When and Why Does my Company Need Boiler Maintenance?
Since we’re in the middle of a particularly cold winter, it’s appropriate that we’ve chosen Boiler Maintenance as our Service of the Month. It’s important that commercial clients understand the practical and legal reasons for having their boiler serviced, as well as some useful advice in identifying problems.
The article aims to reassure clients that a professional contractor could solve and prevent a lot of problems down the line, so read on to understand how boiler maintenance servicing could help your company this winter.
How Do I know my Boiler Needs Servicing?
If you’re some time away from your regular scheduled maintenance, there are some indicators to look out for to know if your boiler is in trouble.
The most straight forward indicator is that your property remains cold after attempting to switch your heater on. This is often at risk of being dismissed as being the pipes, radiators, or just how cold it is. Often issues with other appliances are more blatant, so it’s better to get your boiler checked to be sure.
Leaving a damaged boiler for too long will only cause problems to continuously grow.
Other issues may surface in the form of audible cues. Clunking, ticking or whirring are all signs of a problem with the boiler, no matter how small.
Boiler servicing outside of the usual schedule may seem like a big expense, but the financial benefits should also not be ignored. This also works as a sign of a faulty boiler…
If your fuel bills are increasing for no reason (that you can tell), this means it’s likely the boiler is becoming increasingly inefficient. Inefficient boilers use more fuel. Using more fuel will increase your bills.
A simple one-off servicing or boiler repair will be a big help down the line.
Why Do I Need My Boiler Serviced?
Commercial boilers are a major investment, so you need to protect it by having the equipment regularly serviced. Whether your heating system is a new modern installation or an old reliable part of your property.
Regular maintenance is key for keeping boilers of all types, sizes, and ages running smoothly. It’s important to take into account what happens if a boiler is left unattended. As mentioned above there’s the surface levels ideas of a much colder property or higher heating bills, but the problems go deeper.
A damaged or malfunctioning boiler is not only likely to disrupt your business but could also be unsafe.
Damaged boilers may eventually cause a gas leak, or increased levels of carbon monoxide. However, If you have regular maintenance carried out even small problems will be spotted and reported at an early stage. Checking the engineer provided is a registered Gas Safe Engineer is a simple step you can take to protect yourself and your business. The engineer will then take the responsibility of checking your gas boiler and pipes for any sign of damage, leakage, malfunctions etc.
To repeat, being proactive about boiler care will certainly be cheaper than having to pay for each repair as and when a breakdown occurs.
Spending that bit more on a higher quality boiler or investing in a better replacement should also be considered.
Tip: Make sure all tenants have a copy of the gas safety certificate!
What’s the difference between commercial and domestic boilers?
Commercial boilers will always be more vulnerable to wear and tear because they are subject to heavy-duty usage. This applies to boilers of any size, from the smallest office building to the largest industrial facility.
As you’ve probably already noticed, cost and quality are bigger considerations for commercial complaints. Ask your Gas Safe Engineers on advice for choosing replacements if necessary.
How Often Does my Commercial Boiler need servicing?
You are required by law to have your boiler serviced at least once a year in order to remain statutory compliant.
On top of this, insurance companies will also require a commercial boiler to be serviced service every 12 months to keep the warranty valid. After every service, documentation will be provided can be used as evidence for insurance providers.
The gas safety certificate you receive also needs to be held on to for at least two years.
Consider the responsibility you have to fellow tenants within your commercial building, more frequent servicing reduces the likelihood of damage and disruption in the future. Having your boilers inspected by gas safe engineers more often than every 12 months.
Keep track of any unusual visual or audible changes to the boiler and pipes and keep track of if your appliance becomes less efficient.
What happens during a commercial boiler servicing?
Engineers assess all internal and external components. First port of call is how well installed the components were. Internal components check include the heat exchanger, burner, main injector, electrical connections, spark probe, seals, and safety devices.
Service engineers then check that the flue and pipework are installed correctly.
Next the engineer will check the boiler flame, ventilation, and will look for any sign of leaks or corrosion.
For a commercial property there are other legal factors and regulations to be considered. Commercial properties include office buildings, hospitals, leisure centres, warehouses, care homes, and more. Things checked include building regulations, gas safety regulations, European and British standards, and water bylaws.
The interior of the commercial boiler will also be cleaned. Following this, performance checks will be carried out to make sure it’s functioning in line with the Gas Safety Regulations. This is why only a Gas Safe Engineer can legally carry out a proper boiler servicing.
A report will then be presented for you to sign and confirm. Remember to keep track of all the paperwork handed to you as part of the maintenance. This is important for insurance and building inspections.
We know keeping track of all these requirements for your boiler can be a headache, so as part of our facilities management service we handle all this for you. To learn more about the boiler maintenance and repair that Rejus could provide to you, click here.
To see our facilities management services, click here.