An annual boiler service is the cheapest insurance you can buy against a midwinter breakdown - yet it is the job people put off most. The cost is modest and fairly consistent across the country, and a good service catches the small faults that turn into the expensive ones.
A standard annual service is usually £70-£120. Bundled with a gas safety certificate, or for a long-neglected boiler, expect £100-£180.
Typical UK Prices
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Standard annual service | £70-£120 |
| Service + gas safety check | £90-£150 |
| Landlord gas safety certificate (CP12) | £60-£120 |
| First service of a neglected boiler | £100-£180 |
| Service within a cover plan | Often included |
What the Engineer Actually Checks
- Combustion and flue
- A flue gas analyser confirms the boiler is burning cleanly and safely, with no carbon monoxide leaking into the room.
- Pressure and components
- Gas pressure, the heat exchanger, seals and electrical connections are checked, and the casing comes off for a proper look.
- Safety devices
- The engineer confirms the safety cut-offs work and there are no leaks - the part that protects your household.
- A written report
- You should get a record of what was checked and any advisories, which also keeps most manufacturer warranties valid.
Why It’s Worth Doing
- Most boiler warranties are void without proof of an annual service
- A clean, well-set boiler burns less gas - the service partly pays for itself
- Small faults get caught before they leave you cold mid-January
- It is the only reliable way to rule out a carbon monoxide risk
How Often, and When
Once a year is the standard, and late summer or early autumn is the smart time to book it - engineers are less stretched than they are on the first cold snap, and you head into winter knowing the boiler is sound. If you have just moved into a home with no service history, treat the first one as a baseline check rather than a routine top-up.
Service, Cover Plan or Neither?
A one-off service is the cheapest route if your boiler is reasonably new and reliable. A cover plan rolls the service in with breakdown call-outs for a monthly fee, which suits older boilers where you would rather have a fixed bill than risk a surprise repair. Either way, make sure an actual service is included and not just a phone line - some cheap plans quietly leave the annual check out.
If your service turns up a fault, our boiler repair cost guide covers what the fix might run to, and the new boiler cost guide helps if it is reaching the end of its life. Boiler already down and no heat? Get an emergency heating engineer on the way.