How Much Is a Boiler Service? [UK]

Want to know how much boiler service costs in the UK?

The average boiler service price is between £55 – £100 in 2024.

In this guide, we cover what the cost to service boilers of different types, including gas, electric, oil, and LPG.

This makes it simple and easy for you to get a ball-park idea of how much boiler servicing cost so that you can compare boiler service prices you get quoted.

We also discuss additional costs, how long this job takes, and what can affect the cost of a boiler service!

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How Much Does a Boiler Service Cost?

Let's get straight to it:

How much should a boiler service cost you in 2024?

A boiler service will usually take no longer than two hours, and the average boiler service costs somewhere in the region of £55 – £100.

What impacts how much a boiler servicing costs?

The cost of a boiler service can vary depending on whether you hire a local contractor or a large national company to carry out the boiler service for you.

Where you're located in the UK will also make a difference, with those in London and the surrounding areas paying more for all trade-related services.

The annual boiler service price you're quoted can also vary depending on the type of boiler that you have in your home.

However, the variation isn't significant:

The average combi boiler service cost is between £55 – £70, the cost to service a boiler that's electric is around £60 – £100, and an oil boiler service cost is about £70 – £90.

Gas-powered combi boilers are the most popular type of boiler in the UK. These should be serviced every year by a Gas Safe Registered engineer to ensure that they're operating at peak efficiency. An annual service is also usually a condition to ensure that the boiler's warranty is not voided.

But wait: Why do you even need a boiler service?

We cover this more later in the guide, but regular servicing on your boiler ensures that it's operating at its peak performance. It'll also identify any signs of wear and tear on the seals and gaskets.

As a part of a boiler service, the engineer will also check that some other parts of your heating system, such as the chimney flue, are working correctly.

Annual Boiler Service Price

The below table indicates the different annual boiler service costs:

The main component of the total cost to service a boiler is the labour rate charged by the heating engineer to inspect and test the boiler unit.

Materials required for any type of boiler service cost between £4 – £6. This is included in the prices shown in the table above.

The cost of a gas safety certificate is between £65 – £85. Like electric safety certificates, this is something that's a legal requirement for landlords in the UK to get (if the property has a mains gas connection). It won't usually take more than 2 hours to complete.

Additional Boiler Service Costs

When you get your boiler serviced, there are a number of additional jobs that may need to be carried out as well.

Below is a list of additional costs that may arise during a boiler service job:

• Bleeding Radiator Cost — £80 – £150
• New Radiator Cost — £150 – £250
• Boiler Installation Cost — £1,500 – £2,500
• Thermostat Installation Price — £150 — £280
• Power Flush Cost — £350 - £650
• Pipework Cost (Incl. Fitting) — £800 - £1,000

How Much Do Heating Engineers Charge?

Let's take a look at the labour cost to service a boiler in the UK and how long you can expect it to take.

So, how much can you expect to pay for labour?

The labour cost of having a boiler serviced usually costs on average between £50 – £85.

What can affect the labour costs?

The cost for labour can vary depending on a number of factors, including where your property is located, the type of boiler you have, whether you hire a local contractor or a national company, and whether any additional work needs to take place.

Let's talk location...

Those located in the London area can expect to pay around £10 – £20 more on average for the cost of labour on a boiler service than those located in the North of the UK.

The type of boiler you have can affect the cost of labour slightly.

What is the cheapest boiler to service?

The cheapest boiler service is one on a common gas boiler where the average cost of labour is around £50 – £65.

What about other types of boilers?

Labour on less common boiler types such as an LPG or oil boiler usually falls somewhere between £60 – £85.

What is the difference in price between a local contractor and a large national company?

If you hire a local gas-registered contractor to carry out the work, you can expect to pay a lot less for the labour of the job than if you were to hire a contractor from a large national company to carry out the work.

You can also expect the labour costs to increase if the contractor finds any additional work that needs to take place during the boiler service. This will result in the job taking much longer and, therefore, the labour costs will increase.

What Impacts the Cost of a Boiler Service?

There are a number of things that can affect the overall cost of a boiler service.

Some of these factors include your location in the UK, who you choose to hire to carry out the work, the type of boiler that you have, and whether any additional work needs to take place in order to get your boiler working at its best.

Location in the UK

The location of your property can affect the cost of your boiler service.

Those located in the London area can expect to pay around £10 – £20 more on average for the cost of labour on a boiler service than those located in the North of the UK.

Type of Contractor

The type of contractor you choose to carry out the boiler service can affect the cost of the job.

If you hire a local gas registered contractor to carry out the work rather than hiring someone from a large national company to carry out the work, you may find that you can save quite a bit of money in the overall costs.

Type of Boiler

The type of boiler that you have can slightly affect the overall cost of your boiler service.

The cheapest boiler service is one on a common gas boiler where the average cost of labour is around £50 – £65.

Labour on less common boiler types such as an LPG or oil boiler usually falls somewhere between £60 – £85.

Additional Work

If the contractor finds any additional work that needs doing, such as a power flush or a radiator bleed, then you can expect the cost of the overall job to be a lot more.

This will result in the job taking much longer and, therefore, the labour costs will increase.

What's Involved in a Boiler Service?

Below is a list of some of the things that will take place during a boiler service:

Visual Inspection

The engineer will carry out a visual inspection of the boiler to ensure it appears to be in full working order.

Your boiler will be checked according to the current standards and requirements to look out for any leaks or corrosion. They will also do a visual check of the flame in your boiler.

Boiler Casing Removal

The engineer will then remove the boiler casing and check all of the internal components to ensure that everything is working correctly. They will also then clean the inside of the boiler.

They will also then check the burner, spark probe, main injector, and heat exchanger.

Checking the Flue

The engineer will then also check to ensure that there are no obstructions inside the flue terminals and that the flue is fitted correctly and safely.

Gas Pressure Check

The engineer will then ensure that your boiler is working at the appropriate and correct pressure.

Boiler Fire Up Check

The engineer will then fire up your boiler to check for any faults while the boiler is in operation.

Can I Complete a Boiler Service Myself?

Thinking of saving on the boiler inspection cost by doing it yourself?

A boiler service can NOT be completed as a DIY job. A boiler service can only be performed by someone who is Gas Safe Registered.

When you hire someone to carry out your boiler service, be sure to ask them for their Gas Safe Registration Card and look out for the yellow triangular symbol.

How Much Do Different Types of Boiler Cost to Service?

There are a number of different boiler services, depending on the type of boiler that you have. Below is a list of the different types of boiler service:

Gas Boiler Service Cost

Gas boilers are the most popular type of boiler in the UK. These units tend to be the go-to choice for properties which have a mains gas connection, as it's a more cost-effective way to heat a home — as gas prices per kWh are significantly lower than electricity prices per kWh.

A gas boiler service involves visually inspecting the boiler for any visual faults and internally inspecting the boiler’s components for any signs that it isn’t functioning correctly.

So, how much is a gas boiler service going to cost you?

The average gas boiler service price is between £55 – £70.

Electric Boiler Service Cost

Like oil and gas boilers, electric boilers should have an annual service to ensure they're operating safely and efficiently.

This is also a regular opportunity for a professional to identify any small issues before they develop into more serious problems that are expensive to deal with.

For electric boilers, a professional will inspect and test internal components — like electrical connections, the heating element, and the thermostat. Amongst other things, they'll also check that the built-in safety features are working correctly and check for other common problems (e.g., limescale or water pressure problems).

The average electric boiler service price is between £60 – £100.

Oil Boiler Service Cost

An oil boiler service involves cleaning the boiler and flue, cleaning the oil burner and replacing the nozzle, checking and replacing the oil filter, inspecting the fuel tank, and performing a full combustion test.

An oil boiler service costs on average around £70 – £90.

Building Regulations for a Boiler Service

You won’t need any form of building regulations approval in order to carry out a boiler service. However, if your system needs to be replaced, you will need building regulation approval.

This is due to the safety issues that may be involved with installing a new boiler or central heating system

Boilers must have a minimum efficiency of 86% for gas and 85% for oil to be compliant with building regulations.

Does My Boiler Need Servicing?

Your boiler needs to be properly maintained in order to keep it working properly and efficiently. This includes having an annual boiler service.

Regular servicing of your boiler keeps it working to its optimum level. If your boiler is showing any signs that it may not be working properly, then it's always a good idea to have a boiler service to ensure that everything is in good working order and address any problems.

As well as getting your boiler serviced when it starts showing signs of problems, you should also ensure to have your boiler serviced every 12 months.

If it has been longer than 12 months since your last boiler service, you should definitely get one as soon as possible to ensure your boiler continues to work properly.

How Often Should You Service Your Boiler?

You should check with your manufacturer to see the service period of your particular boiler model.

As a general rule of thumb, a boiler should be serviced 12 months after it has been installed, and it should then be serviced every 12 months thereafter.

Your boiler needs to be serviced regularly to ensure that no new problems have developed, such as gas leaks.

Benefits of a Boiler Service

There are a number of different benefits of having your boiler serviced. Below is a list of the main benefits of keeping on top of your boiler services:

Protect You and Your Family

If your boiler becomes faulty, it can be extremely dangerous. Getting your boiler serviced annually can help to safeguard it against potential gas leaks, carbon monoxide poisoning, explosions, or fires.

Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that can leak without anyone knowing. If you have your boiler checked annually, it will be checked for any possible leaks that could be deadly.

Save on Boiler Repair Costs

Having your boiler serviced annually can improve the reliability of your heating system and can increase the overall lifespan of your boiler.

Having your boiler serviced regularly will help you pick up on any issues that may arise, and you can, therefore, get them fixed before they become a huge problem. This means that you can potentially save money on boiler repair costs.

Reduce Your Energy Bills

An annual boiler service will help to ensure that your boiler is working at the most efficient level it possibly can. This can also help to prevent heating fuel waste. With an annual boiler service, you will not only save money on your energy bills, but you will also reduce your carbon footprint.

Preserve the Guarantee of Your Boiler

If you don’t keep up with having an annual boiler service, you may invalidate your boiler guarantee. Most boiler manufacturers will state that your new boiler must be serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Keeps You Warm

It is best to have your annual boiler service before winter to ensure that it is working perfectly for the colder months.

There is nothing worse than turning on your heating in the winter and finding that there is a fault. Having your boiler serviced can ensure that your heating works perfectly and efficiently.

How Much Does Removing a Boiler Cost?

If you are having problems with your boiler or if you would like to change your boiler type for a different type, then it may be relevant to remove your old boiler so that you can have a new one put in.

The average cost of a new boiler installation is about £2,500. This is a significant investment, but it can make more sense if your existing boiler is outside of warranty and requires costly repairs.

Before you remove your boiler, you would need to cap off the gas and drain the boiler and lines. You can disconnect the boiler fittings easily by unscrewing them and cutting any connections that can’t be unscrewed on the side away from the boiler.

It is entirely possible for you to remove your boiler yourself quite easily. However, it’s always recommended that you hire a professional to carry out any work when it comes to your heating system.

To have your boiler removed by a professional, this would cost on average around £50 – £250 depending on the type of boiler and the complexity of the job. It shouldn’t take longer than a few hours to complete a boiler removal.

Checklist: Hiring Someone to Service a Boiler

There are a number of factors that you should consider when choosing someone to carry out a boiler service for you. Below is a list of some of the main things that you should think about when looking for the right contractor for the job:

• Does the engineer offer any guarantees with their work?
• How much is the work to complete? – Ask for a breakdown of costs so you can ensure you are paying a good price for each element of the job.
• Does the engineer have experience of working on your particular type of boiler?
• How many years’ worth of experience does the engineer have in servicing boilers?
• Is the engineer on the Gas Safety Register?
• Are they an APHC or CIPHE member?

FAQs

Sources

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/boilers-and-heating/building-regulations
https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/find-an-engineer-or-check-the-register/
https://aphc.co.uk/
https://www.ciphe.org.uk/
https://www.viessmann.co.uk/heating-advice/when-does-a-boiler-need-its-first-service
https://www.viessmann.co.uk/en/heating-advice/boilers/how-long-does-boiler-service-take.html
https://owengibbandsons.co.uk/blog/post/what-happens-during-a-boiler-service-a-step-by-step-guide