One In Five Homes At Risk Of Boiler Blowout And A Bill Of Thousands

Winter will soon be upon us and the latest research by , HaMuch, the best place to find the country’s best tradespeople, has revealed that more than one in five homeowners are in serious danger of a boiler blowout that could cost them thousands.

The survey of 1,741 UK households, commissioned by the company, found that 22% of those surveyed don’t have their boiler regularly checked.

Of them, 81% stated it had been over a year since their boiler was last checked and, furthermore, 61% don’t intend to have a boiler health check conducted ahead of this winter season.

This is despite the fact that only around a quarter (26%) of those surveyed stated they would be confident enough to tackle an issue with their boiler without the help of a professional.

Further insight from them shows that this blase approach to boiler maintenance could prove costly as we approach the autumn and winter seasons.

Having had a holiday of their own during the summer months, an increased reliance on our boilers is often when issues arise, as the weather turns colder and we crank up the heating.

However, the average waiting time for a call out across the trades sits at 5.8 weeks, which is a long time to potentially be without hot water and heating, although just 26% of those surveyed by HaMuch were aware of these long waiting times. It’s also important to note that during the autumn and winter seasons, when demand outweighs supply, these waiting times can be far longer.

Of course, you could opt for an emergency call out, but this will be costly. On average, a heating engineer will set you back around £43 per hour. However, during an emergency call out, this cost climbs to a huge £208 an hour - with only an emergency locksmith costing more.

Then there’s the cost of the work itself.

If you’re lucky enough to only need a repair, it could still cost you anywhere in the region of £100 to £500.

However, if you need a conventional or combi boiler replaced it will cost you around £3,000 for the new boiler alone, whilst a system boiler replacement climbs as high as £3,300.

Founder and CEO of HaMuch.com, Tarquin Purdie, commented:
“Despite our boilers essentially being the beating hearts of our homes, we simply don’t take the proper time and care when it comes to maintaining them and this is a task that should be performed throughout the year, not just when the cold weather arrives.

"So it stands to reason that, having sat dormant all summer, many boilers break down when they’re suddenly required to heat our homes for a prolonged period.

"The good news is that it can often be something simple, such as a drop in pressure, which can be easily rectified by releasing the valves found below the boiler and allowing water to reenter the system.

"However, if such quick fixes fail to rectify the problem then it’s vital you seek the advice of a professional heating engineer and fiddling with your boiler without the proper knowhow can be incredibly dangerous.

"Unfortunately, this can result in either a long wait, or a hefty emergency call out bill, particularly in the winter months when demand for such services is very high.

"So whilst we’re enjoying some late September sun, you’re best advised to fire up the boiler now, to break it in easily and see if any issues arise.”