A boiler service is a planned safety and maintenance check, not a repair. Most boiler makers ask for a yearly service, and you should confirm that timing in the handbook that came with your own appliance.
Timms Gas Services offers boiler servicing. We’re Gas Safe registered, we have 17 years of experience, and we’re open 24/7. Call 07935 205813 when you want to book.
We have 115 Google reviews as of November 2026 if you’d like to see what other customers have written.
Why a boiler service matters
A service gives a Gas Safe registered engineer a chance to look at the appliance while it is still running, rather than after it has already failed. That’s the simple reason people book one. Book it while the heating still works.
It isn’t a deep repair. A service is a check of a boiler that is still running.
Makers often tie their own guidance to regular servicing, and the Energy Saving Trust boiler advice is a useful independent read on keeping a heating system working well. Gas Safe Register also publishes help on getting gas appliances checked.
If the boiler has already stopped, skip the service question and call for a repair. Our boiler repair in Bishop’s Stortford page covers that.
How often most households book one
Most households book a boiler service once a year because that is what many manufacturers ask for. Check your own handbook rather than treating a blog as the last word, because different models can carry different instructions.
Write the date down. A missed year is easy to let slip, so put the next one on the calendar.
If you rent the home out, a yearly landlord gas safety check is a separate legal duty and should not be confused with a service. What a landlord gas safety check covers explains that record, which people often call a CP12.
Homeowners who live in the property still benefit from a yearly service even though that landlord duty does not apply to them in the same way.
What an engineer typically looks at
A service is a check of the appliance and the way it is running. This article will not invent a Timms checklist or a visit length, because those details have not been confirmed for public copy. In general terms, the engineer is looking at safety and at whether the boiler is operating as it should.
They’re not quoting for a new install unless you ask, so say if you want that conversation.
If you want official background on having gas appliances checked, start with Gas Safe Register rather than with a sales page. Our plumbing, gas and heating page is where boiler servicing sits among the other named services.
Don’t open the casing yourself. Gas work belongs with a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Servicing, repairs and a new boiler
These 3 jobs get mixed up. Keep them apart when you book.
| Task | How it differs | Typical moment |
|---|---|---|
| Boiler service | A planned check while the boiler is still working | The boiler is running |
| Boiler repair | A visit because something has already failed | Heat or hot water has stopped |
| Boiler installation | Fitting a new boiler, often after a repair is no longer the right path | The old unit cannot stay in use |
If you’re in the middle of that last choice, repair or replace your boiler sets out the questions to ask, and signs you need a new boiler covers the replacement warnings. For a new boiler in the town, see boiler installation in Bishop’s Stortford.
A service will not magically turn an unsafe boiler into a safe one. If an engineer finds a serious fault during the visit, they’ll tell you what they found rather than pretending the service has finished the story.
Key takeaways
Most makers ask for a yearly boiler service, so check your handbook for the timing that applies to your model.
A service is a check, not a repair and not a landlord gas safety record. Timms Gas Services offers boiler servicing and is Gas Safe registered.
Call 07935 205813 to book a service, or to receive a complimentary consultation, and we’re open 24/7 if you need to ask about dates.
When it is not the right fit
This article is not the right fit if the boiler has already broken down and you need heat today. Call 07935 205813 about a repair instead.
It’s also the wrong read if you need a landlord gas safety check for a rented home. Use the landlord guide, because that record is a different job.
Don’t use this article as a warranty document or as a list of figures. The public site talks about clear and upfront pricing rather than numbered prices, and it does not set out warranty terms beyond what already appears on those pages.
Common questions
Do I need a boiler service if my boiler seems fine?
Yes, if your maker asks for a yearly service, because the point is to check the appliance before it fails. Book the visit while you still have heat, not after the house has gone cold.
Is a boiler service the same as a gas safety check?
No. A service is maintenance of the boiler. A landlord gas safety check is the yearly record that landlords need for rented homes, often called a CP12. A homeowner living in their own house may still want a service even though that landlord record does not apply to them in the same way.
Can I service my own boiler?
No, not if it involves gas work. Only a Gas Safe registered engineer should work on a gas boiler. You can bleed a radiator or top up pressure if your handbook shows you how, but leave the appliance itself alone. If you’re unsure, call us and ask before you touch anything.
What happens if I skip a year?
The handbook and any maker guidance attached to your boiler are the place to check what that means for your model, because some guidance is tied to regular servicing. From a practical point of view, a skipped year also means nobody has looked at the appliance for longer, so a fault can sit unnoticed until the boiler fails on a cold morning. Book the next service when you can, and call 07935 205813 if the boiler has already started to play up or if you’ve lost heat and need a repair instead.
