Do You Have to Use Your Gas Supplier for a Boiler Service?

No, you do not have to use your gas supplier, or the old gas board, for a boiler service. Any Gas Safe registered engineer who is qualified for your type of boiler can service it, whether they work for a large national company, a local heating firm or on their own. Your choice of engineer has nothing to do with who you buy your gas from, and using a different company does not affect your gas supply, your tariff or, in most cases, your boiler warranty. What matters is that the engineer is properly registered and that the service is done thoroughly and recorded.

There Is No Gas Board Any More

The gas board was the nationalised gas industry, which also sold and serviced appliances. It was privatised in the 1980s, and the jobs it used to do are now split between different organisations.

• Your gas supplier sells you gas and bills you for it. Some suppliers also sell boiler service plans and cover, but that is a separate product.
• The gas network operator owns the pipes in the street and the supply up to your meter, and runs the gas emergency service. In London that is Cadent in the north and SGN in the south. They respond to gas escapes and make the situation safe, but they do not service boilers.
• Gas Safe registered engineers do the work on your side of the meter, including boiler servicing, repairs and safety checks.

If you smell gas, the number to call is the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999, whoever your supplier is. It is free and open around the clock.

Who Can Legally Service Your Boiler?

Anyone carrying out work on a gas boiler must be on the Gas Safe Register and qualified for that kind of appliance. That is the legal test. The company name on the van is not.

Every registered engineer carries a Gas Safe ID card showing their photo, their registration number and, on the back, the types of gas work they are qualified for. Ask to see it, and check that it covers domestic gas boilers. You can also check the engineer or business on the Gas Safe Register website. If you are not sure what to look for, our guide on checking an engineer is Gas Safe registered walks through the card.

Will Using an Independent Engineer Affect My Warranty?

For most boilers, no. Manufacturers generally require the boiler to be serviced every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer, with the service recorded, and do not require a particular company.

It is still worth reading your warranty terms, because they vary between brands and between standard and extended warranties. Some ask for the service to be logged in the Benchmark section of the installation manual or registered with the manufacturer. Whoever services the boiler, make sure you get a written record with the date, the engineer's details and what was done, and keep it with the boiler paperwork. A gap in that record is what causes warranty problems, not the choice of company. Our article on how annual servicing protects your boiler warranty covers this in more detail.

When It Is Worth Asking Your Supplier

Your supplier is worth contacting in two situations: if you might qualify for a free gas safety check, or if you are comparing their service plan with other options.

Gas suppliers have to offer a free gas safety check to some customers on their Priority Services Register. Eligibility depends on your circumstances, including whether you receive certain benefits, who you live with, and whether a landlord is already responsible for checking your appliances. Ask your supplier whether you qualify. Bear in mind that this is a safety check, not a full service, so it confirms the appliances are safe rather than cleaning and setting up the boiler.

Many suppliers also sell boiler service plans, often bundled with breakdown cover. These can suit some households, but they are not the only way to get an annual service, and the price, what is included and the exclusions vary a great deal. Our boiler service plan comparison guide sets out what to compare before you sign up.

Supplier Plan, Independent Engineer or One-Off Service?

There is no single right answer. It depends on the age of your boiler, whether you want breakdown cover, and how organised you are about booking the service each year.

• A supplier plan suits people who want service and cover in one monthly payment and are happy with the terms. Check what happens with older boilers and pre-existing faults.
• An independent service plan can do the same job with a local firm. Compare what is included, not just the monthly figure.
• A one-off annual service suits people who are happy to book it themselves each year and do not want cover, or who already have cover elsewhere.

Whichever you choose, the service itself should be the same thorough job, carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer and recorded.

Tenants and Landlords

If you rent, you do not need to arrange a boiler service or a gas safety check yourself. Your landlord is legally responsible for the annual gas safety check and must give you a copy of the record.

Landlords can use any suitably registered engineer, not only the tenant's gas supplier. Many book the gas safety check and the boiler service together on one visit, which keeps both on the same date each year.

If you own your home and simply want the boiler serviced, book an annual boiler service with whoever you trust, or send us your boiler make and model and we will arrange the service. Whoever does it, the engineer must be Gas Safe registered.