How much does a boiler service cost?

A boiler service is a yearly check in which a qualified engineer inspects, cleans and tests your boiler so it runs safely and does not waste gas. For a gas boiler, a one-off service usually costs £70 to £110. This guide covers what you should pay, what a proper service includes, and how to make sure the person doing it is allowed to.

How much does a boiler service cost in the UK?

Consumer group Which? asked 10,064 homeowners in June 2025 what they paid. A one-off gas boiler service came in at £70 to £110, with the average around £79. Electric boilers cost a little less on average, because there is no gas combustion to test.

Source: Which? survey of boiler customers, June 2025.

Oil boilers are serviced by OFTEC registered technicians rather than Gas Safe engineers. They need a little more work, such as changing the nozzle and filter, so expect to pay more than for a gas boiler and ask for the parts to be listed on the quote.

What affects the price of a boiler service?

Most of the difference between one quote and another comes down to a handful of things.

• Where you live. Labour costs more in London and the South East than in the Midlands or the North.
• The type of boiler. A modern combi is the quickest to service. A system or regular boiler with a hot water cylinder, or an older back boiler, takes longer.
• Its age and condition. A boiler that has not been serviced for years usually needs more cleaning, and is more likely to need a part.
• Access. A boiler in a loft or a tight cupboard takes longer to get at, and some engineers charge for it.
• Extra appliances. If you want the gas fire or hob checked on the same visit, it is normally cheaper than a separate call out. Ask for a price for each.
• Parts. The service price covers labour and basic consumables. Seals, gaskets or a new part are added on top.

If you are in the West Midlands, you can see heating engineers in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry and Solihull, and compare them before you ask for a price.

What happens during a boiler service?

A proper service is more than a glance at the pressure gauge. Which? advises that a good service lasts at least 30 minutes, and it should cover the following.

1. A visual check of the boiler, the flame and the pipework for damage, corrosion or leaks.
2. Removing the casing and checking the seals, so fumes cannot escape into the room.
3. Inspecting and cleaning the main parts: the burner, heat exchanger, injector and ignition probe.
4. Checking the flue inside and outside the house is clear, correctly fitted and venting properly.
5. Testing the gas pressure and heat input, and a flue gas analysis to check the boiler is burning safely.
6. Testing the safety devices, so the boiler shuts down if something goes wrong.
7. Firing the boiler up and checking it runs safely under the heating and hot water.
8. Giving you a written service report that lists what was checked, what was found and anything that needs fixing.

Keep that report. You will need it for a warranty claim, and it is useful when you sell the house.

Signs of a poor service

Be wary if the engineer is in and out in ten minutes, never takes the case off, does not use a flue gas analyser, or leaves without giving you anything in writing. A sticker on the boiler is not a service record.

How often should you have your boiler serviced?

Once a year. HSE says all gas appliances, flues and pipework should be serviced at least annually, and most boiler manufacturers make a yearly service a condition of the warranty. Miss one and a claim for a failed part can be turned down.

The best time to book is late spring or summer. Engineers are quieter, appointments are easier to get, and any fault is found before you need the heating. Once the weather turns in October, diaries fill up with breakdowns.

A yearly service is also a safety check. HSE figures show that around seven people die every year in Great Britain from gas related carbon monoxide poisoning. Early symptoms such as headaches, nausea and tiredness are easy to mistake for a cold. A service catches the faults that cause it, and HSE also strongly recommends fitting a carbon monoxide alarm.

Is a boiler service the same as a gas safety check?

No. A service cleans, tests and adjusts the boiler so it runs well. A gas safety check tests that every gas appliance, flue and the pipework in the property is safe to use, and produces a written record. HSE is clear that you should not assume one includes the other.

For homeowners, a yearly service is the one that matters. For landlords, the gas safety check is a legal duty: under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 it must be done every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer, the record given to tenants within 28 days, and records kept for at least two years. Many engineers will do the service and the safety check on the same visit for one combined price, which is usually cheaper than two call outs.

Is boiler cover cheaper than paying for a service?

On price alone, usually not. Which? found people paid an average of £183 a year for a boiler cover plan, and some pay close to £300, against around £79 for a one-off service. Some plans start cheap and rise sharply from the second year.

Cover is a form of insurance. It can be worth it if your boiler is older, if an unexpected bill of a few hundred pounds would be hard to find, or if you value a fixed monthly cost. Before you sign, check:

• Whether the yearly service is included, or charged separately.
• The excess you pay on each call out.
• What is excluded, such as sludge damage, older boilers or pre-existing faults.
• How much the price goes up at renewal.

If your boiler is newish and still under warranty, paying for a one-off service each year and keeping some money aside for repairs often works out cheaper.

How do you check a boiler engineer is qualified?

By law, anyone working on a gas boiler must be on the Gas Safe Register. Being a plumber is not enough.

1. Ask to see their Gas Safe ID card. Every registered engineer carries one with their photo, licence number and, on the back, the types of gas work they are qualified to do.
2. Check the back of the card lists boilers. An engineer registered for cookers only is not qualified to service your boiler.
3. Look them up. Search their licence number on the Gas Safe Register website, or call the register on 0800 408 5500.
4. For oil boilers, check the technician is on the OFTEC register instead.

Businesses listed on YourHouseFix show whether they have been claimed and checked, or are listed from public records and not yet verified. Either way, check the card on the day.

How to get a fair price for a boiler service

• Get a fixed price first. Ask for the service price in writing, and whether parts, VAT and parking are extra.
• Ask for two or three prices. The spread on a service is small, so a quote far below £70 is a reason to ask what is left out.
• Book in the quiet months. Some engineers offer a lower price in spring and summer.
• Bundle the jobs. Get the gas fire or hob checked on the same visit, or the landlord safety check if you let a property.
• Do not agree to repairs on the spot. If the engineer finds a fault, ask for the part and labour price in writing. Unless it is unsafe to use, you have time to get a second opinion.
• Keep your records. A full service history protects the warranty and helps the next engineer.

Find a heating engineer near you

You can post your boiler service job free and a local heating engineer comes back to you with a price and a time. You pay them directly, and nothing is taken online. If you already know what is wrong with the boiler, you can also post it as a gas engineer job.

Or browse local businesses first: heating engineers in Dudley, Walsall, Sutton Coldfield, or plumbers in Birmingham for leaks and radiators. For more guides on repairs and costs, see all our home advice.