Frequently Asked Questions
Over the past 20 years, we have commonly been asked the following questions. Here are our answers:
How much is a boiler service?
We service boilers fuelled by Gas, LPG and oil:
- Gas/LPG boiler service £85+VAT
- Back boiler service £120+VAT
- Oil boiler service £120+VAT
- Warm Air Heating System service £191.67+VAT
- Additionally, we offer a Gas fire service for £70+VAT (£60+VAT if carried out at the same time as a boiler service)
Do you provide services in my area?
We offer services across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Essex. If you are just outside of our area, please find out if we can help you by contacting us on 0800 43 46 494 or visit our ‘Contact Us’ page: https://ukboilercare.co.uk/contact-us/
Do you use subcontractors?
No, we never use sub-contractors. All our engineers and office staff are full-time salaried employees of UKBC. Most UKBC engineers and office staff have been with the company for many years.
Do you service oil boilers?
Yes, we are OFTEC registered and have over 20 years of experience providing oil boiler services, repairs, installation, and maintenance. Always use an OFTEC registered company. OFTEC is the UK’s oil heating regulator and companies that are registered with OFTEC are subject to regular inspections of their work. Furthermore, OFTEC registered engineers are required to attend specialist training courses and pass rigorous examinations.
Do you service LPG boilers?
Yes, we have Gas Safe registered engineers that are qualified for LPG and have many years of experience servicing, repairing, installing and maintaining LPG boilers.
Do you service warm air heating?
Yes, we have Gas Safe registered engineers that are highly-experienced and specifically qualified to service, repair, install and maintain Warm Air Heating Systems.
How often should I service my boiler?
You should service your boiler every year.
Not servicing your boiler annually can increase energy bills and might cause health risks, such as leaking Carbon Monoxide (CO). Regular services will also lengthen your boiler’s operating life and ensure it’s running efficiently and safely.
If your boiler has a manufacturer’s Warranty/Guarantee, you must service your boiler every year around the same time to keep your Warranty/Guarantee valid.
UKBC customers who have a UKBC Boiler Care Plan will receive their annual boiler service as part of their plan, and we will send you a reminder when it’s due.
For our existing customers who are not on one of our Care Plans, we will still send you a reminder when your annual boiler service is due.
New customers can book a boiler service, starting at £85 + VAT, by calling our team: 0800 43 46 494.
Do you offer boiler cover / care plans?
Yes, we have offered our unique Boiler and Heating Care Plans for well over a decade. Tried and tested, our Care Plans are among the best available. They are comprehensive, excellent value for money, and straightforward to understand and use. They are fully delivered by our own engineers and operated by our dedicated office staff – you always deal directly with UKBC – not a remote call centre and different subcontractors, which is the case with most boiler cover plans provided by ‘the big nationals’. To find out more simply call our Care Plan team on 0800 43 46 494.
We also offer Landlord Care Plans that include the annual Gas Landlord Inspection and CP12 Certification. To find out more simply call our Care Plan team on 0800 43 46 494.
Importantly from the customer’s perspective, our Care Plans are ‘Service and Maintenance’ agreements and not ‘Insurance Products’. This means that, unlike boiler insurance, your monthly payment will not go up if we carry out work under our Care Plan.
Do you offer gas landlord inspections?
Yes, all UKBC engineers are registered with Gas Safe. UKBC offer a fixed-price Gas Landlord Inspection package for £85+VAT. This includes the safety inspection for the boiler and any other gas appliance in the rental property (including inspection of CO alarms – which must have a date indicating their installation date or their expiry date), issuance of the CP12 Certificate, and an annual boiler service.
Please bear in mind that Gas Landlord/CP12 inspections do not check the internals of the combustion chamber or clean the unit internally. The closest analogy is that of an MOT for a car.
I have a lodger; do I need a gas landlord inspection?
Yes, if you have a lodger who pays rent, you will legally need a CP12. You are legally required to have a Gas Safety Certificate for all your appliances, which should be renewed annually. You should also have a CO alarm fitted if a gas appliance is in the lodgers’ room(s).
What are the signs that indicate my boiler needs replacing?
If you are experiencing any of these signs, it is likely time to replace your boiler:
- Age: a boiler’s lifespan is generally 10-15 years; if it is over 10-15 years old, it is likely time to replace it
- Regular leaks
- Consistently low water pressure
- Unfamiliar noises
- Odd smells
- High energy bills
- Frequent breakdowns
- Slow warm-up time
How do I get a quotation for a new boiler?
Follow this link to get a quote for your new boiler, or call us on 0800 43 46 494 to arrange for one of our engineer's to visit your home for a free no-obligation survey and new boiler quotation. A visit will typically take between 30 and 45 minutes and you will receive your fixed-price quotation documentation immediately by email at the end of the visit.
Do you install new boilers?
Yes, our engineers install hundreds of new boilers every year, ranging from simple replacements in flats all the way to bespoke systems for large country homes.
For Gas/LPG boiler installs, we are a Vaillant Advance and MasterTec Installer which means most of our Vaillant boiler come with a full 10-year Vaillant Manufacturer’s Guarantee.
For oil boiler installations we are Worcester Bosch Approved which means all our oil boiler comes with a full 7-year Worcester Bosch Manufacturer’s Guarantee.
Do you flush the system when installing a new boiler?
Yes, we use the latest MagnaCleanse system flush technology to provide a fast and effective system clean. The MagnaCleanse removes magnetite, rust, and other sludge build-ups in the system. Our engineer will also carry out a chemical flush of the full system as standard. This involves the use of a chemical cleaning solution to break down built-up sludge. We can also provide the older technology of a Powerflush when installing a new boiler, if the customer prefers.
What does a magnetic system filter do?
We install Magnetic System filters as standard with all new boilers fitted by us. A magnetic system filter is connected to your heating system and collects debris and sludge from the central heating system on an on-going basis to prevent blockages and improve efficiency. A magnetic filter will help prevent a build-up of sludge that will damage your boiler – potentially beyond economic repair – and help lower energy bills.
How long is the guarantee/warranty on a new boiler?
For Gas/LPG boiler installs, we are Vaillant Advance and MasterTec Installers which means most of our Vaillant boiler come with a full 10-year Vaillant Manufacturer’s Guarantee.
For oil boiler installations we are Worcester Bosch Approved which means all our oil boiler comes with a full 7-year Worcester Bosch Manufacturer’s Guarantee.
Do you repair older boilers?
Yes, depending on the availability of parts and the overall condition of the boiler. Boiler repairs can often be a waste of money if the boiler is old, and the most cost-effective solution is to replace the old boiler. Please call us on 0800 43 46 494 and we can advise you of the next steps.
What if I smell gas?
Open doors and windows to ventilate the property and turn off the gas at the mains tap (usually located near the gas meter). Call the CADENT National Gas Emergency number: 0800 111 999.
Do not turn the power or light switches on or off, light any flame or use appliances that could cause a spark.
If you feel dizzy, tired, sick or have a headache after being exposed to a gas leak, seek immediate medical attention.
I’m going away - should I leave my boiler on?
If you’re going away in summer, when the weather is warm, you can turn your boiler off to save energy and reduce the risk of leaks. However, if you're going away during the winter, we recommend leaving your boiler on (at a low temperature setting) to prevent the pipes from freezing.
How do I reset my boiler if it has shut down unexpectedly?
Boilers may shut down for various reasons, such as low water pressure or a malfunctioning thermostat. Each boiler model has a specific reset procedure. Our team will be happy to assist you. You can call us 365 days a year on 0800 43 46 494.
Do you offer general plumbing services?
Yes. We can help you in an emergency or with planned improvements. Our team of highly trained plumbing experts will provide a fast and efficient plumbing repair service. Our plumbing services include:
- Plumbing repairs/improvements
- Repair and replacement of taps
- Faulty Showers / Shower Installation
- Leaking pipes or radiators
- Burst pipes
- Broken ball valves
- Broken toilets
Our plumbing services start from £85 + VAT with a fixed price quotation, arranged at a time convenient for you.
If you are looking for a general plumbing service not listed above, please do give our team a call. They will be happy to assist you. You can contact us on 0800 43 46 494.
Do you work weekends?
Weekends are reserved for emergency breakdowns and Care Plan customers. All general servicing and repairs are carried out during our standard weekday hours (8AM and 4PM). However, we provide an out-of-hours call out service 7 days a week for an additional charge.
Our office opening hours are 9AM to 5PM Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
I have no heating or hot water, what should I do?
If your central heating or hot water isn't working, below are some ‘check’ steps you might consider following. IMPORTANT: To ensure your safety and to prevent further problems, we strongly advise you call one of our team on 0800 43 46 494 to discuss the problem and if necessary arrange a visit by one of our engineers.
FIRST
If you have a sealed system or combi boiler, see if the system pressure has dropped and stopped the boiler from working. Check to see if the pressure gauge on your boiler is showing around 1.5 bar (Please see the FAQ below).
SECOND
Inspect your condense pipe to check that it has not frozen. If it's been very cold (particularly overnight), the condense pipe of your boiler might have frozen (Please see the FAQ below).
THIRD
- Check the pilot light has not gone out, if your system has one.
- Turn your heating on full for a period to see if this generates any heat.
- Has there been a power cut? To check this set your heating to come on in say 15 minutes. If there has been a power cut for instance overnight, your central heating timer might well have returned to its factory default settings, and you will need to reset it.
- Check you have a working gas, electric and water supply (if you are using a gas supply PAYG card meter make sure you have sufficient credit on the meter).
- Check your room thermostat is turned up and the clock timer is on.
- Check your boiler timer is set to the correct time.
- Check the batteries in your thermostat. Have they expired? If so replace the batteries with new ones.
- Try a boiler reset if you have a reset button/switch on the front of the boiler. For Vaillant boilers this will often be a button with a flame symbol with an ‘X’ across it. Press it for 3 seconds.
- Try turning the boiler on and off and the main switch.
What is a frozen condense pipe, how do I unfreeze it?
Please visit these web pages:
Vaillant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I7rGmTTSgA
Worcester Bosch
https://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/heating-advice/frozen-condensate
How do I re-pressurise my boiler?
If your boiler is listed below, please visit one of these web pages. If not please call us on 0800 43 46 494:
Vaillant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dk-HSZgoU0
Ideal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13g6nRKmjjU
Glowworm boiler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX7R_WAOxFw
Glowworm Ultracom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GImqxwCyknU
Alpha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVnC_wOzBpk
Viessmann
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v9YXRXe3sk
Baxi
https://www.baxi.co.uk/faqs/how-do-i-top-up-the-water-pressure
Worcester Bosch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUsBw1ZpiKY
ATAG boiler
What is a TRV?
Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) prevent individual rooms being ‘overheated’. Without TRVs the only temperature monitoring and control is done by a room thermostat; this covers the whole house rather than an individual room. Some rooms tend to warm up quicker than others, therefore a TRV can maintain comfort while potentially aiding economy. It is important to note that cheaper TRVs can get stuck over time, so it is worth investing in a premium brand (eg: Drayton, Pegler or Honeywell). UKBC only fit these premium TRV brands.
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