Need a heating engineer? Compare professionals for service, a breakdown or a new boiler near you

A breakdown visit costs € 100 to € 275 including diagnosis and minor materials. Larger parts such as a pump, three-way valve, expansion vessel or circuit board come on top. Outside office hours an emergency surcharge on the hourly rate applies. Ask upfront for the hourly rate, call-out costs and surcharge.

The advice is once a year, or at least every two years. With many brands periodic maintenance is also required to keep the manufacturer's warranty valid. Ideally have the service done before winter, in October or November.

A modern high-efficiency boiler lasts on average 15 to 18 years with good maintenance. From about 15 years, breakdowns and parts costs rise and replacement often becomes cheaper than continued repair. An engineer honestly weighs the remaining life in the advice.

That depends on your home, insulation and budget. A hybrid heat pump combines your boiler with an electric heat pump and saves gas; a full heat pump requires good insulation and low-temperature emitters (underfloor heating or large radiators). Ask an engineer for an honest comparison for your situation, including any subsidy.

For a genuine breakdown (no heat in winter, no hot water) affiliated engineers often respond the same day; some companies also work evenings and weekends, with an emergency surcharge on the hourly rate. If the boiler fails in summer, the visit can usually wait safely until the next working day, saving you the surcharge.

A new boiler, including installation, usually costs € 1,800 to € 3,500. The unit itself is € 1,200 to € 2,200 depending on output and brand; installation, balancing and disposal of the old boiler come on top. Adjusting the flue or gas line can raise the price.

First note the error code on the display and check the water pressure (it should sit between 1 and 2 bar; too low = top up). You may then reset the boiler once with the reset button. If the fault returns, don't keep resetting but request an engineer: pass on the brand and error code, and they can often gauge which part is needed before the visit. A breakdown visit costs € 100 to € 275 including diagnosis.

Yes, topping up is a safe DIY job: connect the filling loop to the filling point, open the valves gently until the gauge sits between 1 and 2 bar, and disconnect the loop again. Then bleed the radiators and check the pressure once more. If you need to top up more than a few times a year, that points to a leak or a worn expansion vessel: have an engineer check it before it becomes a breakdown.

Switch the boiler off and wait for the radiators to cool down. Open the bleed valve at the top of the radiator with a bleed key and hold a cup underneath: air escapes first, and as soon as a trickle of water appears you close the valve. Start at the lowest radiator and work upwards; then check the water pressure and top up if needed. If a radiator stays cold or ticks, something more is going on: an engineer bleeds or balances the system for € 90 to € 150.

No. Work on the gas line and on the gas-carrying part of the boiler has been legally restricted to certified installers since 2023; affiliated companies meet that requirement. The only safe DIY tasks are topping up, bleeding radiators and operating the thermostat. Always keep the ventilation grilles around the boiler clear and place a carbon monoxide alarm near the unit. If you smell gas or the alarm goes off: switch the boiler off, open windows and doors and call in professional help immediately.