This guide is aimed at homeowners and landlords who’ve recently had a new boiler installation and want to make the most of it, both in terms of performance and longevity.

If you have any concerns about your boiler’s performance and you’re in the Hackney area, our team at Touch Of Heat is always on hand to help. Get in touch for expert guidance from a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.

Why Does Regular Boiler Servicing Matter?

Annual boiler servicing is one of the single most important things you can do to protect your investment. During a service, a Gas Safe registered engineer inspects all internal components, checks for wear, cleans key parts and confirms that the boiler is operating safely and efficiently.

Skipping a service might not cause an immediate problem, but it creates risk over time. Minor issues that would have been caught early, such as a worn seal or a build-up of deposits on the heat exchanger, can develop into more serious faults that require a significant boiler repair or even a full replacement. Staying on top of annual servicing is also a condition of most manufacturer warranties, so neglecting it could invalidate the very protection that came with your new unit.

What Simple Checks Can You Do Yourself?

You don’t need to be an engineer to carry out basic checks between annual services. Here are some straightforward things to monitor:

(Link to service page: Boiler Servicing)

How Does a Maintenance Plan Help Protect Your Boiler?

A good maintenance plan takes the hassle out of remembering when your service is due and gives you a safety net if something does go wrong. Touch Of Heat Protect is designed to provide exactly this kind of ongoing reassurance, covering your boiler and giving you direct access to qualified engineers when you need them.

For landlords across central and east London managing rental properties, having a structured plan in place is particularly valuable. It helps you meet your legal obligations around gas safety, keeps your boiler in good condition between tenancies and means you’re not scrambling to find a reputable engineer in a hurry if a fault develops. A proactive approach to boiler care is always more cost-effective than reactive repairs.

(Link to service page: Touch Of Heat Protect)

Boiler Maintenance Task Overview

Understanding what needs to happen and when is helpful for planning ahead. Here’s a simple overview:

Maintenance Task	Who Does It	How Often
Annual Boiler Service	Gas Safe registered engineer	Once per year
Check Boiler Pressure	Homeowner	Monthly
Bleed Radiators	Homeowner	As needed (if cold spots appear)
Test Carbon Monoxide Alarm	Homeowner	Monthly
Powerflush Heating System	Qualified engineer	Every 5–8 years, or if performance drops
Gas Safety Inspection (CP12)	Gas Safe registered engineer	Annually (mandatory for landlords)

This overview covers the essentials. Your engineer may recommend additional checks depending on your property’s age, the condition of your pipework and the type of boiler you have.

What Is a Powerflush and When Is It Needed?

Over time, central heating systems accumulate sludge, rust and debris that circulate through the pipework and settle in radiators and the boiler itself. This reduces efficiency, causes uneven heating and puts unnecessary strain on the boiler’s internal components.

A powerflush involves connecting specialist equipment to your heating system and forcing water through at high pressure to dislodge and remove this build-up. It’s not something every new boiler will need immediately, but if your new boiler has been fitted into an existing system without prior cleaning, a powerflush is often recommended to protect the new unit. Touch Of Heat carries out power flushing as a standalone service and will advise you honestly on whether your system would benefit.