Don’t Assume Boiler Warranty is Included with New Boiler Purchase. A new boiler that you have purchased often includes a warranty. But a warranty is not guaranteed and can be withdrawn if a scheduled service is missed or if warranty documentation has been lost.
What The Warranty Actually Covers
Boiler warranty parts and labour cover periods can vary from 2 years up to 10 or 12 years, on budget to premium products. Many manufacturers offer a longer guarantee on parts as opposed to labour, therefore two apparently similar products can have entirely different terms and conditions. Always refer to the warranty terms and conditions to establish what is covered and for what period.
Why Servicing Is A Condition, Not A Suggestion
Boiler servicing is a condition of a warranty and not something that the manufacturer suggests you should do. Missing a service will mean that, even if a fault occurs which is not related to the missed service, the manufacturer can refuse to repair your boiler under warranty. Most manufacturers recommend that boilers are serviced annually and this is the normal term included in a warranty.
Who Is Allowed To Carry Out The Service
When booking a service for your boiler it is essential to check that the engineer attending is a Gas Safe registered engineer. Gas Safe registered engineers are qualified to work on gas appliances and have a Gas Safe licence number. On attending the service ask the engineer for his Gas Safe registered licence number and ensure this is noted on the invoice or service record. We recommend searching for heating and gas engineers that are part of a certified scheme such as the Corgi or Gas Safe registers.
The Paperwork That Proves It Happened
When a warranty claim is made the manufacturer will ask for proof that servicing has taken place on the correct date each year. The proof needed to confirm servicing is a dated invoice from the engineer who completed the service, plus an entry in the service record book for the boiler found in the back of the boiler’s manual. Finally the Gas Safe ID number of the engineer who completed the service must be shown on the invoice or service record. These documents should be stored in a folder or on a phone in the form of photos. A verbal confirmation that the service has been completed will not be enough to confirm a warranty claim has been validated.
What Happens If A Service Runs Late
There are no hard and fast rules as to how late a service can be and for how long your warranty will still be in place. Typically within 30 days of the missed service date the manufacturer will begin to refuse repair claims under warranty. As outlined in the energy regulator’s gas safety guidance, most households expect their gas appliances to be serviced on an annual basis and it would be expected that your boiler has been serviced in line with this.
Other Conditions People Miss
There are other conditions to ensure your warranty remains valid. Firstly, your boiler must be registered with the manufacturer’s online portal within 30 days of installation. This is usually done by the engineer that installed your boiler; however, it is often forgotten about. Secondly, all repairs carried out under warranty must be done using Genuine Manufacturer Parts. Even if you have found a cheaper alternative on the internet, this will not be covered by your warranty.
Checking The Terms For Your Model
Warranty terms for different boilers vary widely. The servicing conditions, the period within which servicing can be made late, the parts covered by the warranty – all these can vary between different models from the same manufacturer. The only way to be certain is to check your warranty documents, or look up your boiler model on the manufacturer’s website. People renting their home need to look for local council housing advice on the boiler in their rented property and who is responsible for servicing it and keeping the warranty up to date.
A simple Boiler Service Gloucester annually and keeping all the relevant documents for the warranty would solve all these issues. The warranty for your boiler is only as good as the service records to support the claim.