Want to know if your boiler repair will definitely be covered under guarantee?
Usually, it’s the case that your boiler’s guarantee is just fine and dandy, and will be comprehensive enough to cover you if any problems occur. Especially if your boiler is a good brand such as Worcester Bosch, Ideal or Baxi.
However – and no-one likes to think about this – there are some scenarios where your guarantee will become invalid. I hate to see my customers fall victim to this outcome, as boiler repairs can be costly and it’s completely unnecessary when you have a guarantee that’s supposed to last you up to 10 years.
So, when can a boiler repair NOT be covered under your guarantee? As an experienced engineer, I’m writing this to raise awareness, and to enable you to keep your guarantee valid for the long-haul.
1. Your boiler’s been moved leaving no room
If you’ve recently had building work carried out in your home (such as an extension or renovation) and your boiler’s been moved, it could be a problem. I’ve recently written a blog about this *INSERT LINK* and it can lead to a lot of headaches.
If your boiler or pipes are suddenly now boxed in, and your engineer can’t get to your boiler to repair or service it, your guarantee becomes void. Well, unless they move your boiler again, that is. As you can imagine, it’s a costly mistake.
A while back we fitted a boiler, and were called back six months later because the pressure was going down. Unfortunately it had been moved and fitted with the wrong clearances, and incorrect gas pressure. This meant we were unable to test it and theoretically, the guarantee was void.
The customer never thought anything about it when the kitchen fitter or builder did the work. They just thought they’d know what they were doing. So, always get your own engineer back in to move your boiler, and ask your builder for written assurance that they’ll follow Gas Safety regulations and the clearances stated on the boiler’s manual.
2. It’s not been serviced every year
Just like a car, your boiler needs to be serviced regularly to ensure it’s running smoothly. Your boiler requires an annual service and this is incredibly important to ensure your guarantee stays valid. In fact, it’s clearly stated in your guarantee that it’s subject to an annual service by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
If an engineer gets sent out to do a repair under warranty, but you haven’t had your service in 3 years, they will be able to look and prove that this hasn’t been done.
Forgot to get your boiler serviced? Most manufacturers will let it go for around a month or two without being serviced. Just make sure you call your engineer ASAP and get your service booked in for their next available slot.
3. You haven’t followed professional advice
This might come as a surprise to some. Say your boiler’s been installed for only a year, and there’s a problem with it. An engineer comes out to find there’s no inhibitor in the system, and tells you that you need to use it as this could lead to corrosion. They write it down on your job sheet, and update it on the database.
If they come back and find that you haven’t followed their advice and there’s still no corrosion inhibitor in your system, this will void your guarantee. The logic? Well, why should someone come out and fix your problem when you don’t want to pay a mere £15 to protect your system?
Advice from an experienced engineer
If there’s an issue with your boiler – or even if there’s not and you just need a service – it’s always best to be honest with your engineer. Tell them about any changes you’ve had to your system, so they’ll know.
We’ve been to some jobs where we’re called out for a service. We now ask: “Have you had any towel rails fitted, radiators installed, anything other changes?”
This is because we find that if there has been any changes, it’s always safe to put inhibitor in. Better to be safe than sorry. This helps us keep on top of guarantees and codes of practice, so there are no nasty surprises later down the line.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading. By now you should have a better idea of some of the things that can void your boiler’s guarantee. This should be a definitive list of things to look out for! Unfortunately, not everyone thinks of the above, and just assume their builder will follow regulations or any contractor installing a radiator will use inhibitor.
And never forget to book your annual service!
Do you have any other questions about your boiler’s guarantee? If so, leave me a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!
