DON’T WAIT UNTIL NEXT WINTER TO GET YOUR HEATING SYSTEM SERVICED

The Heating Helpline recommends getting your boiler serviced or replaced during the summer months when heating engineers are far less busy

10 June 2011 – If you have ever had your boiler break down in the middle of the winter you will know that it’s no fun being in a house or flat with no hot water and no heating. This is the time when heating engineers are rushed off their feet – dealing with breakdowns and repairs – so getting one to come out “instantly” while you shiver with cold is not always possible and it can take days before they can fit you in. For this reason the Heating Helpline (http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk) – the home heating advice service backed by the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association (HVCA) – advises homeowners to get their boiler serviced well before next winter sets in.

Bob Towse, technical consultant to the Heating Helpline, advises, “Heating engineers are much less busy during the summer months, so not only is it a good time to call in a professional heating engineer, but you can normally expect to pay less for a boiler service.

“It’s worth bearing in mind that a regularly serviced boiler is not only far less prone to breakdown but it will also be much more efficient, and with predictions of yet another round of energy price rises the long-term savings of a well maintained boiler can be significant.

“Of even more importance are the safety implications of a boiler that has not been serviced, or at least checked by a qualified engineer for some time – around 50 people in the UK still needlessly die every year from preventable carbon monoxide poisoning caused by defective domestic gas appliances and poorly ventilated systems.

“So why wait until the middle of winter? Visit the Heating Helpline website to find a reputable engineer and arrange to have your boiler and heating system serviced today”.

The Heating Helpline provides consumers with free, impartial advice on every aspect of home heating. On the website homeowners can put in their postcode and it will produce a list of reputable, Gas Safe Registered engineers in their chosen area.

Visit the Heating Helpline website at http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk or call 0800 840 4069.

Ends

Issued on behalf of the HVCA by Next Step Marketing Ltd

Media enquiries to:  Denzil Lee

Tel:  44(0)1256 472020

Fax:  44(0)1256 471010

E-mail:  denzil@nextstepmarketing.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Established in 1904, the HVCA is the premier organisation representing central heating contractors across the UK, and exists to promote fair dealing and the sound installation of heating systems.  HVCA members all undergo third-party inspection and assessment of their technical competence and commercial capability every three years.  This process is carried out by an independent certification body with an established industry reputation.  HVCA members who undertake gas installations are registered with Gas Safe – the gas safety watchdog body – and are also members of TrustMark, the Government-endorsed scheme designed to direct customers towards reliable tradespeople.  HVCA operates the Heating Helpline (http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk) to provide consumers with free, impartial advice on every aspect of home heating.