Yes, you should have your new boiler service every year. Your first annual boiler service would normally be due around 12 months after the boiler was installed, then every 12 months after that.

If you have only just had a brand new boiler fitted, you do not need to book another service in a few months unless something seems wrong. If your boiler is making an unusual noise, losing pressure, showing a fault code or not working properly, you should get it checked before the annual service date.

Why does a brand new boiler need a service?

This is a question I get asked a lot by customers. They often say, “It’s a brand-new boiler, Simon. Why does it need servicing already?”

I completely understand the question. You have just spent a lot of money on a new boiler, so you would expect it to look after itself for a good few years.

The issue is that a boiler does not get fitted and then sit there doing nothing. During the course of a year, it can fire thousands of times while heating your home and producing hot water.

Inside the boiler, there are gas-burning components, seals, electrodes, sensors, pumps and other parts all working together. An annual service gives a heating engineer the chance to check that everything is still working as it should.

Is annual servicing mainly about safety?

Yes, safety is the most important reason to service your boiler every year. Whether your boiler is one year old or 15 years old, it is still a gas-burning appliance.

During a boiler service, the engineer checks that the boiler is operating correctly and safely. The exact checks depend on the boiler and the manufacturer’s servicing requirements.

A boiler service can include checking:

The condition of the boiler and its components
The flue and flue connections
Gas pressures or gas consumption
Combustion readings
Safety devices
Signs of leaks or deterioration
The condensate system
The general operation of the boiler
Whether anything needs cleaning or further investigation

A new boiler should still be checked every year. Annual servicing helps make sure it continues to operate safely and efficiently.

Do you need an annual service to keep the boiler warranty valid?

In most cases, yes. Annual servicing is commonly a condition of keeping the manufacturer’s warranty or guarantee valid.

You may have bought a boiler with a 5, 7, 10 or even 12-year manufacturer warranty. That is valuable protection, but there are usually conditions attached to it.

One of those conditions is normally having the boiler serviced every year by a suitably qualified engineer. Worcester Bosch, Baxi and Ideal all include annual servicing within their warranty or guarantee requirements.

So do not assume that because the boiler is under warranty, you do not need to do anything for the next 10 years. The annual service is part of looking after that warranty.

You have paid for a new boiler partly because you want manufacturer protection. A yearly service helps protect that bigger investment.

When should the first service on a new boiler be done?

The first routine service should normally be done around 12 months after installation. After that, the boiler should usually be serviced every 12 months.

For example, if your new boiler was fitted on 15 September 2026, your first annual service would normally be due around September 2027. The next services would then be due around September 2028, September 2029 and so on.

There is normally no benefit in servicing a perfectly working new boiler after three or six months for the sake of it. However, you should always check the terms supplied with your boiler because manufacturers can have slightly different requirements.

Can servicing find problems while the boiler is still covered?

Yes, and this is one of the main benefits of annual servicing. A service can sometimes pick up an issue while the boiler is still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

For example, an engineer may notice an unusual reading, a part that is not operating correctly or an issue that needs further investigation. If the boiler is still under warranty and the issue is covered under the manufacturer’s terms, it may be possible to get the manufacturer involved.

That is much better than ignoring the boiler for several years and only finding a problem after the warranty has expired. A boiler service is not only about cleaning the boiler. It is also a chance to catch issues early.

Do small boiler problems fix themselves?

Usually, no. Small boiler problems often get worse if they are ignored.

As a heating engineer, I would rather spot the start of a problem during a routine service than get a call in the coldest week of January because the boiler has stopped working. Servicing gives us a chance to check how the boiler is behaving before it breaks down.

This is the main way I look at boiler servicing. The aim is to help keep the boiler working properly, not wait until something has already gone wrong.

Does servicing guarantee that my boiler will not break down?

No, and I would be wary of anyone who says it does. A boiler is a mechanical appliance, and parts can still fail.

Even a brand new boiler can occasionally develop a fault. Servicing does not remove that risk completely.

What servicing does is give an engineer the chance to check the boiler, identify anything starting to look wrong, confirm it is operating safely and keep up with the manufacturer’s maintenance requirements. It improves the chances of spotting problems before they become bigger issues.

Do I need to use the company that installed my boiler?

Not always. In most cases, your annual boiler service can be carried out by another suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.

You should still check your manufacturer’s terms and conditions. Some manufacturers may have specific requirements about who can service the boiler and how the service should be recorded.

You should also keep evidence that the service has been completed. Your engineer should complete the service record in the manufacturer’s booklet, and you should keep any paper or digital service records.

My boiler seems fine. Do I still need it serviced?

Yes. A boiler service is meant to happen while the boiler is working.

If you have no heating or hot water, you have moved past servicing and now need a boiler repair. Servicing is planned maintenance, not a fix for a broken boiler.

Think of it like checking the boiler before there is a problem. The aim is to keep it safe, efficient and working properly.

What happens if I do not service my new boiler every year?

If you do not service your new boiler every year, you may put your warranty at risk. If a fault develops later, the manufacturer may ask for service records before approving a warranty repair.

You may also miss early signs of a problem. A boiler can seem fine to the homeowner while still having an issue that an engineer would spot during checks.

Skipping services can also allow dirt, wear or poor combustion issues to go unnoticed. Over time, this can affect safety, efficiency and reliability.

So, should you service a new boiler every year?

Yes. For a newly installed boiler, your first routine annual service will normally be due around 12 months after installation, followed by another service every 12 months.

There are three main reasons to do it:

Safety: making sure your gas boiler continues operating correctly and safely
Warranty protection: annual servicing is commonly a condition of the manufacturer’s warranty or guarantee
Early fault detection: if a problem is found while the boiler is still covered, it may be possible to get the manufacturer involved before it becomes a larger repair

You have invested a lot of money in your new boiler. Looking after it once a year makes sense.

If we installed your boiler at Challenger Heating Services, you do not need to worry about remembering when it is due. We can help keep its annual servicing on track.

Looking for a boiler service in Sutton Coldfield?

Challenger Heating Services is a local Sutton Coldfield heating company carrying out professional boiler servicing across Sutton Coldfield and the surrounding areas. We service boilers we have installed, as well as boilers fitted by other companies.

If your boiler is approaching its first birthday, that is a good time to get the first annual service booked in. We can check the boiler is operating correctly and help you keep on top of its yearly maintenance.

Challenger Heating Services
Boiler servicing in Sutton Coldfield and surrounding areas