Boiler service in north and east London

HSE recommends that gas appliances and flues are serviced to the manufacturer's instructions, or every year if there are none. Most boiler makers set out the service steps in their manual, and the engineer follows them. That usually means checking the flue and air intake, cleaning the condensate trap, inspecting the burner and heat exchanger, checking the ignition and flame sensing parts, testing safety devices, and analysing the flue gases to confirm the boiler burns cleanly.

North and east London water is hard everywhere we work. Thames Water's 2025 zone reports show average hardness of 272 mg/l in Highbury, 273 mg/l in Tottenham South, 276 mg/l in Highams Park and 274 mg/l in Enfield South (Thames Water zone report, Highbury). Thames Water says all the water in its region is hard because it passes through chalk and limestone (Thames Water).

On a service we look at the signs of scale: weak or fluctuating hot water on a combi, kettling noises, and the condition of any scale reducer fitted on the cold supply. Catching it early is far cheaper than a new plate heat exchanger.

London homes put boilers wherever they fit. In converted flats they sit in kitchen wall cupboards and hallway cupboards. In loft conversions in Crouch End or Muswell Hill they may have moved up to the eaves. Tell us where yours is when you book. A boiler in a loft needs safe access, a fixed floor and light for the engineer to service it properly.

A service and a landlord gas safety check are different jobs. The service maintains the boiler. The safety check is the legal yearly test of every appliance and flue a landlord provides. Many landlords book both at the same visit so the tenant only has to give access once. See landlord gas safety certificates.

Some problems should not wait for the yearly visit. Book sooner if the flame looks yellow or orange instead of blue, if there are dark marks on or around the casing, if the pressure keeps dropping, or if your carbon monoxide alarm sounds or keeps chirping. Kettling noises, water dripping from the boiler or from the pressure relief pipe outside, and hot water that swings between hot and cold are all worth reporting. If you smell gas, do not wait for anyone: open windows, turn off at the emergency control valve if it is safe, and call 0800 111 999.

Keep every service record in one place with the boiler's Building Regulations Compliance Certificate and the warranty registration. Makers can ask to see the service history before they honour a warranty claim. A future buyer or tenant will often ask for the same papers. If you rent out the property, the service record is also useful evidence that you have maintained the boiler, which HSE says landlords should be able to show.