Having a good relationship with your boiler is essential for a happy home – look after it and it will look after you. Some care and maintenance you can attempt yourself, but much of the work will need to be carried out by a Gas Safe Register approved engineer – which is where having boiler insurance can come in particularly handy.

Here’s our top five tips for keeping your boiler in the best shape possible:

1. Get your boiler serviced
Getting a Gas Safe Register approved engineer to check out how your boiler is running every year will make sure it’s running smoothly and safely. In some cases, this will mean making a few repairs to improve efficiency, which could ultimately save you money on more major repairs in the long run. In other cases, getting your boiler serviced could safeguard your family’s health and wellbeing if gas is leaking or parts are faulty. Check whether your central heating cover includes an annual service as part of the policy.

2. Run your heating regularly
This is an especially important point during the summer, when your first instinct isn’t to switch the heating on. However, switching it on will keep things running efficiently and clear the boiler of grit, which can build up when it’s not in use.

3. Avoid blocking air vents
It’s important that you never cover your gas boiler or block the air vents. While many of us wouldn’t do this deliberately, it is possible to cover the vents or outside flues accidentally, so regularly check for blockages.

4. Fit a carbon monoxide detector
Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer as it cannot be seen, tasted or smelt. And unfortunately, it claims the lives of four people – and made a further 117 ill – last year, according to the Health and Safety Executive. For this reason, it’s essential that you have a detector fitted to let you know when there’s been a leak. If you’re alerted that one has occurred, it’s essential that you contact the National Gas Emergency Service immediately.

5. Get your CP12 certificate
This only applies if you’re a landlord and is a legal requirement. Whereas private homeowners are advised, rather than required, to get their gas appliances checked every year, landlords must do it or face possible prosecution. This means having all gas appliances, including the boiler, checked every year and also providing tenants with a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate.

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