What Happens in a Boiler Service?

The boiler is one of the most important items in a home, almost everywhere. Its utility is not limited to the harshly colder parts of the globe; rather, it is used in the relatively less cold areas as well. Boilers are required to produce hot water, which is then used for providing different services, such as heating the homes and supplying warm water for the washrooms and kitchens.

The hot water requirement persists for most of the year in extremely cold areas, whereas in less cold areas, it is mainly relevant during the winter season. Boilers are actually part of an integrated heating system installed in homes and commercial buildings. Sometimes a boiler is also used as a single unit for producing heat and hot water for limited use in small homes.

In any case, it needs to be in perfect working condition before the onset of the winter season. Like other appliances, boilers need regular maintenance and periodical servicing to ensure trouble-free performance during the peak season. While you may need servicing of your boiler once a year, maintenance work might have to be done frequently, as and when required.

Types of Boilers

Boilers can be classified into many categories based on various criteria, such as based on energy used to heat the water or based on the heating process:

Type of Boilers Based on Type of Energy

Boiler need fuel or energy for heating the water. Accordingly, the following boilers are frequently used in homes and commercial buildings.

1. Electrical boilers
2. Gas boilers
3. Oil boilers
4. Coal boilers

While coal and oil-operated boilers are not so common these days, gas boilers are most commonly used. Electric boilers are also used frequently due to their lesser wear and tear and lesser maintenance requirements.

Types of Boilers Based on Their Utility

Boilers are mainly of three different types when it comes to their utility. This is the main classification of boilers:

1. Combination Boilers

More commonly known as Combi Boilers. Combi boilers are mostly used in homes. They are combi because they provide heat and hot water through a stand-alone single unit. It is the most compact heating gadget. This type of boiler is mainly wall-mounted. They don’t have a separate hot water tank.

Working of these boilers is quite simple. The heat exchanger installed in the boiler triggers automatically when you use water. The heat exchanger gets heated instantly and starts heating the water. It needs to be connected with the energy/fuel source all the time for its continuous performance.

However, it has its limitations. It cannot supply hot water to multiple users at a time. So, it is useful for small households only, with a single washroom and less than ten radiators. Moreover, it cannot generate pressure. The flow of water is entirely dependent on the inflowing water pressure.

1. Heat-only Boilers

Heat-only boilers are also known as regular boilers or more commonly conventional boilers. Unlike combi boilers, they have a separate water tank for hot water supply, whereas radiators are directly heated in this type of boilers.

When the boiler is ignited, the heat exchanger starts heating the water pumped into the storage tank. This heated water is then transported to the radiators to heat the premises. Hot water is also transported to the wash rooms so you get warm water when you switch on the taps.

The performance of this type of boiler is relatively less efficient than the combi boilers. It doesn’t provide hot water instantly; rather you will have to wait for the hot water to come your way. It is more costly and needs more space for installation. But it is useful for larger households, having multiple washrooms and more than 10 radiators.

1. System Boilers

These are more like a conventional or heat-only boiler. But they don’t have a storage tank. Secondly, various components such as pumps and valves are built-in, unlike conventional boilers, where these parts are separately installed.  System boilers are a part of the integrated heating system. Their work is almost the same as that of heat-only boilers.

The only difference between them is in some of their components. System boilers can be referred to as the modern and upgraded version of regular boilers. However, one of the weaknesses of this type of boiler is the low pressure. Like the combi boilers, they also depend on the pressure of incoming water, as they cannot generate outgoing pressure. Water will be supplied at the same pressure as it is coming into the boiler.

Further Classification of Boilers

Boilers are of different types when it comes to heating systems and hot water supply:

Classification on the Basis of Heating System

1. Fire Tube Boilers – in this type of heating system, combustion occurs in fire tubes surrounded by water. When water comes in contact with these fire tubes, it gets heated.
2. Water Tuber Boilers – Here, combustion occurs in the heat chamber, and water passes through tubes surrounded by combustion gases. While passing through this heat chamber, water in the tubes gets heated.

Classification on the Basis of Water Circulation

1. Natural or normal circulation – Hot water is circulated to the point of use with the same pressure as incoming water from the mains.
2. Forced or Managed Circulation – Here, water inflow is managed through pumps, hence, the hot water is transported to the endpoints with enhanced pressure.

Classification on the Basis of Steam-Generated Pressure

1. High-Pressure Boilers – High-pressure boilers generate pressure up to 80 bars.
2. Medium Pressure Boilers – When the pressure generated by the boiler is less than 80 but more than 20 bars, it is rated as the medium pressure boiler. Mostly used in power generation.
3. Low Pressure Boilers – These boilers can generate pressure between 15 to 20 bars. These are mostly used for heating.

Whatever the type of boiler, their overall performance largely depends on timely maintenance and periodical servicing.

Boiler Maintenance and Service – Basics

Most of the homes use gas boilers. So, as with other gas appliances, the same rules and regulations apply to the gas boilers. Accordingly, the gas-operated boilers must be a compulsory part of the annual gas safety inspection, required under the prevailing law in the UK.

Under the provisions of the relevant rules, all gas appliances, including the gas boilers, must be checked by the gas-safe engineer. A gas-safe engineer is registered with the gas safe register, the official organization responsible for registering qualified gas engineers. The engineer will give you a gas safety certificate if all the gas appliances, including the boilers, meet the standard.

So, your boiler must be well-maintained to pass the annual safety inspection. For this, you need to get the boiler serviced by a qualified gas safety engineer at least once a year. However, maintenance, including repair and replacement of various boiler components, should invariably be carried out when needed.

What Happens in a Boiler Service?

Annual service of gas boilers is of much importance and is also a legal requirement for landlords. It is also important for those boilers which are under warranty. If you need to claim warranties at a later stage, you may be required to produce the record of annual boiler servicing.

The same is the case with oil-powered boilers, but there is no compulsion for annual service of an electrical boiler. Due to fewer moving parts, electrical boilers don’t need much maintenance and servicing. So, now that you have learned the basics of different types of boilers, it’s time to move on to what’s included and what’s not included in a boiler service

Not Included in Annual Boiler Service

Followings are not included in a boiler service. These are more of a maintenance type of work:

• Repair of faulty parts.
• Replacement of faulty parts.
• Remove the operational faults of a boiler.
• Complete Overhauling of the boiler
• Replacement of the entire unit.

Included in the Annual Service of a Gas Boiler

Annual boiler service will essentially include the following basic steps:

• The engineer will start with visually inspecting all the boiler components, including the main unit, flues, pipework, and other visible parts. He will see if there are any visible signs of wear and tear on any such component. Moreover, he will also ensure that all the components are correctly installed and working perfectly
• The engineer will also check the control panel to ensure the switches and controls work perfectly. He may need to adjust some of the controls to the correct specifications.
• Then he will move on to the inside of the main boiler unit by removing the casing. He will check and ensure that all inner components are working as expected. If needed, he may have to adjust some of the malfunctioning components.
• The main items that are required to be checked and corrected by the engineer include;
  • Checking of gas pressure.
  • Checking the flow of gas.
  • Checking flues. Burning of gas needs to be perfect, with the correct ratio of gas and air.
  • Ensuring that the flue is not blocked or choked.
  • Checking all the electrical components of the boiler to ensure all connections and wires are perfect and in flawless working condition. Also, ensure that electric connections are free of dirt or dust.
  • Checking that the electrodes are working perfectly.
  • Inspect the fans for their efficient working. Fans should be clean and free of any dust.
  • Check the seals. It should be intact and in perfect condition.
  • Checking all the safety valves and devices associated with the boiler. He needs to check for their accuracy. Some safety devices may need to be re-calibrated.
  • He needs to check the condensate pipe and trap. There should be no blockage in them. If there’s any blockage, it must be removed.
  • Checking the entire water pipes, both incoming and outgoing. Check for their firmness and any possible leakage.
  • Checking the gas pipework from the main gas supply inlet to the burner unit of the boiler.
  • Checking the burner and ignition system of the boiler.
• The engineer should also check whether the boiler is installed in conformity with the gas safety rules and regulations. If there’s a shortcoming, he must inform you so you can get it corrected instantly.
• Washing and cleaning any dirty boiler unit and control panel parts is also required.
• Normally it should take around 30 to 40 minutes to complete the boiler servicing. However, it may take a bit longer if some malfunctioning parts are identified that need fixing.
• Once the engineer completes the entire work, he will send you a comprehensive report.
• You will be required to sign the service report if you are satisfied with the entire service process of your boiler.

Annual Service of an Oil Boiler

For the oil-powered boilers, you need to call an oil boiler engineer. While the gas boiler service is supposed to be done by a gas-safe engineer, the oil boiler should be serviced by an oil engineer. An oil engineer must be registered with OFTEC (Oil Firing Technology Association).

All the other steps are similar to those of a gas boiler service. However, it may take a bit more time than gas boiler service.

Annual Service of a Coal Powered Boiler

Like oil boilers, Coal powered boilers also need to be serviced by the engineer registered with the OFTEC. All other steps are the same as in the case of a gas or oil boiler service. More importantly, coal powered boilers are prone to choking and clogging, hence need comprehensive annual service, without fail.

Whatever the boiler type is installed in your home, annual service must be done, preferably just before the start of the winter season. It will ensure trouble free performance during the extreme cold season.

Conclusion

Every appliance or equipment that deals with gas, oil or biomass fuel would need regular servicing. Similarly, the appliances that use water and have pipework are also prone to wear and tear; hence, they need periodic maintenance and service. And above all, the equipment or appliances having moving parts would also need regular upkeep and service.

Boilers, whatever the type, are one such appliance that needs regular maintenance and annual service more often than most other appliances. It is even more important because you can’t afford a boiler breakdown right at the peak of winter. So, you must get your boiler serviced timely.

It’s a matter of hardly 30-40 minutes to complete the service process by a qualified engineer. More importantly, it doesn’t cost too much. So, get it done right now, if not so far, as the winter is about to embrace you.