Summer is not just a convenient time to get your boiler serviced because engineers are more readily available. It can ensure you have an appliance that is in optimal working order at exactly the time when your energy bills may be at their highest.
If you haven’t booked a boiler service yet this year, it makes sense to do so, because they should be checked up on once a year. The Energy Saving Trust highlights why this is:
- It ensures it is performing well and that any faults are tackled
- Any potential safety issues are dealt with, such as leaks that could cause fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Any filtration systems the boiler uses can be cleaned out to optimise performance
- If the boiler is under warranty, an annual service is required to maintain this
- If you are a landlord, an annual inspection is required by law
Can A More Efficient Boiler Protect Against A Price Shock?
The above list is reason enough to have your boiler inspected. But making sure it is done now can also be a very timely way of protecting your bank account against big bills in the winter.
Energy bills are restricted by the Energy Price Cap and the April to June cap represented a reduction of seven per cent for those paying for combined gas and electricity and paying by direct debit, as well as an 11 per cent reduction on the same period in 2025.
This appeared to be very timely, as it was announced just before the outbreak of war in the Middle East, which pushed up oil and gas prices, something that couldn’t be passed on to consumers.
However, that did leave two unfortunate issues for consumers. Firstly, the benefit of lower costs came at a time when energy use would be minimal due to warmer weather and a reduced need to have the lights on, as it included the longest days of the year.
The other consideration was that hopes that the conflict would be short-lived appear to have foundered, with on-off hostilities as oil and gas prices go up and down like a yo-yo.
High energy prices caused by blocking the Straits of Hormuz appear to be a key weapon for the Iranian regime, as this will become more important when winter comes and the need for fuel for heating is higher across the northern hemisphere.
How Much Has The Energy Price Cap Increased By?
The impact of the war on energy prices has already been seen in the latest Energy Price Cap for July to September, which was up by 13 per cent. The effects may be small when nobody needs to put the heating on, but that will change in the coming months.
Should the Energy Price Cap remain high as we head through autumn and into winter, the cost of heating could be very high. However, having the most efficient boiler can minimise this, ensuring money is not wasted when heating water.
This year’s energy shock is not the first to happen in recent years, following the surge in gas prices after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
It may seem that householders are the hapless victims of global events. But while you cannot do anything about wars in far-off lands, you can certainly take steps to ensure your gas boiler is working with maximum efficiency by getting it serviced and keeping bills down.
