Home maintenance schedule: boiler servicing and more

Maintenance is the kind of job you only miss when something goes wrong. The heating fails on the first cold day, the gutter overflows in an autumn storm, or the smoke alarm turns out to have had a flat battery for months. A simple schedule prevents most of that, and saves you working out every year what needs doing when.

We start with the boiler, because that is where most questions are. After that comes a year-round schedule for the rest of the home.

How often should a boiler be serviced?

The honest answer: it depends on your boiler and on where you live.

• The manufacturer states in the manual how often the boiler should be serviced. For gas boilers that is often once a year; for some modern models it can be every two years.
• Your country may have rules. In some countries, such as France, an annual boiler service is a legal requirement. In others it is strongly advised but not compulsory. In the Netherlands, for instance, the independent advice body Milieu Centraal says that for modern boilers, once every two years can be enough, in consultation with your installer.
• Your warranty may depend on it: some manufacturers make regular servicing a condition of their warranty. Check your warranty terms.

If in doubt, ask the engineer at the next visit and write the advice down.

Why it matters

A well-tuned boiler uses less gas, lasts longer and breaks down less often. More importantly, a badly working gas appliance can produce carbon monoxide (CO), which you cannot see or smell.

Use a qualified engineer

Many European countries require gas work to be done by a registered or certified installer. In the Netherlands, for example, only certified companies have been allowed to install, service or repair gas boilers since April 2023. Whatever the rules where you live, ask for proof of qualification when you book.

Fit a carbon monoxide alarm

A CO alarm in rooms with a gas appliance is widely recommended, and in some countries required. It does not replace servicing, but it warns you if something goes wrong in between.

What you can check yourself

A few things do not need to wait for the engineer.

Check the pressure. Most modern boilers have a pressure gauge. The right value is in the manual; often it is somewhere between 1 and 2 bar when the system is cold. If it is too low, you can usually top it up following the manual. If you have to top up often, there may be a leak: get it checked.

Bleed the radiators. If you hear gurgling, or radiators stay cold at the top, there is air in the system. Bleeding them a few times a year keeps the heating quiet and efficient. Pressure often drops a little afterwards, so check it again.

Keep the boiler clear. Do not store things against the boiler and keep vents and air supply unobstructed.

Write down the correct pressure and how to top up in a place everyone in the home can find. Then nobody has to hunt for the manual when the heating stops.

A year-round schedule for the rest of the home

A lot of maintenance is tied to a season rather than a fixed number of months. Gutters after the leaves fall, the outside tap before the frost. The schedule below works for most homes in a temperate European climate. Adjust it to your own home and region.

When	Task	Why
Monthly	Test smoke alarms	Mandatory in many countries; only useful if they work
A few times a year	Bleed radiators, check boiler pressure	Quieter, more efficient heating
Spring	Clear gutters, prune hedges and trees	After winter; before birds nest
Spring	Clean vents and extractor grilles	Better air, less damp
Spring	Replace filters of mechanical ventilation or heat recovery	As per the manual, often every six months
Summer	Check exterior paintwork and sealant joints	Dry weather, spot damage early
Summer or early autumn	Boiler service	Before the heating season, while engineers still have time
September	Chimney sweep (if you use it)	Before you start burning
October	Store garden furniture, check awnings	Avoids winter damage
November	Clear gutters again	After the leaves have fallen
November	Shut off and drain the outside tap	Prevents frozen pipes
Yearly	Heat pump or air conditioning check, clean filters	As per manufacturer; filters often more often
Yearly	Clean washing machine and dishwasher filters, descale	Longer lifespan

Seasonal or interval: a small but important difference

There are two kinds of recurring maintenance:

• Interval: every so many months, counted from the last time. Replacing filters, descaling. If you do it a month late, the next one moves a month too. That is fine.
• Seasonal: every year in a fixed month. Gutters in November, the outside tap before frost. If you are late once, the next one should still fall in November, or your schedule slowly drifts.

Plan everything as “every 12 months” and after a few years you will find yourself pruning in June and clearing gutters in January.

Keep a record of what was done

Note the date, who did it and what it cost every time. That helps in three ways:

1. You know when the next service is due.
2. If something fails, you can show the appliance was properly maintained. More on that in our guide to the EU legal guarantee on appliances.
3. When you sell, a maintenance history is a strong part of your home file.

How Domeaz helps

In Domeaz you plan maintenance with a title and a rhythm: every so many months, or every year in a fixed month. With the seasonal option, the next time always falls in the same month, even if you were late once. From an appliance such as the boiler, the app suggests a fitting maintenance rhythm. You get a reminder as far ahead as you choose, and you can see who is taking care of it.

When you tap “Done”, you can optionally enter what it cost. That shows up in your cost overview, kept apart from your fixed costs. The correct boiler pressure and the location of the main water valve go into your home information, so everyone in the household can find them.

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