiler cover in monthly instalments, which will typically cost you between £100 and £200 per year.
The table below shows you how much different companies charge for boiler cover, including boiler servicing:
Prices sourced from company websites.
You can also typically add boiler cover — including servicing — to your home insurance policy. This will normally be called ‘home emergency cover’ or something similar.
Adding boiler cover to your home insurance is usually cheaper than getting it on its own. You should expect to pay between £4 and £6 per month to do this, so it’s definitely worth considering.
Make sure you check to see whether the insurance covers your specific boiler, because some companies won’t insure unvented systems.
One-off boiler service or boiler cover with servicing?
Boiler cover isn’t that cheap, so many homeowners choose to just pay for a one-off boiler service each year.
Modern boilers from big-name brands are much more reliable these days too, making it less necessary to pay for comprehensive cover that includes services.
It might still be worth it just for peace of mind, or if you have a boiler that’s over eight years old. That’s because it’s more likely issues are waiting to appear, so you’ll get your money’s worth with proper boiler cover.
You should be aware that most boiler covers state you cannot claim on issues that have happened within 14 days of taking out a policy.
If you’re looking to get a new machine, our guide on the best boilers is a great place to start. Or if you’re wondering what you might spend, we’ve covered how much a new boiler might cost too.
What factors affect boiler service costs?
Location
Living in a more expensive area, such as London, will generally mean you pay more for your boiler service. You might also find your service costs more if you live in a particularly rural area that’s hard to get to.
Boiler type
As a rule of thumb, electric boilers are cheapest to have serviced, gas boilers sit in the middle, and oil and biomass boilers are the most expensive.
Length of time from last service
Waiting a long time to get a service means there’s a higher chance your boiler has underlying issues. It’s best to get your boiler serviced at least once a year because of this reason.
Your boiler’s age also plays a part in how much your service will cost, for the same reason that the older it is, the higher the chance something will go wrong.
How to reduce your service costs
Get an annual service plan
Most of the major boiler manufacturers offer monthly boiler service plans that work out cheaper overall than paying for a one-off service.
If you have a boiler that’s 10 years old or more, then an annual service plan is a wise move because your machine’s more likely to run into problems.
Contact local tradespeople
National firms charge 25–50% more than local businesses, so it’s always worth seeing what tradespeople in your area charge for a boiler service.
Don’t forget to check they’re registered as Gas Safe, which you check on the Gas Safe Register.
Check your warranty
Some newly installed boilers include a free service in the warranty — get in touch with the manufacturer if it’s not explicitly mentioned in your boiler cover. Most warranties last one year and can be extended for a small fee.
You could also further reduce the cost if your boiler is included in your home insurance policy. If so, contact your insurance provider and they’ll arrange for an engineer to service your boiler.
Get a new boiler
Shelling out on a new boiler won’t save you money in the short term, but if your boiler is more than 10 years old, it could develop issues that can cost a lot of money to fix.
Boilers get less efficient as they age too, meaning you’ll spend more on fuel to warm your home than you would with a new boiler.
Keep an eye on the warning signs that your boiler needs to be replaced, so you’re not left without heating when you need it most.
How much do boiler repairs cost?
Expect to pay anywhere between £90 and £400 to repair your boiler, including labour, depending on what needs fixing.
Any faults found during your boiler service that need to be repaired will add to the total cost. Your boiler cover will typically include this, which means getting cover is a good idea if your boiler is starting to age.
The table below gives you a breakdown of the cost of repairing some of the most common boiler faults. These prices are only intended as a guide — exactly how much you’ll pay will depend on factors such as the age and model of your boiler, as well as who carries out the repair and when.
Prices sourced from www.boilerprices.co.uk, January 2023
Is it worth having your boiler serviced?
Yes, servicing your boiler at least once a year will make sure your boiler remains in working order.
If you don’t, you could end up paying a lot more than you’d save by avoiding boiler services. You might even have to get a new boiler sooner than you normally would — a regularly serviced boiler should last 15 years.
What should an annual boiler service include?
When your boiler is serviced each year, an engineer will visit your home and perform a series of checks on your system, which should take about 30 minutes to complete, and will include the following steps:
- They’ll give your boiler a visual inspection, looking for any signs of corrosion or leaks.
- They’ll remove the casing of the boiler and check all of its parts and controls are working properly. The engineer will then clean the inside of your boiler.
- They’ll check your boiler’s flue (the duct that removes smoke and waste gases your boiler generates) to make sure there’s nothing obstructing it and that it’s properly secured to your boiler.
- They’ll fire your boiler up and have a look at its pressure to ensure it’s correct.
Once they’ve completed all their checks, the engineer will give you a checklist of the work they’ve done and whether any faults have been found.
If there’s anything about the service that you want explained, don’t be afraid to ask the engineer — they should be more than happy to have a chat.
Who should service your boiler?
A boiler should only ever be serviced by a professional — never attempt to do the job yourself. Depending on what type of boiler you have, you’ll need to use an engineer with the appropriate qualifications.
If you have a gas boiler: you must use a Gas Safe registered engineer.
If you have an oil boiler: you should have your boiler serviced by an OFTEC registered engineer.
If you have a coal or wood-fired boiler: you should always use a HETAS registered engineer.
Summary
With all this information on boiler services, you’ll know if you haven’t had one within the last year to call out an engineer and get it done.
If instead you’d like to start finding a new boiler, why not fill in this simple form? Just enter a few details and our trusted installers will contact you with quotes for you to compare.
