After a full year of your oil boiler operating perfectly, it can be tempting to skip the annual oil boiler service.
After a full year of your oil boiler operating perfectly, it can be tempting to skip the annual oil boiler service. The logic seems sound enough. Why hire something to maintain your oil boiler when it’s working perfectly well? Here at Lambe Plumbing, we would argue that your boiler is operating effectively because of its annual maintenance not despite it.
In today’s blog, we’re going to discuss the importance of regular oil boiler maintenance and why it should never be skipped
Why does an oil boiler require maintenance?
Simply put, regular maintenance ensures an oil boiler continues to operate efficiently. Proper maintenance should reduce energy consumption, reduce the possibility of breakdowns and increase the overall service life of the boiler. While skipping annual maintenance every other year may seem like a way to save money, the issues that will arise from skipping annual maintenance will likely end up costing the homeowner more in the long run.
Why does an unmaintained oil boiler becomes less efficient?
There are many reasons why a boiler becomes less efficient, including
Soot Build Up
Partially burnt-out fuel deposits can cause soot to form within the boiler’s heat exchangers. This soot build-up reduces the amount of heat that can be transferred meaning more fuel has to be used to heat the water that’s used throughout the heating system.
Oil Nozzle Wear Out
An oil nozzle controls how much oil is passed through the boiler. Unfortunately, these nozzles wear out over time. A worn-down oil nozzle affects the combustion potential of the boiler, therefore making a central heating system less efficient.
Dirty Photocells
Inside a boiler, photocells are a vital safety feature. Photocells detect whether the boiler flame is on. When the photocell becomes clogged with fuel deposits it can’t properly detect the boiler flame which inevitably leads to random boiler shutdowns.
Worn Electrodes
Electrodes are the device that produces the spark that lights the boiler flame. Electrodes can become clogged with soot, stopping the boiler from lighting.
An oil boiler service will address all these issues
What a Service Includes
During a service, the oil boiler maintenance plumber inspects and cleans all components within the boiler. If this isn’t done annually, the boiler is at greater risk of random breakdowns.
During a boiler component cleaning, signs of wear can be detected and resolved before these issues affect the boiler’s efficiency. Proper boiler maintenance will replace any worn components and remove excessive soot.
Carbon Monoxide
One of the main reasons for annual boiler maintenance is to make sure there is no carbon monoxide leaking from the boiler. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that can adversely affect a person’s health. Regular oil boiler maintenance will detect an issue like carbon monoxide leakage.
We hope the above outlines the importance of your annual oil boiler maintenance and why it shouldn’t be skipped. For information on our oil boiler maintenance packages, get in contact with our Tipperary offices today.