Annual boiler service, priced before we arrive

If you are not sure what to book, a quick look around the house usually settles it.

• Gas: there is a gas meter, usually in a box on an outside wall or under the stairs, and the boiler has a yellow gas pipe or a copper pipe with a gas valve feeding it.
• Oil: there is a large oil tank in the garden or yard, and no gas meter. The boiler often sits in a utility room, a kitchen or an outhouse, and you can hear the burner fire.
• LPG: there is a pressurised gas tank or a set of gas bottles outside, and no mains gas meter.
• Heat pump: there is a fan unit outside that looks like a large air conditioning unit, and usually a hot water cylinder indoors.

Still not sure? Choose Not sure on the booking form, or send a photo of the boiler’s data plate to [email protected].

Gas and LPG work is carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer, registration number To confirm: gasSafe. Oil work is carried out by an OFTEC registered technician, registration number To confirm: oftec. You can check both numbers on the Gas Safe Register and OFTEC websites before we arrive.

A gas boiler service takes about 45 minutes. Oil services tend to run longer because there is more to strip down and clean: the burner nozzle is replaced, the filter is changed and the combustion chamber is brushed out. If we find something that needs more time, we tell you before carrying on.

You do not need to do anything to prepare, other than make sure we can reach the boiler and, for oil, the tank. If the boiler is in a cupboard, clearing the shelves around it saves time.

Annual is the rule, but some signs mean it should not wait for the reminder:

• The flame or burner noise has changed, or the boiler is louder than it used to be
• Black marks or soot around the boiler case or flue
• A smell of oil or fumes near the boiler
• The pressure keeps dropping and needs topping up
• The boiler locks out and needs resetting more than once in a while
• Fuel use has gone up with no change in how you heat the house

If you smell gas, do not book a service: leave the property and call the Northern Ireland Gas Emergency Service on 0800 002 001.

Once a year. There is no law that says a homeowner must service their own boiler, but there are three good reasons to do it annually.

• Warranty. Most manufacturers, including Worcester Bosch, Vaillant and Ideal, ask for a yearly service by a registered engineer to keep the warranty valid. Check your own warranty terms for the exact wording.
• Safety. A service is the point at which carbon monoxide risks, flue problems and gas or oil leaks get found.
• Running costs. A clean, correctly set burner uses fuel properly. That matters most on oil, where a sooted heat exchanger or worn nozzle wastes fuel you have already paid for.

The busiest months are October to January. Booking in spring or summer usually means more choice of dates.

Add a heating system check to your service for £30. Allow about 20 minutes on top of the service. We check every radiator for cold spots and signs of sludge, test thermostatic and lockshield valves, check and set the system pressure, and review your timer and thermostat settings.

The check does not include repairs or sludge removal. If we find something that needs work, we explain it and quote before doing anything extra. Choose it as an optional add-on when you book.

• Choose your fuel. Gas, oil, LPG or heat pump. If you are not sure, the booking form helps you work it out from what you can see on the boiler or tank.
• See the price and pick a slot. The fixed price is on screen before you enter any details. Choose a date and time that suits you.
• Get confirmation. You get a confirmation by email with the date, the time window and the price.

Prefer to talk? Email [email protected].

• Your service record. Your service record is emailed the same day, with what was checked, cleaned or replaced and the flue gas readings. Keep it with your boiler paperwork for warranty and house sale purposes.
• Anything we found. If something needs attention, the record says what and why. Any repair is quoted at a fixed price before work starts. See boiler repair for how that works.
• A reminder next year. We remind you before the next service is due, so the warranty record stays unbroken.

The Blueprint Service Plan books your annual service for you: gas £72, oil £82 or heat pump £119 a year, paid up front. One-off prices are £79, £89 and £129 respectively. Members get 15% off repair labour, 10% off parts and first pick of repair slots on best endeavours. Repairs are always charged. See boiler care plans.

If you let a property with a gas appliance, you need a gas safety record every year. We can do the certificate and the boiler service in one visit. See landlord gas safety certificates.

We service boilers across Northern Ireland, including Belfast, Lisburn, Newtownabbey, Bangor, Holywood, Newtownards, Carrickfergus, Antrim, Ballymena, Larne, Portadown, Craigavon, Lurgan, Newry, Coleraine, Derry/Londonderry and Dungannon. To confirm: confirm areas covered before launch See areas we cover for the full list.

Pick your fuel, see your price and choose a slot. It takes a couple of minutes, and the price you see is the price you pay for the service.