UK’s householders failing to make rudimentary checks on heating systems may result in critical dangers in upcoming winter months
[London, UK] – Worcester Bosch, the leading boiler manufacturer in the UK, today reveals how a lack of regular boiler maintenance and servicing by much of the nation will put families at risk this winter. The alarming survey reveals that half of the nation has never asked for the service history of a boiler upon moving into a new house, with 18 per cent believing that servicing is unnecessary until a boiler breaks down leaving a home without heating or hot water.
“As we approach the beginning of the colder months and the most common time for boilers to break down, the lack of understanding in boiler maintenance concerns us”, says Martyn Bridges, Director of Technical Communication and Product Management at Worcester Bosch.
According to the research, more than one in ten homeowners do not think they are placing their family at risk if they do not get their boiler serviced. This is despite the fact that breakdown in winter could have severe implications for people such as the elderly, with the cold potentially leading to serious health problems.
Often, a boiler’s warranty is invalidated if it is not serviced at least once a year, meaning that a significant number of UK homes may have lost this opportunity. This could cause problems for much of the population, particularly millennials, of whom over a third said they would wait for their boiler to break down before servicing it.
It’s clear that the UK population don’t realise the risks of ignoring their boiler, with one fifth of men and nearly one sixth of women in the nation believing that their money could be spent better elsewhere.
Ahead of the upcoming Gas Safety Week, Worcester Bosch highlights that heating maintenance should not be taken lightly. New homeowners should be especially vigilant, as many Brits that have recently moved to a new house could have a boiler that has not been serviced for well over the recommended time of one year and some perhaps never. The survey also reveals that one in ten of the population have never had their boiler serviced, and a further 20 percent haven’t had their boiler serviced for over 12 months.
Worcester Bosch’s Martyn Bridges is concerned that people in the UK are heightening the risk of discomfort in their homes. He said, “It’s extremely important to understand the importance of servicing your boiler. Not only does an annual service ensure the boiler is running smoothly, you could be subjecting yourselves and your loved ones to safety risks, particularly with older, open flue boilers.”
However, not all hope is lost. Northern Ireland should be commended on its gas safety knowledge. According to Worcester Bosch, almost three quarters of the population knew that their warranty would be invalidated without regular servicing prior to completing the survey. Similarly, in the North East, almost double the population have had their boiler serviced in the past six months when compared with Londoners.
With Gas Safety Week swiftly approaching, Worcester Bosch is demonstrating to homeowners across the UK how important it is to regularly service their boilers and the importance of boiler maintenance in advance of the winter months. Homeowners are encouraged to follow Worcester Bosch’s five step check to ensure their boiler is ready for the winter and to help reduce the chance of it breaking down: https://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/winter-check